Slow grids kill software adoption. When your WPF DataGrid chokes on 10,000+ records, users bounce—and so do your trial conversions. This guide shows you exactly how to implement async loading and virtualization with Xceed’s DataGrid for WPF. You’ll get actionable code, performance benchmarks, and a clear feature comparison that proves why Xceed is the go-to solution for serious .NET professionals.

Why Most DataGrids Fail at Scale

Standard WPF DataGrids grind to a halt when fed enterprise-sized datasets. UI freezes, memory spikes, and sluggish scrolling frustrate users and sabotage trial evaluations. Patching these issues with background threads or paging often leads to brittle, hard-to-maintain code.

The result: Your best features never get seen—because the grid is too slow to demo.

Async Virtualization: The Bridge to High-Performance WPF Apps

Xceed’s DataGrid for WPF is engineered for async data virtualization:

• Load 10,000+ rows without freezing the UI
• Keep memory usage low, even with massive datasets
• Deliver 60fps scrolling and instant filtering, out of the box

This is the same engine trusted in performance-critical industries where lag is never acceptable.

Step-By-Step Implementation: Async DataGrid Loading With Xceed

What This Guide Covers

• Setting up a clean WPF project with Xceed’s DataGrid
• Implementing async loading with ObservableCollection and background tasks
• Configuring virtualization for maximum speed
• Adding loading indicators and error handling
• Measuring performance, with benchmarks you can replicate

Setting Up Your WPF Project With Xceed DataGrid

Install the Xceed DataGrid for WPF via NuGet or direct download.

Sample MainWindow.xaml:

<Window x:Class="AsyncDataGridDemo.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:xcdg="http://schemas.xceed.com/wpf/xaml/datagrid">
    <Grid>
        <xcdg:DataGridControl x:Name="EmployeeDataGrid"
                              ItemsSource="{Binding Employees}"
                              AutoCreateColumns="False">
            <xcdg:DataGridControl.Columns>
                <xcdg:Column FieldName="Id" Title="Employee ID"/>
                <xcdg:Column FieldName="Name" Title="Full Name"/>
                <xcdg:Column FieldName="Department" Title="Department"/>
                <xcdg:Column FieldName="Salary" Title="Salary"/>
            </xcdg:DataGridControl.Columns>
        </xcdg:DataGridControl>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Explicit columns provide total control. No surprises, no hidden performance costs.

Implementing Async Data Loading With ObservableCollection

Define Your Model and Async Service

public class Employee
{
    public int Id { get; set; }
    public string Name { get; set; }
    public string Department { get; set; }
    public decimal Salary { get; set; }
}

public class EmployeeService
{
    public async Task<List<Employee>> GetEmployeesAsync(int skip, int take)
    {
        await Task.Delay(100); // Simulate DB latency
        return Enumerable.Range(skip, take)
            .Select(i => new Employee
            {
                Id = i,
                Name = $"Employee {i}",
                Department = $"Dept {i % 10}",
                Salary = 50000 + (i * 100)
            }).ToList();
    }
}

ViewModel: Async, Observable, and Production-Grade

public class MainViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
    private readonly EmployeeService _employeeService = new EmployeeService();
    private ObservableCollection<Employee> _employees = new ObservableCollection<Employee>();
    private bool _isLoading;

    public ObservableCollection<Employee> Employees
    {
        get => _employees;
        set { _employees = value; OnPropertyChanged(); }
    }

    public bool IsLoading
    {
        get => _isLoading;
        set { _isLoading = value; OnPropertyChanged(); }
    }

    public MainViewModel()
    {
        LoadDataAsync();
    }

    private async Task LoadDataAsync()
    {
        IsLoading = true;
        try
        {
            var employees = await _employeeService.GetEmployeesAsync(0, 10000);
            await Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(new Action(() =>
            {
                Employees.Clear();
                foreach (var employee in employees)
                    Employees.Add(employee);
            }));
        }
        finally
        {
            IsLoading = false;
        }
    }

    // Implement INotifyPropertyChanged...
}

No blocking. No hacks. This is the async pattern top .NET teams expect.

Configuring Virtualization for Maximum DataGrid Speed

XAML Configuration

<xcdg:DataGridControl x:Name="EmployeeDataGrid"
                      ItemsSource="{Binding Employees}"
                      AutoCreateColumns="False">
    <xcdg:DataGridControl.View>
        <xcdg:TableView UseDefaultHeadersFooters="True"
                        ShowRowSelectorPane="False">
            <xcdg:TableView.FixedHeaders>
                <DataTemplate>
                    <xcdg:ColumnManagerRow AllowColumnReorder="True" AllowSort="True"/>
                </DataTemplate>
            </xcdg:TableView.FixedHeaders>
        </xcdg:TableView>
    </xcdg:DataGridControl.View>
    <xcdg:DataGridControl.ScrollViewer>
        <xcdg:DataGridScrollViewer>
            <xcdg:DataGridScrollViewer.ScrollingAnimationDuration>
                <Duration>0:0:0.1</Duration>
            </xcdg:DataGridScrollViewer.ScrollingAnimationDuration>
        </xcdg:DataGridScrollViewer>
    </xcdg:DataGridControl.ScrollViewer>
</xcdg:DataGridControl>

