Headers / StaysOpenOnClick with binding to ItemsSource in ContextMenu

Question

I've been struggling to figure out how to bind a dynamic collection of menu items for a ContextMenu, while having the ability to still access things such as the Header and StaysOpenOnClick properties available in a standard MenuItem.  

For instance, I have the following ContextMenu:  

<Label Style="{StaticResource TextBlockValidationStyle}" 
                                       Content="{Binding Path=ColumnMapping.DestinationColumnDataType, ValidatesOnDataErrors=True, NotifyOnValidationError=True, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}" 
                                       Validation.ErrorTemplate="{StaticResource validationTemplate}"
                                       Tag="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=DataGridRow}, Path=DataContext}">
                                    <Label.ContextMenu>
                                        <ContextMenu StaysOpen="True" 
                                                     ItemsSource="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}, Path=PlacementTarget.Tag.DestinationColumnDataTypeValidations}">
                                            <ContextMenu.ItemTemplate>
                                                <DataTemplate>
							Some stuff to bind to
						</DataTemplate>
					    </ContextMenu.ItemTemplate>
					</ContextMenu>

Is there anyway to access those standard properties?  Keeping the ContextMenu open is of the utmost importance, but the other things, like headers/icons, would be really nice as well . 

Answer 1

This is actually easier than you think...

 

MainWindow.xaml

<Window x:Class="ContextMenuInCode.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
    <Window.Resources>
        <Style TargetType="MenuItem">
            <Setter Property="Header" Value="{Binding Header}"/>
            <Setter Property="StaysOpenOnClick" Value="{Binding StaysOpenOnClick}"/>
        </Style>
    </Window.Resources>
    <Grid>
        <Border Background="AliceBlue" >
            <Border.ContextMenu>
                <ContextMenu ItemsSource="{Binding MyMenuItems}" />
            </Border.ContextMenu>
        </Border>
    </Grid>
</Window>

 

MainWindow.xaml.cs

using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;

namespace ContextMenuInCode
{
    public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
        public ObservableCollection<MyMenuItem> MyMenuItems { get; set; }

        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
            MyMenuItems = new ObservableCollection<MyMenuItem>
            {
                new MyMenuItem { Header="One", StaysOpenOnClick=true},
                new MyMenuItem { Header="Two", StaysOpenOnClick=true},
            };
            DataContext = this;
        }
    }

    public class MyMenuItem
    {
        public string Header { get; set; }
        public bool StaysOpenOnClick { get; set; }
        public ICommand Command { get; set; }
    }
}

 

You can add anything you need to your MyMenuItem class, like (ICommand)Command, (object)CommandParameter, etc.

Now you see the concept, I'm sure you'll find plenty more examples.

 

[EDIT] Updated to ObservableCollection, as you said "dynamic" as in add/remove. If you want to make the properties dynamic, you need to implement INotifyPropertyChanged on the MyMenuItem class.

 

Regards,
Pete

---

#PEJL

Answer 2

I forgot I could set the MenuItem styles of the collection!  Thanks for the reminder.  Since I'm using MVVM, the other stuff wasn't necessary for my purposes.  Thanks again.