WPF DataGrid programmatically add complex columns

Question

I'm trying to add columns to my DataGrid programmatically as they're not known until run-time. I've got most of the way there and adding a "normal" column from the code behind isn't a problem. However the column I'm trying to add now has a DataTemplate. Here's the XAML:

<DataGridTemplateColumn Header="{Binding colHeader}">
    <DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <Border BorderBrush="{Binding BorderColour}" BorderThickness="2">
                <TextBlock Text="{Binding TextInfo}" />
            </Border>
        </DataTemplate>
     </DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate>
 </DataGridTemplateColumn>

Normally I'd use something like this to create a column to add to the grid:

Private Function AddColumn(colHeader As String, colBinding As String) As DataGridColumn
    Dim textColumn As New DataGridTextColumn()
    textColumn.Header = colHeader
    textColumn.Binding = New Binding(colBinding)
    Return textColumn
End Sub

But I'm stumped as to how to add the more complex XAML. Any suggestions?

Thanks for any help!

Answer 1

Define the DataTemplate of your column in a resource dictionary with a x:Key property then access it in your code behind to set your cell template.

<DataTemplate x:Key="your_data_template">
    <Border BorderBrush="{Binding BorderColour}" BorderThickness="2">
        <TextBlock Text="{Binding TextInfo}" />
    </Border>
</DataTemplate>

Then in the code behind

textColumn.CellTemplate = Application.Current.FindResource("your_data_template") as DataTemplate