How to enable paste using CTRL+V in empty listbox?

Question

I have an empty listbox which I would like to allow the user to paste items into. Currently I make sure the listbox has focus (as per WPF: How to enable a Command?) when the user clicks on it. Then if they right-click the context menu which contains the Paste command will be enabled and can be clicked which is excellent. However if instead of right-clicking the user presses CTRL+V on the keyboard the Paste command does not execute.

So far I can't figure out how to make this work. If the listbox has items in it and one of them is selected everything works fine.

Thanks

Answer 1

Add your own CommandBinding for the Paste-Command to the ListBox.

m_yourlistBoxReference.CommandBindings.Add(new CommandBinding(ApplicationCommands.Paste,YourExecutedHandler,YourCanExecuteHandler));

However, such as you already wrote, you have to ensure that the ListBox is focused, otherwise the CommandBinding will not execute. To ensure this, you can register to the PreviewMouseDown-event and focus the ListBox if not already IsFocused is true.

Answer 2

I'm not a WPF expert; however, in WinForms the easiest way is to add a context menu with the short-cut keys for Cut, Copy, Paste, etc. Then you don't have to do anything but implement the context menu click.