"Miscellaneous" category wrapping everything

Hello,

I'm currently using PropertyGrid.ItemsSource bound to an ObservableDictionary<Class, object> using smart dictionary keys (the key is an object with ToString overridden and the value is the object to be edited).  I add objects to the dictionary and I'm grouping them according to the description in the blog post at http://www.mindscape.co.nz/blog/index.php/2008/01/27/sorting-and-grouping-in-the-wpf-property-grid, except I'm grouping them in a category returned by the object instead of by first letter.

The grouping works, except at the top there is a Miscellaneous category that seems to wrap everything else in the list.  Some of the items in the list do indeed belong to a category that should be called "Miscellaneous" but that just creates a second category with the same name.

To illustrate the problem, here's what the grid looks like when it is fully expanded:

Here's the same grid when collapsing the Fog Settings, Ambient Light Color, and bottom Miscellaneous categories:

Finally, here's what happens when I collapse the top Miscellaneous category:

It's like the top category contains all the other categories.  Is there any way to get rid of that?

Also, while I'm at it, I couldn't find a way to get rid of the X boxes on the right hand side of each line.  The values are not read only, but my users shouldn't be able to remove them from the grid.

Thanks a bunch!

 - Mike -

Hi Mike,

First, regarding the "remove" boxes: set AllowModifyCollections="False" on the property grid and they should go away.

Regarding the unwanted mystery category, I am not quite sure exactly how you are setting up the categories but it looks like you already have a GroupDescription in place, possibly by setting the PropertyGrid.Grouping property or possibly from the built-in toolbar, and you are then adding your PropertyReader-based GroupDescription to that.  (WPF interprets multiple GroupDescriptions as a hierarchy of groups.)

Try clearing BindingView.DefaultView.GroupDescriptions before adding your grouper, e.g.:

grid.BindingView.DefaultView.GroupDescriptions.Clear();
grid.BindingView.DefaultView.GroupDescriptions.Add(new PropertyGroupDescription("Node", new CatConv()));

or, more simply, set the Grouping property instead of adding the the GroupDescriptions collection:

grid.Grouping = new PropertyGroupDescription("Node", new CatConv());

(The article you cite was written before we added the Grouping property, hence the slightly more complicated advice.)

If this doesn't help can you post a small repro project (or email it via the Contact form if it would contains sensitive info) and I will investigate further. 

Ivan, that did it.  It's working great!  Thanks a bunch!

 - Mike -