Disable selecting in WPF DataGrid

Question

How can I disable selecting in a WPFTooklit's DataGrid? I tried modifying the solution that works for ListView (from WPF ListView turn off selection), but that doesn't work:

<tk:DataGrid>
    <tk:DataGrid.ItemContainerStyle>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type tk:DataGridRow}">
            <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="false"/>
        </Style>
    </tk:DataGrid.ItemContainerStyle>
    <tk:DataGrid.CellStyle>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type tk:DataGridCell}">
            <Setter Property="Focusable" Value="false"/>
        </Style>
    </tk:DataGrid.CellStyle>
</tk:DataGrid>

score 48 · Answer 1 · edited May 09 '14 at 09:52

48

The clean way would be, to just override the styles of the row and the cell

<DataGrid.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <Style x:Key="{x:Type DataGridCell}" TargetType="{x:Type DataGridCell}">
            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{x:Null}" />
            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{x:Null}" />
            <Style.Triggers>
                <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{x:Null}" />
                    <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{x:Null}" />
                </Trigger>
            </Style.Triggers>
        </Style>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type DataGridRow}">
            <Setter Property="Background" Value="{x:Null}" />
            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{x:Null}" />
            <Style.Triggers>
                <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
                    <Setter Property="Background" Value="{x:Null}" />
                    <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="{x:Null}" />
                </Trigger>
            </Style.Triggers>
        </Style>
    </ResourceDictionary>
</DataGrid.Resources>

edited May 09 '14 at 09:52

JiBéDoublevé

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answered Mar 28 '12 at 17:03

Alex

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This disabled selection at all. I had to replace "{x:Null}" by "Transparent" to keep selection working. This is the way Mr. Snuggles recommended. – OneWorld Jan 11 '13 at 09:13
12

FYI, dont't forget to set `` in the trigger otherwise the text of the selection will be, by default, white. – JiBéDoublevé May 09 '14 at 09:52
4

@JiBéDoublevé I just had to do this, however instead of using a hardcoded value, I put this in the DataGridCell's Triggers: ``, which sets it to what it already is. Strangely, it seems _explicitly_ setting a color on the column definition also removes the color change, without the need for a setter. – Xcelled Jan 07 '15 at 10:07
1

If you want to keep settings of a default style (e. g. by Material Design), then you can add this to the `style` tags: `BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type DataGridCell}}"` and `BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type DataGridRow}}"` ... As result only the border is removed, not the whole default style. – Beauty Nov 21 '18 at 16:16
1

What do you do about all the controls still turning blue? The textblock backgrounds in each cell turn blue, and I have dropdowns and buttons in datatemplates that have a blue border when the row is selected. – Matt Gregory Dec 23 '18 at 23:46

score 35 · Answer 2 · edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

35

To completely disable selection of rows in a DataGrid, you could do the following:

<DataGrid>
    <DataGrid.RowStyle>
        <Style TargetType="DataGridRow">
            <Setter Property="IsHitTestVisible" Value="False"/>
        </Style>
    </DataGrid.RowStyle>
    <!--Other DataGrid items-->
</DataGrid>

This could be considered more favorable than setting <Setter Property="IsEnabled" Value="False"/> due to the fact that doing the aforementioned technique causes the style of the row to change. It also does not disable context menus from appearing when right-clicking.

Lastly: it is important to note that setting "IsHitTestVisible" to "False" disables all interaction with the rows, including editing.

However, if all you want to do is change the styling of the row when selected, please view the answers here.

edited May 23 '17 at 12:34

Community

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1

answered Aug 05 '16 at 18:25

JoshuaTheMiller

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This answer kinda saved my life! – polfosol ఠ_ఠ Sep 03 '16 at 11:41
Old answer but I'd like to comment on this. My solution has Rows with a separate ViewModel. In order to totally disable the datagrid you can use DataGrid.Style and TargetType = "DataGrid". Because I need to control when selecting items is allowed I use a Value ="{Binding SomeProperty}" and then that property has to be on the DataContext. Gave me a binding error if the property was on the main DataContext when ussing a RowStyle setup. – Paul Palmpje Feb 24 '21 at 20:30
This works, but prevents clicking any buttons. – Rye bread Jul 21 '21 at 08:19
@Rugbrød: "it is important to note that setting "IsHitTestVisible" to "False" disables all interaction with the rows, including editing." This includes clicking buttons. – JoshuaTheMiller Jul 21 '21 at 15:13

score 25 · Answer 3 · answered Jun 12 '13 at 10:01

25

Simply add IsHitTestVisible="False" to DataGrid definition.

answered Jun 12 '13 at 10:01

ybonda

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This prevents the vertical scrollbar from responding to the mouse. – edtheprogrammerguy Jul 15 '13 at 15:34
3

Works like a charm... and if you bind the value to an INPC property, then you can be selective about which rows are selectable :-) – Riegardt Steyn Oct 24 '14 at 15:15
2

Along with the vertical scrollbar issue, this also disables mouse clicking for child controls. – Slate Mar 22 '18 at 16:50

score 12 · Answer 4 · answered May 24 '11 at 19:23

All of the above are good ideas for easy hacks. However, they aren't doing exactly what is asked. The other answers are telling us how to unselect something selected by the user or hide the fact that something was selected by the user.

