Wpf – Disabling controls based on WPF command/command bindings

commandbindingwpf

Using commands is handy because WPF automatically disables the source of the command (typically a button) when the command can't be executed.

Evidently, this feature is not available to controls that are not a command source e.g. ListBox.

What is the best way to enable this feature for non command source controls. I thought of a couple of solutions:

Wrap the ListBox with a Button and change the ControlTemplate of the button so that there is no chrome.
Create an invisible Button and bind the IsEnabled property of the ListBox to the IsEnabled property of the Button
Create a descendant of ListBox that implements ICommandSource.

Is there a more elegant way?

Best Answer

You can create a bool property in your code-behind (or view model) like CanSelect or CanEdit and bind the IsEnabled property of your ListBox to it. Just set the value of this new property in the CanExecute method of the corresponding command.

Related Solutions

.net – How to use WPF bindings with RelativeSource

If you want to bind to another property on the object:

{Binding Path=PathToProperty, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}

If you want to get a property on an ancestor:

{Binding Path=PathToProperty,
    RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type typeOfAncestor}}}

If you want to get a property on the templated parent (so you can do 2 way bindings in a ControlTemplate)

{Binding Path=PathToProperty, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}

or, shorter (this only works for OneWay bindings):

{TemplateBinding Path=PathToProperty}

.net – Enable command binding for TextBlock

Is there some control I have overseen that can be used? Is it e.g. recommended to use a button and style it to not look like a button?

Yes. The simplest approach would be to re-template a button to act like a TextBlock and leverage the command property on the button class.

Something like this:

<ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
        <TextBlock Text="{TemplateBinding Content}" />
    </ControlTemplate>
...
<Button Content="Foo" Command="{Binding Bar}" />

Best Answer

Related Solutions

.net – How to use WPF bindings with RelativeSource

.net – Enable command binding for TextBlock

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