Getting Started with WPF GridSplitter (SfGridSplitter)

18 Feb 202524 minutes to read

This section explains how to create a WPF GridSplitter (SfGridSplitter) and explains about its structure.

Structure of SfGridSplitter

WPF SfGridSplitter Control

Visual representation

Getting started with SfGridSplitter

Assembly deployment

Refer to the control dependencies section to get the list of assemblies or NuGet package that needs to be added as a reference to use the control in any application.

You can find more details about installing the NuGet package in a WPF application in the following link:

How to install nuget packages

Adding control manually in XAML

To add the control manually in XAML, follow the given steps:

  1. Add the following required assembly references to the project:
    • Syncfusion.SfInput.WPF
    • Syncfusion.SfShared.WPF
  2. Import Syncfusion® WPF schema http://schemas.syncfusion.com/wpf in the XAML page.

  3. Declare the SfGridSplitter control in the XAML page.

    <Window xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:syncfusion="http://schemas.syncfusion.com/wpf" 
        x:Class="SfGridSplitterSample.MainWindow"
        Title="SfGridSplitter Sample" Height="350" Width="525">
    <Grid>
        <!-- Adding SfGridSplitter control -->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter x:Name="sfGridSplitter"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"/>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Add control manually in C#

To add the control manually in C#, follow the given steps:

  1. Add the following required assembly references to the project:
    • Syncfusion.SfInput.WPF
    • Syncfusion.SfShared.WPF
  2. Import the SfGridSplitter namespace using Syncfusion.Windows.Controls.Input;.

  3. Create an SfGridSplitter instance, and add it to the window.

    using Syncfusion.Windows.Controls.Input;
namespace SfGridSplitterSample {    
    public partial class MainWindow : Window {
        public MainWindow() {
            InitializeComponent();
   
            //Creating an instance of SfGridSplitter control
            SfGridSplitter sfGridSplitter = new SfGridSplitter();
            sfGridSplitter.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Stretch;
   
            //Adding SfGridSplitter as window content
            this.Content = sfGridSplitter;
        } 
    }
}

SfGridSplitter control added by code

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Resize the grid rows

If we want to resize the specific grid rows, place the SfGridSplitter on next or previous row and set the HorizontalAlignment property as Stretch and ResizeBehavior property value as PreviousAndNext.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Name="gridSplitter"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" 
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Row="1">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

Resize the grid rows using SfGridSplitter

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Resize the grid columns

If we want to resize the specific grid columns, place the SfGridSplitter on next or previous column and set the VerticalAlignment property as Stretch and ResizeBehavior property value as PreviousAndNext.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition />
            <ColumnDefinition Width="auto" />
            <ColumnDefinition />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Column="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Column="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Name="gridSplitter"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" 
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Column="1">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

Resize the grid columns using SfGridSplitter

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

NOTE

We can restrict the moving location of the grid splitter (Left or Right or Bottom or Top) by setting the value for ResizeBehavior property. The ResizeBehavior value must be assigned based on the row or column where the grid splitter placed.

Resizing the grid rows and columns with specific pixel

If we want to resize the rows or columns of grid with particular pixel interval, Set the pixel value for DragIncrement and KeyboardIncrement properties. If we move the splitter using the mouse, DragIncrement property values is used as resize pixel interval. If we move the splitter using the Up-Down buttons, KeyboardIncrement property values is used as resize pixel interval. The default value of DragIncrement property is 1 and KeyboardIncrement property is 20.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter DragIncrement="50"
                                   KeyboardIncrement="50"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Row="1">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

Resizing the grid rows and colums with specific pixel

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Resize the grid rows or columns programmatically

We can move the splitter and resize the affected columns or rows programmatically with certain pixels by passing the pixel value in MoveSplitter(Double) method.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Name="gridSplitter"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" 
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Row="1">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>
//GridSplitter moves 50 pixels.
gridSplitter.MoveSplitter(50);

Show or hide the grid row and columns

We can collapse or expands the element in either side of the splitter by clicking the collapse buttons. We can show or hide the collapse button by using the EnableCollapseButton property value as true. The default value of EnableCollapseButton is false.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter EnableCollapseButton="True"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Row="1" >
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

Show or hide the grid row and columns

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Custom UI for Collapse buttons

If you you want to change the UI of horizontal splitter up and down collapse button separately, use the UpButtonTemplate and DownButtonTemplate properties. If you want to change the UI of vertical splitter left and right collapse button, use the LeftButtonTemplate and RightButtonTemplate properties

NOTE

You can see the effect of collapse button templates only on when EnableCollapseButton property value is true.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition />
            <ColumnDefinition Width="auto" />
            <ColumnDefinition />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <TextBlock  HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                    VerticalAlignment="Center"
                    Grid.Row="0"
                    Grid.Column="0" 
                    TextAlignment="Center"
                    Text="Panel 1"/>

        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   Grid.Row="2"
                   Grid.Column="0"
                   Text="Panel 2"/>

