The test code attached below produces following output:


This ListView selection change listening does not look ok:
  select(a)
    list=[a]
    change from=0, to=1
    item added: a
  select(b) <--- selecting b, but getting 'item added: a' again
    list=[a, b]
    change from=0, to=1
    item added: a
  clearSelection()
    list=[]
    change from=0, to=0
    item removed: a
    item removed: b
  select(b) <--- select in different order
    list=[b]
    change from=0, to=1
    item added: b
  select(a) <--- here it is ok
    list=[a, b]
    change from=0, to=1
    item added: a




import javafx.beans.property.SimpleStringProperty;
import javafx.beans.property.StringProperty;
import javafx.collections.FXCollections;
import javafx.collections.ListChangeListener;
import javafx.collections.ObservableList;
import javafx.scene.control.ListView;
import javafx.scene.control.SelectionMode;
import javafx.scene.control.TableColumn;
import javafx.scene.control.TableView;
import javafx.scene.control.cell.PropertyValueFactory;

public class Test {

  public static void main(String[] args) {
    Test test = new Test();
    test.listViewSelectedItemsProblem();
    test.regularObservableListWorksOk();
    test.tableViewSelectedItemsWorksOk();
  }

  public void listViewSelectedItemsProblem() {
    ObservableList<String> list = FXCollections.observableArrayList("a", "b", "c");

    final ListView<String> view = new ListView<String>(list);
    view.getSelectionModel().setSelectionMode(SelectionMode.MULTIPLE);

    view.getSelectionModel().getSelectedItems().addListener(new StringChangeListener());

    System.out.println("\nThis ListView selection change listening does not look ok:");
    System.out.println(" select(a)");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(0);

    System.out.println(" select(b) <--- selecting b, but getting 'item added: a' again");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(1);

    System.out.println(" clearSelection()");
    view.getSelectionModel().clearSelection();

    System.out.println(" select(b) <--- select in different order");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(1);

    System.out.println(" select(a) <--- here it is ok");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(0);
  }

  public void regularObservableListWorksOk() {
    ObservableList<String> list = FXCollections.observableArrayList("a", "b", "c");

    list.addListener(new StringChangeListener());

    System.out.println("\nChange listening in regular observable list works ok:");
    System.out.println(" Add d");
    list.add("d");
    System.out.println(" Add e");
    list.add("e");
    System.out.println(" Remove b");
    list.remove("b");
    System.out.println(" Remove a");
    list.remove("a");
  }

  public void tableViewSelectedItemsWorksOk() {
    final ObservableList<Item> data = FXCollections
        .observableArrayList(new Item("a"), new Item("b"), new Item("c"));

    TableColumn<Item, String> col = new TableColumn<Item, String>("Name");
    col.setCellValueFactory(new PropertyValueFactory<Item, String>("name"));
    TableView<Item> view = new TableView<Item>(data);
    view.getSelectionModel().setSelectionMode(SelectionMode.MULTIPLE);
    view.getSelectionModel().getSelectedItems().addListener(new ItemChangeListener());

    System.out.println("\nTableView selection change listening works ok:");
    System.out.println(" select(a)");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(0);

    System.out.println(" select(b) <-- this is where it went wrong for ListView");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(1);

    System.out.println(" clearSelection()");
    view.getSelectionModel().clearSelection();

    System.out.println(" select(b)");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(1);

    System.out.println(" select(a)");
    view.getSelectionModel().select(0);
  }

  private static class StringChangeListener implements ListChangeListener<String> {
    @Override
    public void onChanged(Change<? extends String> change) {
      System.out.println(" list=" + change.getList());
      while (change.next()) {
        System.out.println(" change from=" + change.getFrom() + ", to=" + change.getTo());
        if (change.wasPermutated()) {
          for (int i = change.getFrom(); i < change.getTo(); ++i) {
            System.out.println(" wasPermutated index=" + i);
          }
        } else if (change.wasUpdated()) {
          System.out.println(" wasUpdated");
        } else {
          for (String item : change.getRemoved()) {
            System.out.println(" item removed: " + item);
          }
          for (String item : change.getAddedSubList()) {
            System.out.println(" item added: " + item);
          }
        }
      }
    }
  }

  private static class Item {
    private StringProperty name;

    private Item(String name) {
      this.name = new SimpleStringProperty(name);
    }

    public StringProperty nameProperty() {
      return name;
    }

    public String toString() {
      return name.getValue();
    }
  }

  private static class ItemChangeListener implements ListChangeListener<Item> {
    @Override
    public void onChanged(Change<? extends Item> change) {
      System.out.println(" selections=" + change.getList());
      while (change.next()) {
        System.out.println(" change from=" + change.getFrom() + ", to=" + change.getTo());
        for (Item item : change.getRemoved()) {
          System.out.println(" item removed: " + item);
        }
        for (Item item : change.getAddedSubList()) {
          System.out.println(" item added: " + item);
        }
      }
    }
  }
}