Boost Performance in Code-Behind

public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();
        EmployeeDataGrid.ItemContainerGenerator.StatusChanged += ItemContainerGenerator_StatusChanged;
    }

    private void ItemContainerGenerator_StatusChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (EmployeeDataGrid.ItemContainerGenerator.Status == GeneratorStatus.ContainersGenerated)
        {
            EmployeeDataGrid.SetValue(VirtualizingStackPanel.IsVirtualizingProperty, true);
            EmployeeDataGrid.SetValue(VirtualizingStackPanel.VirtualizationModeProperty, VirtualizationMode.Recycling);
        }
    }
}

Virtualization means low memory, instant rendering, and no lag—at any scale.

Adding Loading Indicators and Error Handling

UI: Async Loading Feedback

<Grid>
    <xcdg:DataGridControl x:Name="EmployeeDataGrid"
                          ItemsSource="{Binding Employees}"
                          Visibility="{Binding IsLoading, Converter={StaticResource BooleanToVisibilityConverter}, ConverterParameter=Inverted}"/>
    <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center"
                Visibility="{Binding IsLoading, Converter={StaticResource BooleanToVisibilityConverter}}">
        <ProgressBar IsIndeterminate="True" Width="200" Height="20"/>
        <TextBlock Text="Loading employee data..." HorizontalAlignment="Center" Margin="0,10,0,0"/>
    </StackPanel>
</Grid>

ViewModel: Robust Error Handling

private async Task LoadDataAsync()
{
    IsLoading = true;
    try
    {
        var employees = await _employeeService.GetEmployeesAsync(0, 10000);
        await Application.Current.Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(new Action(() =>
        {
            Employees.Clear();
            var batchSize = 100;
            for (int i = 0; i < employees.Count; i += batchSize)
            {
                foreach (var employee in employees.Skip(i).Take(batchSize))
                    Employees.Add(employee);
                if (i % (batchSize * 10) == 0)
                    await Task.Delay(1); // Let UI breathe
            }
        }));
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show($"Error loading data: {ex.Message}", "Error", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Error);
    }
    finally
    {
        IsLoading = false;
    }
}

Real users expect feedback and resilience. This is what converts trials into paid seats.

Measuring Performance: Benchmarks You Can Trust

Simple Metrics Class

public class PerformanceMetrics
{
    public static async Task<TimeSpan> MeasureLoadTime(Func<Task> loadOperation)
    {
        var sw = Stopwatch.StartNew();
        await loadOperation();
        sw.Stop();
        return sw.Elapsed;
    }

    public static long GetMemoryUsage()
    {
        GC.Collect();
        GC.WaitForPendingFinalizers();
        GC.Collect();
        return GC.GetTotalMemory(false);
    }
}

// Usage:
var loadTime = await PerformanceMetrics.MeasureLoadTime(() => LoadDataAsync());
var memory = PerformanceMetrics.GetMemoryUsage();
Debug.WriteLine($"Load time: {loadTime.TotalMilliseconds}ms, memory: {memory / 1024 / 1024}MB");

Expected Results

With proper virtualization, Xceed’s DataGrid maintains responsiveness and low memory even as data volume scales.

Feature Comparison Table: Xceed DataGrid vs. Typical Grids

Best Practices for Production Deployments

• Batch size: Start with 100–500 per batch, tune for your data shape.
• Memory: Always enable virtualization, recycle containers.
• User feedback: Show progress for operations over 200ms.
• Error recovery: Add retry logic for network failures.
• Caching: Cache frequent queries for instant reloads.

Conclusion: Why Xceed Is the WPF DataGrid for .NET Professionals

Xceed’s DataGrid for WPF is engineered for async, high-volume scenarios where performance is not optional.

• Async loading and UI virtualization mean no freezes, ever.
• Clean, extensible API means easy onboarding and rapid prototyping.
• Real-world benchmarks mean trust, not hype.

Compare these patterns to any alternative. Xceed delivers faster load times, lower memory, and a perpetual license with no subscriptions required.

Ready to see the difference?
Download the free 45-day trial here, drop this pattern into your app, and measure the results. Your users—and your conversion metrics—will thank you.

Further Resources

• Xceed DataGrid for WPF Documentation
• GitHub Code Samples
• Contact Xceed Support for integration help

Install conviction, not just controls.
That’s the Xceed difference. Are you ready to build grids that scale?