dotnet/wpf · error · ArgumentException

SR.ListView_MissingParameterlessConstructor

Error message

SR.ListView_MissingParameterlessConstructor

What it means

GridViewHeaderRowPresenter.BuildHeaderLinks creates a floating header by instantiating the same type as an existing column header via Activator.CreateInstance. If the custom header type has no parameterless constructor, MissingMethodException is caught and rethrown as an ArgumentException wrapping it. The template system requires header types it can construct without arguments.

Solutions

1. Add a public parameterless constructor to the custom GridViewColumnHeader-derived type
2. Use the standard GridViewColumnHeader instead of a derived type for columns that participate in reordering
3. Provide a default value for constructor parameters so a parameterless overload exists

Example fix

// before
class MyHeader : GridViewColumnHeader { public MyHeader(string title) { Content = title; } }
// after
class MyHeader : GridViewColumnHeader { public MyHeader() {} public MyHeader(string title) { Content = title; } }

bool ok = headerType?.GetConstructor(Type.EmptyTypes) != null;

bool HasParameterlessCtor(Type t) => t.GetConstructor(Type.EmptyTypes) != null;

try { BuildHeaderLinks(); } catch (ArgumentException ex) when (ex.InnerException is MissingMethodException) { /* fall back to default GridViewColumnHeader */ }

When it happens

Trigger: Using a GridViewColumnHeader subclass without a public parameterless constructor as a column header, while the control builds floating headers (drag/reorder of columns, OnPreApplyTemplate/OnColumnPropertyChanged paths).

Common situations: Custom header classes with only constructor overloads taking parameters; headers instantiated only in XAML with constructor arguments; refactoring a constructor to require parameters and breaking header link building.

Related errors

• SR.CollectionView_ViewTypeInsufficient
• ArgumentNullException
• ArgumentNullException(nameof(assemblyNames))
• ArgumentNullException(nameof(contentType))
• ArgumentNullException(nameof(loaderType))

AI-assisted analysis of dotnet/wpf@81131a70a4 (2026-09-14). Data as JSON: /api/errors/7a19f698e1a47bd7. Report an issue: GitHub.

Appendix: source

Thrown at src/Microsoft.DotNet.Wpf/src/PresentationFramework/System/Windows/Controls/GridViewHeaderRowPresenter.cs:1159

        // Create the floating header
        private void AddFloatingHeader(GridViewColumnHeader srcHeader)
        {
            GridViewColumnHeader header;

            // #1426973: Because users may put subclassed header as the column header,
            //           we need to create the same type per source header as the floating one
            // Get source header's type
            Type headerType = (srcHeader != null ? srcHeader.GetType() : typeof(GridViewColumnHeader));

            try
            {
                // Instantiate the same type for floating header
                header = Activator.CreateInstance(headerType) as GridViewColumnHeader;
            }
            catch (MissingMethodException e)
            {
                throw new ArgumentException(SR.Format(SR.ListView_MissingParameterlessConstructor, headerType), e);
            }

            Debug.Assert(header != null, "Cannot instantiate GridViewColumnHeader in AddFloatingHeader");

            header.IsInternalGenerated = true;
            header.SetValue(GridViewColumnHeader.RolePropertyKey, GridViewColumnHeaderRole.Floating);
            header.Visibility = Visibility.Hidden;

            InternalChildren.AddInternal(header);
            _floatingHeader = header;
        }

        // Fill necessary properties in floating header
        private void UpdateFloatingHeader(GridViewColumnHeader srcHeader)
        {
            Debug.Assert(srcHeader != null, "srcHeader is null");
            Debug.Assert(_floatingHeader != null, "floating header is null");

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