Sort on multiple columns in WPF datagrid

Question

How can I set up my WPF datagrid to sort on multiple columns similar to having two sortable columns, clicking on the header of the first column for a primary sort and then S

Answer 1

I hope this will help others. My solution keep the default sort functionality and allow sorting on multiple columns.

Put a sorting event on your datagrid

<DataGrid x:Name="dataGridName" Sorting="dataGridName_Sorting">

And now in your code behind

private void dataGridName_Sorting(object sender, DataGridSortingEventArgs e)
{
    var dgSender = (DataGrid) sender;
    var cView = CollectionViewSource.GetDefaultView(dgSender.ItemsSource);

    //Alternate between ascending/descending if the same column is clicked 
    ListSortDirection direction = ListSortDirection.Ascending;
    if (cView.SortDescriptions.FirstOrDefault().PropertyName == e.Column.SortMemberPath)
        direction = cView.SortDescriptions.FirstOrDefault().Direction == ListSortDirection.Descending ? ListSortDirection.Ascending : ListSortDirection.Descending;

    cView.SortDescriptions.Clear();
    AddSortColumn((DataGrid)sender, e.Column.SortMemberPath, direction);
    //To this point the default sort functionality is implemented

    //Now check the wanted columns and add multiple sort 
    if (e.Column.SortMemberPath == "WantedColumn")
    {
        AddSortColumn((DataGrid)sender, "SecondColumn", direction);
    }
    e.Handled = true;
}

private void AddSortColumn(DataGrid sender, string sortColumn, ListSortDirection direction)
{
    var cView = CollectionViewSource.GetDefaultView(sender.ItemsSource);
    cView.SortDescriptions.Add(new SortDescription(sortColumn, direction));
    //Add the sort arrow on the DataGridColumn
    foreach (var col in sender.Columns.Where(x => x.SortMemberPath == sortColumn))
    {
        col.SortDirection = direction;
    }
}

The sortDirection on the DataGridColumn allow showing the arrow on the grid.

Answer 2

You can do this by adding System.ComponentModel namespace like this:

xmlns:scm="clr-namespace:System.ComponentModel;assembly=WindowsBase"

then inside the CollectionViewSource XAML add new SortDescriptions like this:

<CollectionViewSource … >
            <CollectionViewSource.SortDescriptions>
                <scm:SortDescription PropertyName="Column1"/>
                <scm:SortDescription PropertyName="Column2"/>
            </CollectionViewSource.SortDescriptions>
</CollectionViewSource>

this will sort datagrid on column1,column2.

Edit:

also doing this using C# code behind is pretty easy :

    private void btnSort_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource myViewSource = ((System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource)(this.FindResource("The_ViewSource_Name")));
        myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Add(new SortDescription("Column1", ListSortDirection.Ascending));
        myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Add(new SortDescription("Column2", ListSortDirection.Ascending));
    }

Edit2:

Workaround can be made to catch the column header left mouse click event and prevent the grid from sort on that column like this:

• Disable grid property named CanUserSortColumns

• Add this code to the grid PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp event :

  private void myDataGrid_PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
  {
      DependencyObject dep = (DependencyObject)e.OriginalSource;
      while ((dep != null) &&
      !(dep is DataGridCell) &&
      !(dep is DataGridColumnHeader))
      {
          dep = VisualTreeHelper.GetParent(dep);
      }
  
      if (dep == null)
          return;
  
      if (dep is DataGridColumnHeader)
      {
          DataGridColumnHeader columnHeader = dep as DataGridColumnHeader;
          // check if this is the wanted column
          if (columnHeader.Column.Header.ToString() == "The_Wanted_Column_Title")
          {
              System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource myViewSource = ((System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource)(this.FindResource("myViewSource")));
              myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Clear();
              myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Add(new SortDescription("Column1", ListSortDirection.Ascending));
              myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Add(new SortDescription("Column2", ListSortDirection.Ascending));
          }
          else
          {
              //usort the grid on clicking on any other columns, or maybe do another sort combination
              System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource myViewSource = ((System.Windows.Data.CollectionViewSource)(this.FindResource("myViewSource")));
              myViewSource.SortDescriptions.Clear();
          }
  
      }
  }
  

You can modify and expand this code to achieve your requirements.