However, I understand why these answers are given. It is not easy to provide the real solution.

The real solution is to prevent selection in the first place, which it is not straightforward but it is doable with a few easy steps.

Answer 1. You have to copy the style in Expression Blend (or find a copy of the style somewhere). 2. Change a single ItemPresenter setting. It was enough for me to set IsHitTestVisible="False" on the ItemPresenter.

If you need more details, or an in-depth walk-thru for doing this, see my blog post:

How to disable row selection in a WPF DataGrid?

That's not quite correct either - it stops clicks happening on the `DataGridCell`s, which often is not desirable. — Zero, May 23 '12 at 07:31
Agreed. One of these days I am going to have to find a solution that disables select but allows click. — Rhyous, May 23 '12 at 17:20

score 8 · Answer 5 · edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

8

As pointed out by Sonic Soul here, viky's solution doesn't actually work.

Here is actual working code to disable selection in a DataGrid:

grid.SelectionChanged += (obj, e) => 
  Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(DispatcherPriority.Render, new Action(() => 
    grid.UnselectAll()));

edited May 23 '17 at 10:31

Community

1
1

answered Jun 16 '10 at 04:03

Ray Burns

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This method should be combined with setting the DataGrid SelectionMode property to "Single" ... otherwise you can select multiple cells before the event is fired. – Sherlock Jun 22 '13 at 12:01

score 6 · Answer 6 · answered Jun 15 '17 at 15:43

The only proper way I found to do this is to disable IsHitTestVisible property on DataGridRowStyle.

Click events will still register despite the naming. Make sure you do not change this property on the whole DataGrid unless you also want to disable scrolling.

A clean way of doing this is through a new Style in your static resources (copying other setters as appropriate)

        <Style x:Key="DataGridUnselectableRowStyle" TargetType="{x:Type DataGridRow}">
            <Setter Property="IsHitTestVisible" Value="False"/>
        </Style>

and then binding it on your DataGrid

        <DataGrid
            RowStyle="{StaticResource DataGridUnselectableRowStyle}" >
            <!-- Contents -->
        </DataGrid>

score 4 · Answer 7 · edited May 21 '17 at 22:10

In case you are using alternate colors:

<Style TargetType="{x:Type DataGrid}">
    <Setter Property="RowBackground" Value="#badeee"/>
    <Setter Property="AlternationCount" Value="2" />
    <Setter Property="AlternatingRowBackground" Value="#92cce5"/>
</Style>

<Style TargetType="{x:Type DataGridCell}">
    <Style.Triggers>           
        <Trigger Property="IsSelected" Value="True">
            <Setter Property="Background" Value="Transparent"/>
            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="Transparent"/>
            <Setter Property="Foreground" Value="Black"/>
        </Trigger>
    </Style.Triggers>
</Style>

<Style TargetType="{x:Type DataGridRow}">
    <Style.Triggers>
        <Trigger Property="ItemsControl.AlternationIndex" Value="0">
            <Setter Property="Background" Value="#badeee"></Setter>
            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="#badeee"></Setter>
        </Trigger>
        <Trigger Property="ItemsControl.AlternationIndex" Value="1">
            <Setter Property="Background" Value="#92cce5"></Setter>
            <Setter Property="BorderBrush" Value="#92cce5"></Setter>
        </Trigger>
    </Style.Triggers>
</Style>

score 4 · Answer 8 · answered Jul 25 '10 at 14:08

4

Another simple way is to change the Selection Style with an IsSelected Trigger to Transparent.

answered Jul 25 '10 at 14:08

Mr. Snuggles

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score 2 · Answer 9 · answered May 17 '15 at 18:23

If someone else is facing same problem, they may find it helpful.

We had a requirement to disable few rows on datagrid, but at the same time allow ARROW key navigation on them. This is why we had to switch to 'IsHitTestVisible' instead of controlling 'IsEnabled' property. So we couldn't adopt to above solution of switching to 'IsEnable' property.

