How to set a ComboBox header using XAML in WPF - wpf

Question

I've spent the last few days trying to create a header for my comboBox but I can't seem find a way. All I've found so far couldn't be implemented in my model. I have to say that I have a slim understanding on databinding which I have been doing some serious reading on.
I created a comboBox and filled it with data from different databases. Then, I used a converter to concatenate relevant data to be displayed. Now I would like to add a header describing the name of each section.
Here is my XAML:
<Window.Resources>
<local:ConcatenateFieldsMultiValueConverter x:Key="converter"/>
</Window.Resources>
<ComboBox Name="PersonComboBox" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="104,64,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="465">
<ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<CheckBox x:Name="ComboBoxCheckBox" IsChecked="{Binding IsSelected, Mode=TwoWay}"/>
<TextBlock>
<TextBlock.Text>
<MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource converter}" ConverterParameter=", ">
<Binding Path="FirstName" />
<Binding Path="LastName"/>
<Binding Path="Age"/>
<Binding Path="Country"/>
</MultiBinding>
</TextBlock.Text>
</TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
</ComboBox>
Here is where I bound to the comboBox:
// Binds the comboBox to the personDataItems list
this.PersonComboBox.ItemsSource = personDataItems;
This is how the header should look:
I want to be able to do it using XAML. Thanks so much for your help.

Answer 1

Xaml code
<Window x:Class="Multiple_Colum_Cmb.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Multiple_Colum_Cmb"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Window.Resources>
<local:ComboboxData x:Key="ComboboxData"></local:ComboboxData>
<!--datatemplate-->
<DataTemplate x:Key="Datatemplate">
<Grid SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Margin="0,0,30,0">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Firstname}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Grid.Column="0" FontSize="15" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis" Foreground="Black" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding LastName}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Grid.Column="1" FontSize="15" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis" Foreground="Black" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Age}" Grid.Column="2" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center" FontSize="20" Foreground="Black"/>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Country}" Grid.Column="3" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center" FontSize="20" Foreground="Black"/>
</Grid>
</DataTemplate>
<!--header text-->
<TextBlock x:Key="header1" Text="FirstName"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header2" Text="LastName"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header3" Text="Age"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header4" Text="Country"></TextBlock>
<!--Toggle Button Template-->
<ControlTemplate x:Key="ComboBoxToggleButton" TargetType="ToggleButton">
<Grid x:Name="gd">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition />
<ColumnDefinition Width="30" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ContentPresenter Grid.Column="0"></ContentPresenter>
<Grid Grid.Column="0">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="0" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header1},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15" ></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="1" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header2},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="2" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header3},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="3" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header4},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
</Grid>
<Border x:Name="Border" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="1"/>
<Border x:Name="Boredr1" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="0" Margin="1" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="0,0,1,0" />
<Path x:Name="Arrow" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="1" Fill="Black" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Data="M 0 0 L 6 6 L 12 0 Z"/>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Boredr1" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsChecked" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Data" Value="M 0 0 L 5 5 L 10 0"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Fill" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Stroke" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="StrokeThickness" Value="1.5"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
<Setter TargetName="gd" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
<!--TextBox Template-->
<ControlTemplate x:Key="ComboBoxTextBox" TargetType="TextBox">
<ScrollViewer x:Name="PART_ContentHost" Focusable="False" />
</ControlTemplate>
<!--Multiple column combobox-->
<Style x:Key="Multiple_Column_Cmb" TargetType="ComboBox">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Auto"/>
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Disabled"/>
<Setter Property="Height" Value="40"/>
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="120"/>
<Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="20"/>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBox">
<Grid>
<ToggleButton Name="ToggleButton" Foreground="Black" Template="{StaticResource ComboBoxToggleButton}" Focusable="false" IsChecked="{Binding Path=IsDropDownOpen,Mode=TwoWay,RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}" ClickMode="Press">
</ToggleButton>
<ContentPresenter Name="ContentSite" IsHitTestVisible="False" Content="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItem}" ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItemTemplate}" ContentTemplateSelector="{TemplateBinding ItemTemplateSelector}" Margin="3,3,23,3" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" />
