I would suggest using a Canvas control instead. Here is an example Canvas control that anything you put in it will allow the user to drag around as well as resize:
Not the original code is NOT mine, although I have done some modifications to it, this was something I found on the web. (would love to quote the source here but I've long since forgotten unfortunately.)
Hopefully this helps, or at least points you in the right direction for what your looking for.
SuperCanvas:
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using Meld.Helpers;
namespace Meld.Controls
{
public class SuperCanvas : Canvas
{
private AdornerLayer aLayer;
private bool isDown;
private bool isDragging;
private double originalLeft;
private double originalTop;
private bool selected;
private UIElement selectedElement;
private Point startPoint;
private bool locked;
public SuperCanvas()
{
Loaded += OnLoaded;
}
private void OnLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
MouseLeftButtonDown += WorkspaceWindow_MouseLeftButtonDown;
MouseLeftButtonUp += DragFinishedMouseHandler;
MouseMove += WorkspaceWindow_MouseMove;
MouseLeave += Window1_MouseLeave;
PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown += myCanvas_PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown;
PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp += DragFinishedMouseHandler;
}
// Handler for drag stopping on leaving the window
private void Window1_MouseLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
StopDragging();
e.Handled = true;
}
// Handler for drag stopping on user choice
private void DragFinishedMouseHandler(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
StopDragging();
e.Handled = true;
}
// Method for stopping dragging
private void StopDragging()
{
if (isDown)
{
isDown = false;
isDragging = false;
}
}
// Hanler for providing drag operation with selected element
private void WorkspaceWindow_MouseMove(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
if (locked) return;
if (isDown)
{
if ((isDragging == false) &&
((Math.Abs(e.GetPosition(this).X - startPoint.X) >
SystemParameters.MinimumHorizontalDragDistance) ||
(Math.Abs(e.GetPosition(this).Y - startPoint.Y) > SystemParameters.MinimumVerticalDragDistance)))
isDragging = true;
if (isDragging)
{
Point position = Mouse.GetPosition(this);
SetTop(selectedElement, position.Y - (startPoint.Y - originalTop));
SetLeft(selectedElement, position.X - (startPoint.X - originalLeft));
}
}
}
// Handler for clearing element selection, adorner removal
private void WorkspaceWindow_MouseLeftButtonDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
if (locked) return;
if (selected)
{
selected = false;
if (selectedElement != null)
{
aLayer.Remove(aLayer.GetAdorners(selectedElement)[0]);
selectedElement = null;
}
}
}
// Handler for element selection on the canvas providing resizing adorner
private void myCanvas_PreviewMouseLeftButtonDown(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
//add code to lock dragging and dropping things.
if (locked)
{
e.Handled = true;
return;
}
// Remove selection on clicking anywhere the window
if (selected)
{
selected = false;
if (selectedElement != null)
{
// Remove the adorner from the selected element
aLayer.Remove(aLayer.GetAdorners(selectedElement)[0]);
selectedElement = null;
}
}
// If any element except canvas is clicked,
// assign the selected element and add the adorner
if (e.Source != this)
{
isDown = true;
startPoint = e.GetPosition(this);
selectedElement = e.Source as UIElement;
originalLeft = GetLeft(selectedElement);
originalTop = GetTop(selectedElement);
aLayer = AdornerLayer.GetAdornerLayer(selectedElement);
aLayer.Add(new ResizingAdorner(selectedElement));
selected = true;
e.Handled = true;
}
}
}
}
And the ResizingAdorner:
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Controls.Primitives;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
namespace Meld.Helpers
{
internal class ResizingAdorner : Adorner
{
// Resizing adorner uses Thumbs for visual elements.
// The Thumbs have built-in mouse input handling.
Thumb topLeft, topRight, bottomLeft, bottomRight;
// To store and manage the adorner's visual children.
VisualCollection visualChildren;
// Initialize the ResizingAdorner.
public ResizingAdorner(UIElement adornedElement) : base(adornedElement)
{
visualChildren = new VisualCollection(this);
// Call a helper method to initialize the Thumbs
// with a customized cursors.
BuildAdornerCorner(ref topLeft, Cursors.SizeNWSE);
BuildAdornerCorner(ref topRight, Cursors.SizeNESW);
BuildAdornerCorner(ref bottomLeft, Cursors.SizeNESW);
BuildAdornerCorner(ref bottomRight, Cursors.SizeNWSE);
// Add handlers for resizing.
bottomLeft.DragDelta += new DragDeltaEventHandler(HandleBottomLeft);
bottomRight.DragDelta += new DragDeltaEventHandler(HandleBottomRight);
topLeft.DragDelta += new DragDeltaEventHandler(HandleTopLeft);
topRight.DragDelta += new DragDeltaEventHandler(HandleTopRight);
}
// Handler for resizing from the bottom-right.
void HandleBottomRight(object sender, DragDeltaEventArgs args)
{
FrameworkElement adornedElement = this.AdornedElement as FrameworkElement;
Thumb hitThumb = sender as Thumb;
if (adornedElement == null || hitThumb == null) return;
FrameworkElement parentElement = adornedElement.Parent as FrameworkElement;
// Ensure that the Width and Height are properly initialized after the resize.
EnforceSize(adornedElement);
// Change the size by the amount the user drags the mouse, as long as it's larger
// than the width or height of an adorner, respectively.
adornedElement.Width = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width + args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
adornedElement.Height = Math.Max(args.VerticalChange + adornedElement.Height, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
}
// Handler for resizing from the top-right.
void HandleTopRight(object sender, DragDeltaEventArgs args)
{
FrameworkElement adornedElement = this.AdornedElement as FrameworkElement;
Thumb hitThumb = sender as Thumb;
if (adornedElement == null || hitThumb == null) return;
FrameworkElement parentElement = adornedElement.Parent as FrameworkElement;
// Ensure that the Width and Height are properly initialized after the resize.
