The `DataGridColumn` is not actually part of the `VisualTree`, so bindings on the class cannot find their source

You can set things like the `Visibility` and `Width` property in the `CellStyle` or `HeaderStyle` of the `DataGridColumn`, although that isn't quite the same.

The closest I've found to a solution would be to create a [Freezable][1] object in your `<DataGrid.Resources>` that stores the binding, then use that `StaticResource` in the `Visibility` binding. It's not a pretty solution, but it's the only one I can find at this time.

You can view of an example of it [here][2]

    <DataGrid.Resources>
        <local:BindingProxy x:Key="proxy" Data="{Binding IsChecked, 
             ElementName=IncludeFullHist, 
             Converter={StaticResource boolItemsConverter}}" />
    </DataGrid.Resources>

    <DataGridTextColumn Header="First Name" Binding="{Binding Path=FirstName}"
        Visibility="{Binding Path=Data, Source={StaticResource proxy}}"/>  

  [1]: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.freezable.aspx
  [2]: http://www.thomaslevesque.com/2011/03/21/wpf-how-to-bind-to-data-when-the-datacontext-is-not-inherited/

I have a datagrid whose `ItemsSource` binds to a `CollectionViewSource`.  
In each column I specify the `Path` property of the binding to get the specific information to display.

What I'd like to do is toggle some of the columns with a checkbox if the user wants more info.  To do this, I need to bind the visibility property to the value of the checkbox (with a converter) but I'm pretty sure the data context of the column is interfering with the binding.



    <DataGrid ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource cvs}}" ....>
        <DataGrid.Columns>
            <DataGridTextColumn Header="First Name" Binding="{Binding Path=FirstName}"
                Visibility="{Binding IsChecked,
                                     ElementName=IncludeFullHist, 
                                     Converter={StaticResource boolItemsConverter}}"/>   
        </DataGrid.Columns>
    </DataGrid>


I need the checkbox in my viewmodel as well, so I have its `IsChecked` property bound to a property on my ViewModel



    <CheckBox x:Name="IncludeFullHist"  IsChecked="{Binding Path=ManagerFullHist }" />

---

For other elements in my page, I've been able to hook up visibility bindings with either of the two following methods, but neither seem to work when I copy them over into the datagrid:



    <TextBlock DockPanel.Dock="Left" Text=" Visible 2 " 
        Visibility="{Binding Path=DataContext.ManagerFullHist,
                             RelativeSource={RelativeSource FindAncestor,
                             AncestorType={x:Type UserControl}},
                             Converter={StaticResource boolItemsConverter}}"/>
    <TextBlock DockPanel.Dock="Left" Text=" Visible 3 " 
        Visibility="{Binding Path=ManagerFullHist, 
                             Source={StaticResource mainWinResource},
                             Converter={StaticResource boolItemsConverter}}"/>

Any suggestions on ways that I can solve this in the datagrid?  
Please let me know if I've omitted any code that could be potentially helpful.

Bind DataGridTextColumn Visibility Property in WPF

Here's an extension method to output to any DataTable to a csv (which excel can open)



	Imports System.Text
	Imports System.IO
	Imports System.Runtime.CompilerServices

	Module ExtensionMethods

		<Extension()> _
		Public Sub OutputAsCSV(ByVal dt As DataTable, ByVal filePath As String)
			Dim sb As New StringBuilder()
					
					'write column names to string builder
			Dim columnNames As String() = (From col As DataColumn In dt.Columns Select col.ColumnName).ToArray
			sb.AppendLine(String.Join(",", columnNames))
					
					'write cell value in each row to string builder
			For Each row As DataRow In dt.Rows
				Dim fields As String() = (From cell In row.ItemArray Select CStr(cell)).ToArray
				sb.AppendLine(String.Join(",", fields))
			Next
					
					'write string builder to file
			File.WriteAllText(filePath, sb.ToString())
		End Sub

	End Module

I have a datagrid which populates a datatable, I want to export the DataTable to excel on click of a button. I am using MVVM for this application. So is it ok to implement the export feature in my view? 

Secondly, as i am using xaml and desktop application, how do i capture the grid and its details.

Can any one suggest me some pointers? I am new to this.

Thanks,
Sagar