<TextBox OverridesDefaultStyle="True" SelectionBrush="Gray" CaretBrush="Black" Margin="0,0,30,0" TextWrapping="NoWrap" x:Name="PART_EditableTextBox" FontFamily="Segoe UI Dark" Foreground="Black" Style="{x:Null}" Template="{StaticResource ComboBoxTextBox}" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Focusable="True" VerticalAlignment="Center" FontSize="15" Visibility="Hidden" IsReadOnly="{TemplateBinding IsReadOnly}"/>
<Popup Name="Popup" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Placement="Bottom" IsOpen="{TemplateBinding IsDropDownOpen}" AllowsTransparency="True" Focusable="False" PopupAnimation="Slide">
<ContentControl Name="DropDown" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MinWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MaxHeight="{TemplateBinding MaxDropDownHeight}">
<Grid Background="White" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MinWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MaxHeight="{TemplateBinding MaxDropDownHeight}">
<Border x:Name="DropDownBorder" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Background="Transparent" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" BorderThickness="1" BorderBrush="LightGray"/>
<ScrollViewer ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll="False" Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,0,0" SnapsToDevicePixels="True">
<StackPanel IsItemsHost="True" Background="Transparent">
</StackPanel>
</ScrollViewer>
</Grid>
</ContentControl>
</Popup>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="IsEditable" Value="true">
<Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="false"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Background" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Foreground" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="ContentSite" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="HasItems" Value="false">
<Setter TargetName="DropDownBorder" Property="MinHeight" Value="95"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="false">
<Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="false"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Foreground" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="IsEnabled" Value="False"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Background" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="ContentSite" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsGrouping" Value="true">
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll" Value="false"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger SourceName="Popup" Property="Popup.AllowsTransparency" Value="true">
<Setter TargetName="DropDownBorder" Property="Margin" Value="0,2,0,0"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
<Style.Triggers>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
<!--combobox item style-->
<Style x:Key="Column_CmbItem" TargetType="ComboBoxItem">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="True"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="True"/>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBoxItem">
<Grid x:Name="Border" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Margin="1,0,1,1" Background="White">
<ContentPresenter></ContentPresenter>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="ComboBoxItem.IsSelected" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="Background" Value="Gray"></Setter>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="ComboBoxItem.IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="Background" Value="LightBlue"></Setter>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</Window.Resources>
<ComboBox x:Name="Combobox1" IsReadOnly="True" ItemTemplate="{StaticResource Datatemplate }" Margin="0,0,50,0" HorizontalAlignment="Right" IsEditable="False" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource ComboboxData}}" Style="{StaticResource Multiple_Column_Cmb}" Height="30" ItemContainerStyle="{StaticResource Column_CmbItem}" Width="400"/>
</Window>
C# code
InitializeComponent();
List<ComboboxData> cmb = new List<ComboboxData>();
cmb.Add(new ComboboxData("oliver", "stone", "30", "USA"));
cmb.Add(new ComboboxData("Joseph", "Truan", "35", "Canada"));
Combobox1.ItemsSource = cmb;
public class ComboboxData
{
public string Firstname { get; set; }
public string LastName { get; set; }
public string Age { get; set; }
public string Country { get; set; }
public ComboboxData(string Firstname, string LastName, string Age, string Country)
{
this.Firstname = Firstname;
this.LastName = LastName;
this.Age = Age;
this.Country = Country;
}
public ComboboxData() { }
}
Output
Update :
I have designed two tempale for togglebutton
1) When combobox item is not selected ie.selectdeindex=-1 (NoItemselected)
2) Default template(ShowselectedItem)
<!--header text-->
<TextBlock x:Key="header1" Text="FirstName"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header2" Text="LastName"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header3" Text="Age"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock x:Key="header4" Text="Country"></TextBlock>
<!--Toggle Button Template1-->
<ControlTemplate x:Key="NoItemselected" TargetType="ToggleButton">
<Grid x:Name="gd">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition />
<ColumnDefinition Width="30" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ContentPresenter Grid.Column="0"></ContentPresenter>
<Grid Grid.Column="0">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition></ColumnDefinition>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="0" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header1},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15" ></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="1" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header2},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="2" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header3},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="3" Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource header4},Path=Text}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Foreground="Black" FontFamily="Segoe Ui Dark" FontSize="15"></TextBlock>
</Grid>
<Border x:Name="Border" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="1"/>
