Copy/paste full row, full column, a cell on datagrid using MVVM?

Question

What is the best way to implement on datagrid? As I am new on this, I had some researches but I am confused because there are some complicated implementations and easy ones? I try to understand the best way.
Adding simply selection mode and selection Unit doesnt help. Because it only copies the row but I cant paste it simply as a new row.
 SelectionMode="Extended" SelectionUnit="FullRow" >
this approach in the article looks old to me. Not sure if there is anything new and much easier with newest framework. I am using MVVM light in my project.
Attached is the sample project similar to my original project. can you please recommend me the best way for the following?
- Full Row(s) copy-paste
-1 or multiple columns copy-paste (optional)
- cell copy-paste
"Debugging is twice as hard as writing the code in the first place. Therefore, if you write the code as cleverly as possible, you are, by definition, not smart enough to debug it."

Answer 1

I found the code out my project.  I last looked at this back in 2011.
This is a custom control inheriting from datagrid.
I don't recall where I got this code from originally.
public class CustomDataGrid : DataGrid
static CustomDataGrid()
CommandManager.RegisterClassCommandBinding(
typeof(CustomDataGrid),
new CommandBinding(ApplicationCommands.Paste,
new ExecutedRoutedEventHandler(OnExecutedPaste),
new CanExecuteRoutedEventHandler(OnCanExecutePaste)));
#region Clipboard Paste
private static void OnCanExecutePaste(object target, CanExecuteRoutedEventArgs args)
((CustomDataGrid)target).OnCanExecutePaste(args);
/// <summary>
/// This virtual method is called when ApplicationCommands.Paste command query its state.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="args"></param>
protected virtual void OnCanExecutePaste(CanExecuteRoutedEventArgs args)
args.CanExecute = CurrentCell != null;
args.Handled = true;
private static void OnExecutedPaste(object target, ExecutedRoutedEventArgs args)
((CustomDataGrid)target).OnExecutedPaste(args);
/// <summary>
/// This virtual method is called when ApplicationCommands.Paste command is executed.
/// </summary>
/// <param name="args"></param>
protected virtual void OnExecutedPaste(ExecutedRoutedEventArgs args)
// parse the clipboard data
List<string[]> rowData = ClipboardHelper.ParseClipboardData();
bool hasAddedNewRow = false;
// call OnPastingCellClipboardContent for each cell
int minRowIndex = Items.IndexOf(CurrentItem);
int maxRowIndex = Items.Count - 1;
int minColumnDisplayIndex = (SelectionUnit != DataGridSelectionUnit.FullRow) ? Columns.IndexOf(CurrentColumn) : 0;
int maxColumnDisplayIndex = Columns.Count - 1;
int rowDataIndex = 0;
for (int i = minRowIndex; i <= maxRowIndex && rowDataIndex < rowData.Count; i++, rowDataIndex++)
if (CanUserPasteToNewRows && CanUserAddRows && i == maxRowIndex)
// add a new row to be pasted to
ICollectionView cv = CollectionViewSource.GetDefaultView(Items);
IEditableCollectionView iecv = cv as IEditableCollectionView;
if (iecv != null)
hasAddedNewRow = true;
iecv.AddNew();
if (rowDataIndex + 1 < rowData.Count)
// still has more items to paste, update the maxRowIndex
maxRowIndex = Items.Count - 1;
else if (i == maxRowIndex)
continue;
int columnDataIndex = 0;
for (int j = minColumnDisplayIndex; j <= maxColumnDisplayIndex && columnDataIndex < rowData[rowDataIndex].Length; j++, columnDataIndex++)
DataGridColumn column = ColumnFromDisplayIndex(j);
column.OnPastingCellClipboardContent(Items[i], rowData[rowDataIndex][columnDataIndex]);
// update selection
if (hasAddedNewRow)
UnselectAll();
UnselectAllCells();
CurrentItem = Items[minRowIndex];
if (SelectionUnit == DataGridSelectionUnit.FullRow)
SelectedItem = Items[minRowIndex];
else if (SelectionUnit == DataGridSelectionUnit.CellOrRowHeader ||
SelectionUnit == DataGridSelectionUnit.Cell)
SelectedCells.Add(new DataGridCellInfo(Items[minRowIndex], Columns[minColumnDisplayIndex]));
/// <summary>
/// Whether the end-user can add new rows to the ItemsSource.
/// </summary>
public bool CanUserPasteToNewRows
get { return (bool)GetValue(CanUserPasteToNewRowsProperty); }
set { SetValue(CanUserPasteToNewRowsProperty, value); }
/// <summary>
/// DependencyProperty for CanUserAddRows.
/// </summary>
public static readonly DependencyProperty CanUserPasteToNewRowsProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("CanUserPasteToNewRows",
typeof(bool), typeof(CustomDataGrid),
new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(true, null, null));
#endregion Clipboard Paste
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