Column Drag and Drop in Xamarin DataGrid (SfDataGrid)

4 Apr 20248 minutes to read

The SfDataGrid allows dragging and dropping a column header by setting the SfDataGrid.AllowDraggingColumn property to true. The Drag view is displayed while dragging a column header. Based on the requirements, drag and drop operations can be handled by using the SfDataGrid.QueryColumnDragging event.

To enable column drag and drop, follow the code example:

<syncfusion:SfDataGrid AllowDraggingColumn="True" />
dataGrid.AllowDraggingColumn = true;

DataGrid with column drag and drop

Column drag and drop events

The QueryColumnDragging event is fired while dragging a column. It will be continuously fired till the dragging ends. By handling the SfDataGrid.QueryColumnDragging event, dragging of a particular column header can be canceled.

QueryColumnDragging event provides the following properties in the QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs:

  • From: Returns index of the currently dragging column.
  • To: Returns dragging index where you try to drop the column.
  • Reason: Returns the column dragging details as the QueryColumnDraggingReason.
  • DraggingPosition: Returns positions of the drag view during column drag and drop operations.
  • CanAutoScroll: Returns whether auto-scrolling should happen when column drag view reaches the left or right ends of the SfDataGrid.
  • Cancel: Returns the boolean property to cancel the event.

Cancel dragging of a particular column

Dragging of a particular column can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason argument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.From returns the index of the dragged column.
    //e.Reason returns the dragging status of the column.
    if (e.From == 1 && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragStarted)
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel dropping when dragging for a particular column

Dropping when dragging a particular column can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason argument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.To returns the index of the current column.
    //e.Reason returns the dragging status of the column.
    if ((e.To > 5 || e.To < 10) &&
    (e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragEnded || e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.Dragging))
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel dropping for a particular column

Dropping of a particular column can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason argument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.From returns the index of the dragged column.
    //e.Reason returns the dragging status of the column.
    if (e.From == 1 && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragEnded)
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel dropping at a particular position

Dropping at a particular position can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason argument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.To returns the index of the current column.
    //e.Reason returns the dragging status of the column.
    if ((e.To == 5 || e.To == 7) && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragEnded)
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel dropping of a particular column in a position

Dropping of a particular column in a position can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason and Position arguments of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.To returns the index of the current column.
    //e.DraggingPosition returns the x and y position of the current column
     if (e.DraggingPosition == new Point(100,100) && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragEnded)
                e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel drag and drop between frozen and non-frozen columns

Cancel dragging between frozen and non-frozen columns

Dragging between frozen and non-frozen columns can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason and From arguments of the QueryColumnDragging event handler by checking whether the value of From argument is a frozen column index.

SfGrid.FrozenColumnsCount = 2;

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.From returns the index of the dragged column.
    //e.To returns the index of the current column.
      if (e.From < 2 && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragStarted)
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Cancel dropping between frozen and non-frozen columns

Dropping between frozen and non-frozen columns can be canceled using QueryColumnDraggingReason and Fromargument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler by checking whether the e.From value is a frozen column index.

SfGrid.FrozenColumnsCount = 2;

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{
    //e.From returns the index of the dragged column.
    //e.To returns the index of the current column.
      if (e.From < 2 && e.Reason == QueryColumnDraggingReason.DragEnded)
        e.Cancel = true;
}

Customize column drag and drop indicators

The SfDataGrid allows customizing the column drag and drop indicators by writing the custom grid style, deriving from the DataGridStyle and assigning it to the SfDataGrid.GridStyle property.

dataGrid.GridStyle = new CustomGridStyle();
// Custom style class
public class CustomGridStyle : DataGridStyle
{
    public CustomGridStyle()
    {
            
    }
    public override ImageSource GetColumnDragUpIndicator()
    {
        return ImageSource.FromResource("DataGridDemo.icons.GreenUp.png");
    }
             
    public override ImageSource GetColumnDragDownIndicator()
    {
        return ImageSource.FromResource("DataGridDemo.icons.GreenDown.png");
    }
}

DataGrid with customized indicators when dragging a column

Cancel auto scrolling

Horizontal auto-scrolling of the SfDataGrid during column drag and drop can be canceled using CanAutoScroll argument of the QueryColumnDragging event handler.

this.SfGrid.QueryColumnDragging += SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging;

private void SfGrid_QueryColumnDragging(object sender, QueryColumnDraggingEventArgs e)
{  
    // Disable scroll while dragging the columns.   
    e.CanAutoScroll = false;
}

NOTE

You can refer to our Xamarin DataGrid feature tour page for its groundbreaking feature representations. You can also explore our Xamarin.Forms DataGrid example to knows various chart types and how to easily configured with built-in support for creating stunning visual effects.