<Border x:Name="Boredr1" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="0" Margin="1" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="0,0,1,0" />
<Path x:Name="Arrow" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="1" Fill="Black" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Data="M 0 0 L 6 6 L 12 0 Z"/>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Boredr1" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsChecked" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Data" Value="M 0 0 L 5 5 L 10 0"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Fill" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Stroke" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="StrokeThickness" Value="1.5"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
<Setter TargetName="gd" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
<!--Toggle Button Template2-->
<ControlTemplate x:Key="ShowselectedItem" TargetType="ToggleButton">
<Grid x:Name="gd">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition />
<ColumnDefinition Width="30" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ContentPresenter Grid.Column="0"></ContentPresenter>
<Border x:Name="Border" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="1"/>
<Border x:Name="Boredr1" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="0" Margin="1" Background="Transparent" BorderBrush="LightGray" BorderThickness="0,0,1,0" />
<Path x:Name="Arrow" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Grid.Column="1" Fill="Black" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Data="M 0 0 L 6 6 L 12 0 Z"/>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Boredr1" Property="BorderBrush" Value="Black"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="ToggleButton.IsChecked" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Data" Value="M 0 0 L 5 5 L 10 0"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Fill" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="Stroke" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="Arrow" Property="StrokeThickness" Value="1.5"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
<Setter TargetName="gd" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
<!--TextBox Template-->
<ControlTemplate x:Key="ComboBoxTextBox" TargetType="TextBox">
<ScrollViewer x:Name="PART_ContentHost" Focusable="False" />
</ControlTemplate>
<!--Multiple column combobox-->
<Style x:Key="Multiple_Column_Cmb" TargetType="ComboBox">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Auto"/>
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.VerticalScrollBarVisibility" Value="Disabled"/>
<Setter Property="Height" Value="40"/>
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="120"/>
<Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="20"/>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBox">
<Grid>
<ToggleButton Name="ToggleButton" Template="{StaticResource ShowselectedItem}" Focusable="false" IsChecked="{Binding Path=IsDropDownOpen,Mode=TwoWay,RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}" ClickMode="Press"/>
<ContentPresenter Name="ContentSite" IsHitTestVisible="False" Content="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItem}" ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding SelectionBoxItemTemplate}" ContentTemplateSelector="{TemplateBinding ItemTemplateSelector}" Margin="3,3,23,3" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left" />
<TextBox OverridesDefaultStyle="True" SelectionBrush="Gray" CaretBrush="Black" Margin="0,0,30,0" TextWrapping="NoWrap" x:Name="PART_EditableTextBox" FontFamily="Segoe UI Dark" Foreground="Black" Style="{x:Null}" Template="{StaticResource ComboBoxTextBox}" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Focusable="True" VerticalAlignment="Center" FontSize="15" Visibility="Hidden" IsReadOnly="{TemplateBinding IsReadOnly}"/>
<Popup Name="Popup" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Placement="Bottom" IsOpen="{TemplateBinding IsDropDownOpen}" AllowsTransparency="True" Focusable="False" PopupAnimation="Slide">
<ContentControl Name="DropDown" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MinWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MaxHeight="{TemplateBinding MaxDropDownHeight}">
<Grid Background="White" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MinWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" MaxHeight="{TemplateBinding MaxDropDownHeight}">
<Border x:Name="DropDownBorder" SnapsToDevicePixels="True" Background="Transparent" MaxWidth="{TemplateBinding ActualWidth}" BorderThickness="1" BorderBrush="LightGray"/>
<ScrollViewer ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll="False" Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,0,0,0" SnapsToDevicePixels="True">
<StackPanel IsItemsHost="True" Background="Transparent">
</StackPanel>
</ScrollViewer>
</Grid>
</ContentControl>
</Popup>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="IsEditable" Value="true">
<Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="false"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Background" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Foreground" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="ContentSite" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="HasItems" Value="false">
<Setter TargetName="DropDownBorder" Property="MinHeight" Value="95"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="false">
<Setter Property="IsTabStop" Value="false"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Foreground" Value="Black"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="IsEnabled" Value="False"/>
<Setter TargetName="PART_EditableTextBox" Property="Background" Value="White"/>
<Setter TargetName="ContentSite" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="IsGrouping" Value="true">
<Setter Property="ScrollViewer.CanContentScroll" Value="false"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="SelectedIndex" Value="-1">
<Setter Property="Template" TargetName="ToggleButton" Value="{StaticResource NoItemselected}"></Setter>
</Trigger>
<Trigger SourceName="Popup" Property="Popup.AllowsTransparency" Value="true">
<Setter TargetName="DropDownBorder" Property="Margin" Value="0,2,0,0"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>