How to programmatically click a button in WPF?

Question

Since there\'s no button.PerformClick() method in WPF, is there a way to click a WPF button programmatically?

Answer 1

The problem with the Automation API solution is, that it required a reference to the Framework assembly UIAutomationProvider as project/package dependency.

An alternative is to emulate the behaviour. In the following there is my extended solution which also condiders the MVVM-pattern with its bound commands - implemented as extension method:

public static class ButtonExtensions
{
    /// 

    /// Performs a click on the button.

    /// This is the WPF-equivalent of the Windows Forms method "".
    /// This simulates the same behaviours as the button was clicked by the user by keyboard or mouse:

    /// 1. The raising the ClickEvent.

    /// 2.1. Checking that the bound command can be executed, calling , if a command is bound.

    /// 2.2. If command can be executed, then the  will be called and the optional bound parameter is p
    /// 
    /// 
    /// The source button.
    /// sourceButton
    public static void PerformClick(this Button sourceButton)
    {
        // Check parameters
        if (sourceButton == null)
            throw new ArgumentNullException(nameof(sourceButton));

        // 1.) Raise the Click-event
        sourceButton.RaiseEvent(new RoutedEventArgs(System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.ButtonBase.ClickEvent));

        // 2.) Execute the command, if bound and can be executed
        ICommand boundCommand = sourceButton.Command;
        if (boundCommand != null)
        {
            object parameter = sourceButton.CommandParameter;
            if (boundCommand.CanExecute(parameter) == true)
                boundCommand.Execute(parameter);
        }
    }
}