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[WPF] Easiest Way to Create an Animated/Smoothed Scroll Bar

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4 Jan 2020 1  
Here's the best, beautiful and easiest way to create an animated and smooth sliding scroll viewer in WPF Platform (Windows Presentation Foundation).

Introduction

Beholds...

Smooth Sliding & Animated Scrollbar! Brilliant!!!! Isn't it?!

Perhaps many of you have been thinking of something like that and then you went to Google it!

And of course, you thought it should be easy to make stuff like that in WPF!

... and just after some pathetic and hopeless moments, you face the unknown world of confusing codes, random answers, new controllers and ...!

Well, don't give up! There's still a really easy way to create it in a Perfect Shape!

Image 1

Result / GIF 30fps

Why You Shouldn't Use Custom Control For Now?

  • If you're an expert:

    Forget it! Yeah I was just kidding :\ you can build everything you want!

    A Custom Control or even a Serial Killer Robot Rexter! :D

  • If you're not an expert:

    All themes are mounted on a specific resource in WPF and if you create your own custom control, it doesn't support the general resources you have to add them one by one on your own !

Creating the Bases

First of all, create a Window and apply your theme [mahapps, materialDesign, ModernUI, etc.]

// I Use My Custom Theme

Window XAML

<Window x:Class="Tutorial_Projects.SmoothScroll_Window"

        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"

        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"

        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"

        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Tutorial_Projects"

        Title="Easiest Way to Create a Animated/Smoothed Scroll Bar | 
               By NeoTrix2000" Height="338.866" Width="553.846" ResizeMode="NoResize" 

               WindowStartupLocation="CenterScreen">
    
<Grid Background="#FF232323">
        <ScrollViewer Margin="0">
            <RichTextBox Foreground="#FF959595" BorderBrush="{x:Null}" 

             Background="#FF212121" IsReadOnly="True" IsHitTestVisible="False">
                <FlowDocument>
                    <Paragraph>
                        <Run Foreground="#FF0E95AA" FontWeight="Bold" FontSize="18"/>
                    </Paragraph>
                    <Paragraph>
                        <Run Foreground="#FF0E95AA" FontWeight="Bold" 

                         FontSize="18" Text="Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus 
                         error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque"/>
                    </Paragraph>
                    <Paragraph>
                        <Run Foreground="#FF0E95AA" 