Here is how I ended up solving this issue. I created a new attached property (RowEnable) for DataGridRow. This attached property can be bind to a viewmodel property to control 'virtual' enable and disablement. I also created a new style for DataGridCell where I am setting 'IsHitTestVisible' to false based on the same viewmodel property. So, consider it like a row which mouse/keyboard can see, but can't see its cells/columns. This means now I can style the row based on new attached property (RowEnabled) to look disabled/enabled. At the same time, I can view tooltips for these rows which are virtually disabled.

marsh-wiggle · Answer 10 · 2019-06-14T14:07:01.433

I needed a code behind solution. This works for me:

controlGrid.SelectedCellsChanged += (sender, e) =>
    Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherPriority.Render, new Action(() =>
        controlGrid.UnselectAll()));
controlGrid.Columns.Clear();

Because it sometimes flickers, the BackgroundProperty also be set to transparent.

Style dataGridCellStyle = new Style(typeof(DataGridCell));
Setter newSetterCell = new Setter(DataGridCell.BackgroundProperty, Brushes.Transparent);
dataGridCellStyle.Setters.Add(newSetterCell);
controlGrid.CellStyle = dataGridCellStyle;

Piano Telope · Answer 11 · 2020-09-06T10:34:40.400

0

<DataGrid isEnabled="False">
</DataGrid>

This is the simplest way to directly answer your question: disable selecting in WPF Datagrid.

edited Sep 06 '20 at 10:34

answered Sep 05 '20 at 21:18

Piano Telope

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Code-only answers are discouraged on Stack Overflow because they don't explain how it solves the problem. Also, please edit your answer to explain how it works and how it improves on the many other upvoted answers this question already has, so that it is useful to other users with similar issues. – FluffyKitten Sep 06 '20 at 01:16
I don't think it would be a good idea to delete one of only two clear, succinct, and correct answers to the question. You don't need to touch the codebehind, you don't need styles, you don't need to mention alternate colours. All you need is a well-placed property. – Piano Telope Sep 06 '20 at 10:44
If that's why you think this is a good answer, then add that information into your answer! Users may not know if this even works with so little code when the other answers are more comprehensive, so you need to tell them how it works and why they don't need the rest. This is why code-only answers are discouraged, as I explained... if users don't understand how or why your answer will work (especially when there are so many other upvoted ones), then it's not very helpful to them, or worse - they might even think its wrong. – FluffyKitten Sep 06 '20 at 17:47
I'm amazed at the high standards you hold my answer to while having such low expectations of readers. I think they'll manage to copy and paste the property into their data grid and see that it works. Half the stuff you want me to bloat the answer with is offtopic: it doesn't answer the question. – Piano Telope Sep 06 '20 at 21:40
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That not how Stack Overflow works. It’s purpose is to act like an “encyclopaedia” for programming questions, and this answer was flagged by the community as low quality for lack of detail. – FluffyKitten Sep 06 '20 at 21:42
We agree that answers should help the asker to solve their problem. This answer does so, We both want to help answer people's questions. I suggest we move on to the next person's question and leave this answer as at least good enough. – Piano Telope Sep 06 '20 at 21:55
As I said, this answer was flagged by the community, I’m just one of the reviewers, so it’s not me you need to convince. – FluffyKitten Sep 06 '20 at 22:03
1

This will make the whole datagrid be grayed out, most likely now what people are after. – Jonathan Apr 04 '22 at 08:54

score 0 · Answer 12 · answered Jun 26 '23 at 15:52

Based on some answers from this thread I came up with the solution.

<DataGrid.RowStyle>
    <Style TargetType="DataGridRow">
        <Setter Property="IsHitTestVisible" Value="False"/>
    </Style>
</DataGrid.RowStyle>

This one does not make the datagrid greyed out, nor the rows, cells or header. It allows scrolling and does not require code behind.

score -11 · Accepted Answer · answered Mar 23 '10 at 18:19

-11

There is a trick for this. You can handle SelectionChanged event of the DataGrid(say dgGrid) and in the handler write:

dgGrid.UnselectAll();

It will unselect all selected row and result will be "No row selected".

answered Mar 23 '10 at 18:19

viky

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Does not work: this works: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3046988/wpf-datagrid-disable-selected-row-styles-or-row-selecting – Mikhail Poda Apr 17 '11 at 20:55
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+1 Thats a right one :)...anyways mine is working fine in my case :) – viky Apr 19 '11 at 05:04
1

Nikhil's version worked perfectly for me. I can edit cells directly in the DataGrid and the entire row stays unselected. Thanks Nikhil. – Norman Skinner Dec 08 '13 at 19:54
You should avoid interacting with view logic in the code behind/viewmodel – JoshuaTheMiller Dec 16 '16 at 17:20

Disable selecting in WPF DataGrid

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