ListBox of anonymous UIElements

Question

I want to create a ListBox and fill it with anonymous UIElement. In other words, the DataTemplate of the ItemTemplate will contain only one element, and afterwords during the runtime, afterwards I will create in the code behind different UIElements (TextBlocks, Grids ...) and populate the list with it.

So how am I going to write the DataTemplate of the ListBox? And how am I intend to use an ObservableCollection for the ItemSource? So should use an ObsevableCollection of UIElement?

Would not recommend having lists containing any UI elements. Introduce some model-view-separation, e.g. MVVM. — H.B., Aug 16 '13 at 21:31

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 16 '13 at 21:33

2

First Question: No DataTemplate. Since your items are already UIElements, you don't need a DataTemplate.

And if you're creating a changeable collection, then yes, ObservableCollection<UIElement> is the way to go.

Now, why would you be doing this? You may want to ask yourself if this is the best way of doing things. Why isn't your data and your presentation separated? If you need more than one type of element in the list, will DataTemplateSelector allow you to have a real ViewModel?

answered Aug 16 '13 at 21:33

Abe Heidebrecht

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What I want exactly is a list of TextBlocks and Grids containing TextBlocks. I want to use then so that the user will mark and edit each text block individually, and I before all this populate the list based on the user choise wheather the grid comes first or the TextBlock. – Ayoub.A Aug 16 '13 at 22:47
Okay, so it sounds like you should be using a `DataTemplateSelector`. You would assing the `ItemTemplateSelector` on the `ListBox`. – Abe Heidebrecht Aug 17 '13 at 02:02

score 0 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 16 '13 at 22:19

    <ListBox x:Name="name" ItemsSource="{Binding source}">
        <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
            <DataTemplate>
                <textbox x:Name="name"></ToggleButton> //or any tool
            </DataTemplate>
        </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
    </ListBox>

ListBox of anonymous UIElements

2 Answers2