EnforceSize(adornedElement);
// Change the size by the amount the user drags the mouse, as long as it's larger
// than the width or height of an adorner, respectively.
adornedElement.Width = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width + args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
//adornedElement.Height = Math.Max(adornedElement.Height - args.VerticalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
double height_old = adornedElement.Height;
double height_new = Math.Max(adornedElement.Height - args.VerticalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
double top_old = Canvas.GetTop(adornedElement);
adornedElement.Height = height_new;
Canvas.SetTop(adornedElement, top_old - (height_new - height_old));
}
// Handler for resizing from the top-left.
void HandleTopLeft(object sender, DragDeltaEventArgs args)
{
FrameworkElement adornedElement = AdornedElement as FrameworkElement;
Thumb hitThumb = sender as Thumb;
if (adornedElement == null || hitThumb == null) return;
// Ensure that the Width and Height are properly initialized after the resize.
EnforceSize(adornedElement);
// Change the size by the amount the user drags the mouse, as long as it's larger
// than the width or height of an adorner, respectively.
//adornedElement.Width = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width - args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
//adornedElement.Height = Math.Max(adornedElement.Height - args.VerticalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
double width_old = adornedElement.Width;
double width_new = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width - args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
double left_old = Canvas.GetLeft(adornedElement);
adornedElement.Width = width_new;
Canvas.SetLeft(adornedElement, left_old - (width_new - width_old));
double height_old = adornedElement.Height;
double height_new = Math.Max(adornedElement.Height - args.VerticalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
double top_old = Canvas.GetTop(adornedElement);
adornedElement.Height = height_new;
Canvas.SetTop(adornedElement, top_old - (height_new - height_old));
}
// Handler for resizing from the bottom-left.
void HandleBottomLeft(object sender, DragDeltaEventArgs args)
{
FrameworkElement adornedElement = AdornedElement as FrameworkElement;
Thumb hitThumb = sender as Thumb;
if (adornedElement == null || hitThumb == null) return;
// Ensure that the Width and Height are properly initialized after the resize.
EnforceSize(adornedElement);
// Change the size by the amount the user drags the mouse, as long as it's larger
// than the width or height of an adorner, respectively.
//adornedElement.Width = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width - args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
adornedElement.Height = Math.Max(args.VerticalChange + adornedElement.Height, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Height);
double width_old = adornedElement.Width;
double width_new = Math.Max(adornedElement.Width - args.HorizontalChange, hitThumb.DesiredSize.Width);
double left_old = Canvas.GetLeft(adornedElement);
adornedElement.Width = width_new;
Canvas.SetLeft(adornedElement, left_old - (width_new - width_old));
}
// Arrange the Adorners.
protected override Size ArrangeOverride(Size finalSize)
{
// desiredWidth and desiredHeight are the width and height of the element that's being adorned.
// These will be used to place the ResizingAdorner at the corners of the adorned element.
double desiredWidth = AdornedElement.DesiredSize.Width;
double desiredHeight = AdornedElement.DesiredSize.Height;
// adornerWidth & adornerHeight are used for placement as well.
double adornerWidth = this.DesiredSize.Width;
double adornerHeight = this.DesiredSize.Height;
topLeft.Arrange(new Rect(-adornerWidth / 2, -adornerHeight / 2, adornerWidth, adornerHeight));
topRight.Arrange(new Rect(desiredWidth - adornerWidth / 2, -adornerHeight / 2, adornerWidth, adornerHeight));
bottomLeft.Arrange(new Rect(-adornerWidth / 2, desiredHeight - adornerHeight / 2, adornerWidth, adornerHeight));
bottomRight.Arrange(new Rect(desiredWidth - adornerWidth / 2, desiredHeight - adornerHeight / 2, adornerWidth, adornerHeight));
// Return the final size.
return finalSize;
}
// Helper method to instantiate the corner Thumbs, set the Cursor property,
// set some appearance properties, and add the elements to the visual tree.
void BuildAdornerCorner(ref Thumb cornerThumb, Cursor customizedCursor)
{
if (cornerThumb != null) return;
cornerThumb = new Thumb();
// Set some arbitrary visual characteristics.
cornerThumb.Cursor = customizedCursor;
cornerThumb.Height = cornerThumb.Width = 5;
cornerThumb.Opacity = 0.40;
cornerThumb.Background = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.White);
visualChildren.Add(cornerThumb);
}
// This method ensures that the Widths and Heights are initialized. Sizing to content produces
// Width and Height values of Double.NaN. Because this Adorner explicitly resizes, the Width and Height
// need to be set first. It also sets the maximum size of the adorned element.
void EnforceSize(FrameworkElement adornedElement)
{
if (adornedElement.Width.Equals(Double.NaN))
adornedElement.Width = adornedElement.DesiredSize.Width;
if (adornedElement.Height.Equals(Double.NaN))
adornedElement.Height = adornedElement.DesiredSize.Height;
FrameworkElement parent = adornedElement.Parent as FrameworkElement;
if (parent != null)
{
adornedElement.MaxHeight = parent.ActualHeight;
adornedElement.MaxWidth = parent.ActualWidth;
}
}
// Override the VisualChildrenCount and GetVisualChild properties to interface with
// the adorner's visual collection.
protected override int VisualChildrenCount { get { return visualChildren.Count; } }
protected override Visual GetVisualChild(int index) { return visualChildren[index]; }
}
}