                        FontWeight="Bold" FontSize="18" Text=" "/>
                        <Run Text="laudantium, totam rem aperiam, 
                         eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto 
                         beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia 
                         voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur 
                         magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. 
                         Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, 
                         consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora 
                         incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. 
                         Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis 
                         suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? 
                         Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit 
                         esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum 
                         fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et 
                         iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum 
                         deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi 
                         sint occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa 
                         qui officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. 
                         Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. 
                         Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil 
                         impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, 
                         omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. 
                         Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum 
                         necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint 
                         et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur a 
                         sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus maiores alias 
                         consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores repellat. 
                         Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit "/>
                    </Paragraph>
                    <Paragraph>
                        <Run Text="voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, 
                        totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et 
                        quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam 
                        voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, 
                        sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui ratione 
                        voluptatem sequi nesciunt. 
                        Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, 
                        consectetur, adipisci velit, 
                        sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt 
                        ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. 
                        Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis 
                        suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? 
                        Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit 
                        esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum 
                        fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et 
                        iusto odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum 
                        deleniti atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint 
                        occaecati cupiditate non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui 
                        officia deserunt mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. 
                        Et harum quidem rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. 
                        Nam libero tempore, cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio 
                        cumque nihil impedit quo minus id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, 
                        omnis voluptas assumenda est, omnis dolor repellendus. 
                        Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis debitis aut rerum 
                        necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates repudiandae sint 
                        et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum hic tenetur 
                        a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus "/>
                    </Paragraph>
                    <Paragraph>
                        <Run Text="maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis 
                        doloribus asperiores repellat. Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis 
                        iste natus error sit voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, 
                        totam rem aperiam, eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis 
                        et quasi architecto beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. 
                        Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia voluptas sit aspernatur 
                        aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur magni dolores eos qui 
                        ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. Neque porro quisquam est, 
                        qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, consectetur, adipisci velit, 
                        sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora incidunt ut labore et 
                        dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. Ut enim ad minima veniam, 
                        quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis suscipit laboriosam, 
                        nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? Quis autem vel eum iure 
                        reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit esse quam nihil molestiae 
                        consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum fugiat quo voluptas 
                        nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et iusto odio dignissimos 
                        ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti atque corrupti 
                        quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint occaecati cupiditate 
                        non provident, similique sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt 
                        mollitia animi, id est laborum et dolorum fuga. Et harum quidem 
                        rerum facilis est et expedita distinctio. Nam libero tempore, 
                        cum soluta nobis est eligendi optio cumque nihil impedit quo minus 
                        id quod maxime placeat facere possimus, omnis voluptas assumenda est, 
                        omnis dolor repellendus. Temporibus autem quibusdam et aut officiis 
                        debitis aut rerum necessitatibus saepe eveniet ut et voluptates 
                        repudiandae sint et molestiae non recusandae. Itaque earum rerum 
                        hic tenetur a sapiente delectus, ut aut reiciendis voluptatibus 
                        maiores alias consequatur aut perferendis doloribus asperiores 
                        repellat.Sed ut perspiciatis unde omnis iste natus error sit 
                        voluptatem accusantium doloremque laudantium, totam rem aperiam, 
                        eaque ipsa quae ab illo inventore veritatis et quasi architecto 
                        beatae vitae dicta sunt explicabo. Nemo enim ipsam voluptatem quia 
                        voluptas sit aspernatur aut odit aut fugit, sed quia consequuntur 
                        magni dolores eos qui ratione voluptatem sequi nesciunt. 
                        Neque porro quisquam est, qui dolorem ipsum quia dolor sit amet, 
                        consectetur, adipisci velit, sed quia non numquam eius modi tempora 
                        incidunt ut labore et dolore magnam aliquam quaerat voluptatem. 
                        Ut enim ad minima veniam, quis nostrum exercitationem ullam corporis 
                        suscipit laboriosam, nisi ut aliquid ex ea commodi consequatur? 
                        Quis autem vel eum iure reprehenderit qui in ea voluptate velit 
                        esse quam nihil molestiae consequatur, vel illum qui dolorem eum 
                        fugiat quo voluptas nulla pariatur? At vero eos et accusamus et iusto 
                        odio dignissimos ducimus qui blanditiis praesentium voluptatum deleniti 
                        atque corrupti quos dolores et quas molestias excepturi sint"/>
                    </Paragraph>
                </FlowDocument>
            </RichTextBox>
        </ScrollViewer>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Remember to use "Auto" height on everything that is inside the scrollview.

Going to the Next Stage!

  1. Now, you just need to duplicate scrollview to 2 Scrollview !
  2. Rename the first one to "main_scroll" and second one to "scroll_animator".
  3. Now, change the child of scroll_animator to an empty group.
  4. Bind the Height property of empty group to the ActualHeight property of RichTextBox is inside main_scroll.
  5. Well done !

Time to Code!

  • Before we start this section, you need to know WPF standard scrollview doesn't support direct value setting by code in Offset, it's a function like set it to 1, 2, 3! It sucks!
  • Then we need to add the offset property manually, it's really easy to create!
    1. Add a class to your project root. Add Item > Class > ScrollViewFixer.cs
    2. Add this code to your class & save it !

ScrollViewFixer.cs

//// After Namespace
public class ScrollViewFixer: ScrollViewer {
 public static DependencyProperty v_offsetProperty = DependencyProperty.Register
       ("v_offset", typeof(double), typeof(ScrollViewFixer), 
       new PropertyMetadata(new PropertyChangedCallback(OnVerticalChanged)));
 public static DependencyProperty h_offset = DependencyProperty.Register
 ("h_offset", typeof(double), typeof(ScrollViewFixer), 
 new PropertyMetadata(new PropertyChangedCallback(OnHorizontalChanged)));
 
