# Syncfusion Wpf Navigation Pane > Implement Syncfusion WPF GroupBar (Navigation Pane) for Outlook-style expandable category navigation. Use this when creating a navigation pane, GroupBar, sidebar with collapsible sections, or stack-mode navigation in WPF. Covers item hierarchy, visual modes, data binding, drag-and-drop, orientation, behavior, appearance, and themes. - Skill: `syncfusion/syncfusion-wpf-navigation-pane` (Agent Skill, multi-file: 9 files) - Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add syncfusion/syncfusion-wpf-navigation-pane` - Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/syncfusion/syncfusion-wpf-navigation-pane/raw - Safety review: pending - Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex - Category: Coding & Dev Tools - Author: syncfusion (https://skillmd.com/u/syncfusion) - Updated: 2026-09-17 - Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/syncfusion/syncfusion-wpf-navigation-pane --- # Implementing WPF GroupBar (Navigation Pane) The `GroupBar` control implements a navigation pane similar to the Microsoft Outlook Bar. It hosts categorized collections of items and custom controls in expandable/collapsible sections. Supports multiple visual modes, data binding, drag-and-drop reordering, context menus, toolbars, and full theme support. **Assemblies:** `Syncfusion.Tools.WPF` + `Syncfusion.Shared.WPF` **Namespace:** `Syncfusion.Windows.Tools.Controls` **XAML Schema:** `xmlns:syncfusion="http://schemas.syncfusion.com/wpf"` ## Control Hierarchy ``` GroupBar ← Root navigation container └── GroupBarItem ← Category tab/header (e.g., "Mailbox", "Contacts") ├── GroupView ← List container for link-style items │ └── GroupViewItem ← Clickable item with text and icon └── Panel / any UIElement ← Or use any WPF panel as content ``` ## When to Use This Skill - User wants an Outlook-style navigation sidebar or accordion panel - User needs expandable/collapsible sections with content inside - User asks about `GroupBar`, `GroupBarItem`, `GroupView`, `GroupViewItem` - User needs StackMode (Outlook bar), MultipleExpansion (tree-view), or Default mode - User needs data-bound navigation items using MVVM - User asks about drag-and-drop reordering of navigation items - User asks about Navigation Pane popup, gripper, or resize behavior ## Quick Start ```xaml xmlns:syncfusion="http://schemas.syncfusion.com/wpf" ``` ```csharp using Syncfusion.Windows.Tools.Controls; GroupBar groupBar = new GroupBar(); groupBar.VisualMode = VisualMode.StackMode; GroupBarItem item = new GroupBarItem { Header = "Mailbox" }; GroupView view = new GroupView(); view.Items.Add(new GroupViewItem { Text = "Inbox" }); item.Content = view; groupBar.Items.Add(item); this.Content = groupBar; ``` ## Common Patterns | Goal | Approach | |---|---| | Outlook-style navigation | `VisualMode="StackMode"` | | Tree-style multi-expand | `VisualMode="MultipleExpansion"` | | One-at-a-time expand | `VisualMode="Default"` | | Collapsible bar | `AllowCollapse="True"` + `VisualMode="StackMode"` | | Data-bound items | `ItemsSource` + `ItemContainerStyle` with `HeaderText`/`Content` setters | | Custom item content | Place any `Panel` or `UIElement` as `GroupBarItem.Content` | | List-view style items | `GroupView` with `IsListViewMode="True"` | | Drag-reorder items | `DragItemVisibility="True"` | | Resize navigation popup | `PopupResizeDirection="Both"` | | Gripper for StackMode | `ShowGripper="True"` + `VisualMode="StackMode"` | | Save/restore bar state | `SaveBarState()` / `LoadBarState()` / `ResetBarState()` | ## Key Properties | Property | Type | Description | |---|---|---| | `VisualMode` | `VisualMode` | Default / MultipleExpansion / StackMode | | `AllowCollapse` | `bool` | Allow collapsing (StackMode) | | `ShowGripper` | `bool` | Show resize gripper (StackMode) | | `ItemsSource` | `IEnumerable` | Data-bound items | | `ItemContainerStyle` | `Style` | Style applied to each `GroupBarItem` | | `DragItemVisibility` | `bool` | Enable drag-and-drop reordering | | `DragMarkerBrush` | `Brush` | Color of drag insertion marker | | `PopupResizeDirection` | `PopupResizeDirection` | Navigation pane popup resize (Both/H/V/None) | | `ItemContentLength` | `double` | Height/width of selected item content area | | `GroupBarHeaderStyle` | `Style` | Style for GroupBar header border | | `GroupBarItem.Header` | `string` | Display text for item header | | `GroupBarItem.HeaderImageSource` | `ImageSource` | Icon in item header | | `GroupBarItem.IsSelected` | `bool` | Expand this item initially | | `GroupBarItem.GroupBarItemCornerRadius` | `CornerRadius` | Rounded corners on item header | | `GroupView.IsListViewMode` | `bool` | List-view style (vs icon style) | | `GroupViewItem.Text` | `string` | Text label for view item | | `GroupViewItem.ImageSource` | `ImageSource` | Icon for view item | | `SaveOriginalState` | `bool` | Auto-save state on load | --- ## Documentation and Navigation Guide ### Getting Started 📄 **Read:** [references/getting-started.md](references/getting-started.md) - Assembly references (Tools.WPF + Shared.WPF) - Add via designer, XAML, or C# - Declarative GroupBarItems with GroupView content - Adding panel content to GroupBarItem - Basic VisualMode overview - Themes with SfSkinManager ### GroupBar Items 📄 **Read:** [references/groupbar-items.md](references/groupbar-items.md) - GroupBarItem properties (Header, HeaderText, HeaderImageSource) - IsSelected, ShowInGroupBar, GroupBarItemCornerRadius - GroupBarItemCursorType (Default/Hand) - ItemContentLength (content area height/width) - DraggingItemInProgress, HiddenItemsCount - GroupBarItemAdded / GroupBarItemRemoved events ### GroupView and Content 📄 **Read:** [references/groupview-and-content.md](references/groupview-and-content.md) - GroupView as item container with GroupViewItem elements - GroupViewItem (Text, ImageSource, tooltip) - IsListViewMode (list vs icon display) - Default image for GroupViewItem - Adding panels and custom UIElements as content - Rotating item content ### Visual Modes 📄 **Read:** [references/visual-modes.md](references/visual-modes.md) - Default mode (one item expanded at a time) - MultipleExpansion mode (tree-view style) - StackMode (Outlook bar style, popup menu at bottom) - AllowCollapse, ShowGripper - ThemeStudio vs classic theme layout difference in StackMode ### Data Binding 📄 **Read:** [references/data-binding.md](references/data-binding.md) - ItemsSource + ItemContainerStyle with HeaderText/Content setters - Model + ViewModel with ObservableCollection - DataContext binding pattern - Data binding with XML (XmlDataProvider) - HeaderTemplate and ContentTemplate customization - ItemContainerStyleSelector for conditional styles ### Orientation and Layout 📄 **Read:** [references/orientation-and-layout.md](references/orientation-and-layout.md) - GroupBar orientation (Horizontal/Vertical) - GroupView and GroupViewItem orientation - Adjusting GroupBar width, changing header height - Rotating the GroupBar - FlowDirection for RTL support - Navigation Pane: PopupResizeDirection, ShowGripper ### Behavior and Features 📄 **Read:** [references/behavior-and-features.md](references/behavior-and-features.md) - Drag-and-drop reordering (DragItemVisibility, DragMarkerBrush) - Built-in context menu (sort, add, rename, move) - Toolbars inside GroupBar - Tooltip for GroupViewItems - Animation for expand/collapse - Collapsing and closing in StackMode - State persistence (SaveBarState/LoadBarState/ResetBarState) - Localization ### Appearance 📄 **Read:** [references/appearance.md](references/appearance.md) - GroupBarHeaderStyle (background, corner radius, height) - CollapseButtonTemplate and CollapseButtonBackground - ItemContainerStyle (HeaderTemplate + ContentTemplate) - ItemContainerStyleSelector - DragMarkerBrush - SfSkinManager themes table - ThemeStudio custom themes