        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   Grid.RowSpan="3"
                   Grid.Column="2"
                   Text="Panel 3"/>

        <!--Horizontal Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.Row="1"
                                   Grid.Column="0"
                                   Height="5"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   EnableCollapseButton="True"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext">

            <!--Up button template-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.UpButtonTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <Ellipse Width="20" Height="20" Fill="Blue"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.UpButtonTemplate>

            <!--Down button template-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.DownButtonTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <Ellipse Width="20" Height="20" Fill="Orange"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.DownButtonTemplate>              
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>

        <!--Vertical Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.RowSpan="3"
                                   Grid.Column="1"
                                   Width="5"
                                   VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   EnableCollapseButton="True"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"    
                                   ShowsPreview="True">
            <!--Left button template-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.LeftButtonTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <Ellipse Width="20" Height="20" Fill="Red"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.LeftButtonTemplate>

            <!--Right button template-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.RightButtonTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <Ellipse Width="20" Height="20" Fill="Green"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.RightButtonTemplate>
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

SfGridSplitter with expand or collapse button template

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Custom UI for expander gripper

If you you want to change the UI of vertical and horizontal splitter gripper separately, use the VerticalGripperTemplate and HorizontalGripperTemplate properties.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition />
            <ColumnDefinition Width="auto" />
            <ColumnDefinition />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <TextBlock  HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                    VerticalAlignment="Center"
                    Grid.Row="0"
                    Grid.Column="0" 
                    Text="Panel 1"/>

        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   Grid.Row="2"
                   Grid.Column="0" 
                   Text="Panel 2"/>

        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   Grid.RowSpan="3"
                   Grid.Column="2" 
                   Text="Panel 3"/>

        <!--Horizontal Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.Row="1"
                                   Grid.Column="0"
                                   Height="20"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   EnableCollapseButton="True"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"
                                   ShowsPreview="True">

            <!--Horizontal Gripper Template-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.HorizontalGripperTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <TextBlock Background="Blue" 
                               Foreground="White"
                               TextAlignment="Center"
                               VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                               HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                               Text="Click and drag" 
                               Width="90"
                               Height="20"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.HorizontalGripperTemplate>   
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>

        <!--Vertical Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.RowSpan="3"
                                   Grid.Column="1"
                                   Width="20"
                                   VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   EnableCollapseButton="True"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext"  
                                   ShowsPreview="True">

            <!--Vertical GripperTemplate-->
            <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.VerticalGripperTemplate>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <TextBlock Background="Red" 
                               Foreground="White"
                               TextAlignment="Center"
                               VerticalAlignment="Center"
                               HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                               Text="Click and drag" 
                               Width="90" 
                               Height="20">
                        <TextBlock.LayoutTransform>
                            <RotateTransform Angle="-90"/>
                        </TextBlock.LayoutTransform>
                    </TextBlock>
                </DataTemplate>
            </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter.VerticalGripperTemplate>
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

SfGridSplitter with custom gripper

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Deferred resizing

We can directly redistribute the row or columns by using SfGridSplitter. If we want to preview the location of redistributing row or columns before it changed, we can use the ShowsPreview property as true.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" 
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center"
                   VerticalAlignment="Center"
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2"
                   HorizontalAlignment="Center" 
                   VerticalAlignment="Center" 
                   TextAlignment="Center"
                   Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Grid Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter ShowsPreview="True"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   Width="auto"
                                   Grid.Row="1" >
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

SfGridSplitter with deferred resizing

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Grid splitter for the merged columns or rows

If we want resize the merged columns or rows, place the grid splitter on next or previous row or column of the grid.

<Border
    Margin="10"
    BorderBrush="DarkGray"
    BorderThickness="1">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition />
            <RowDefinition Height="auto" />
            <RowDefinition />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition />
            <ColumnDefinition Width="auto" />
            <ColumnDefinition />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <TextBlock  HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center"
            Grid.Row="0"
            Grid.Column="0" TextAlignment="Center"
             Text="Panel 1">
        </TextBlock>
        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" 
            Grid.Row="2"
            Grid.Column="0" Text="Panel 2">
        </TextBlock>

        <TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" 
            Grid.RowSpan="3"
            Grid.Column="2" Text="Panel 3">
        </TextBlock>

        <!--Horizontal Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.Row="1"
                                   Grid.Column="0"
                                   Height="5"
                                   HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>

        <!--Vertical Splitter-->
        <syncfusion:SfGridSplitter Grid.RowSpan="3"
                                   Grid.Column="1"
                                   Width="5"
                                   VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
                                   ResizeBehavior="PreviousAndNext">
        </syncfusion:SfGridSplitter>
    </Grid>
</Border>

Grid splitter for the merged columns or rows

NOTE

View Sample in GitHub

Theme

SfGridSplitter supports various built-in themes. Refer to the below links to apply themes for the SfGridSplitter,

Setting theme to WPF SfGridSplitter