private static void OnVerticalChanged(DependencyObject ss_dependency, 
DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs ss_evenargs) {
  ScrollViewFixer viewer = ss_dependency as ScrollViewFixer;
  viewer.ScrollToVerticalOffset((double) ss_evenargs.NewValue);
 } 

private static void OnHorizontalChanged(DependencyObject ss_dependency, 
DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs ss_evenargs) {
  ScrollViewFixer viewer = ss_dependency as ScrollViewFixer;
  viewer.ScrollToHorizontalOffset((double) ss_evenargs.NewValue);
 }

 public double CurrentHorizontalOffset {
  get {
   return (double) this.GetValue(h_offset);
  }
  set {
   this.SetValue(h_offset, value);
  }
 }

 public double v_offset {
  get {
   return (double) this.GetValue(v_offsetProperty);
  }
  set {
   this.SetValue(v_offsetProperty, value);
  }
 }
}
+ Remember, add this code to your cs file Namespace.
  • Now let's finish it ...
  • Change main_scroll like this:

    Replace:

    <ScrollViewer x:Name="main_scroll" Margin="0">
    

    with:

    <fixed_scrl:ScrollViewFixer x:Name="main_scroll" Margin="0,0,18,0"
     VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Hidden">
    
    • Add the name space at the top of window in xmlns:
    xmlns:fixed_scrl="clr-namespace:Scroll_Fixer_Namespace"
    

    Remember the "Scroll_Fixer_Namespace" is your namespace of "ScrollViewFixer.cs" file.

    namespace Scroll_Fixer_Namespace
    {
        public class ScrollViewFixer : ScrollViewer
        { ....
  • Resize scroll_animator to just "Scroll Bar" box size.
  • Time to animate!
    Process:
    1. Add a ScrollChanged Event to scroll_animator.
    2. Create Animator Code (don't forget to add using System.Windows.Media.Animation;):

<scroll_animator> ScrollChanged Event

private void scroll_animator_ScrollChanged(object sender, ScrollChangedEventArgs e) {
 PowerEase _ease = new PowerEase();
 _ease.EasingMode = EasingMode.EaseOut;
 _ease.Power = 8;
 DoubleAnimation scrollanim = new DoubleAnimation
                      (scroll_animator.VerticalOffset, TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2));
 scrollanim.EasingFunction = _ease;
 main_scroll.BeginAnimation
                      (Scroll_Fixer_Namespace.ScrollViewFixer.v_offset_property, scrollanim);
}
I'm a big fan of PowerEase. :D If you want, change it to normal Ease for smoother result.

Well done! Now if you change your scrollbar, it's smooth and so fantastic! BUT BUGGY :|

Now we're going to fix ...

Fixing Scrollview Issues

A> Fixing Mousewheel Scrolling

  • Add PreviewMouseWheel to your main_scroll.
  • Disable Handler and connect it to Animator. It's like:
    private void MouseWheel_Fix(object sender, MouseWheelEventArgs e)
    { e.Handled = true;}
    
    • EXTRA MODE
    private void MouseWheel_Fix(object sender, MouseWheelEventArgs e) {
    
     e.Handled = true;
     int Division_Unit = 5;
     scroll_animator.ScrollToVerticalOffset((scroll_animator.VerticalOffset + 
                                           ((e.Delta * -1) / Division_Unit)));
    }

B> Fixing Dynamic Content

If you're using a dynamic framework element like ListBox, Editbox, Textbox, RichText, Stackpanel, you need to set the scroll bar update on adding things, changes ...

  • Create a function UpdateAnimator() to your code behind:
    private void UpadeUpdateAnimator()
    {
          scroll_animator.ScrollToEnd();
    }
    
  • Now add SizeChanged to your main_scroll and just insert UpadeUpdateAnimator(); to it!
    private void Content_Size_Change(object sender, SizeChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        if (this.IsLoaded) {  /// Startup Fix
            UpadeUpdateAnimator();
        }
    
    }
    
  • And in every update you make in Main ScrollView Contents, just use a little UpadeUpdateAnimator(); after works!
We're done! Enjoy from your amazing, smoothed, animated ScrollView!!!

History

  • 4th January, 2020: Initial version

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