C# PropertyGrid - How to make array elements read only?

Question

I have a PropertyGrid to which I add a array of bool-values. The array itself is marked as ReadOnly, which is recognized properly by the property grid.

BUT: If I expand the array in the Grid, all the items are editable by the user. Of course that's not what I want. If the array itself is marked a s ReadOnly all its elements shall be as well!

Is there any way to achieve this behavior in the PropertyGrid?

If your binding the collection to the propertygrid, then you can have that collection indexers set property private. That way none can set. — Zenwalker, Sep 26 '11 at 08:47
What do you mean, your array is read-only? Are you wrapping it using ReadOnlyCollection? — Luke Girvin, Sep 26 '11 at 08:51

score 3 · Accepted Answer · answered Sep 26 '11 at 08:56

3

You can define your own TypeConverter. Using a TypeConverter, you can control the properties that the PropertyGrid shows, and their behavior.

answered Sep 26 '11 at 08:56

GvS

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score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Sep 26 '11 at 10:27

The readonly keyword doesn't work the way you think it does:

using System;

class Program {
    static readonly bool[] arr = { false, true };

    static void Main(string[] args) {
        arr[0] = true;
    }
}

Yes, use TypeConverter to alter the behavior of types in PropertyGrid. Or just give it the [Browsable(false)] attribute because nobody wants to look at an array of booleans anyway.

C# PropertyGrid - How to make array elements read only?

2 Answers2