Develop Reference

WPF Treeview use property value as Binding Path

I'm trying to create a Treeview using an ObservableCollection of a custom class called MachineComponentFault, which includes a string property called FaultText, and I'd like to make the text localized.
I'm using WPF Runtime Localization from Codeproject to localize texts at runtime, and it usually works as follows:
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=NameInResources, Source={StaticResource Resources}}"/>
The problem is that I can't seem to figure out how to set the value of the property to the path, so that it can retrieve the translation. This is what I managed thus far:
<TreeView Name="myTreeView" VirtualizingPanel.IsVirtualizing="True" ItemsSource="{Binding Faults}">
<TreeView.Resources>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type MassComponents:MachineComponentFault}">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" >
<TextBlock Name="Text1" Text="{Binding FaultText}"/>
<TextBlock Name="Text2" Text="{Binding Path=FLT_PTC_1, Source={StaticResource Resources}}"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</TreeView.Resources>
</TreeView>
Essentially Text1 shows FLT_PTC_1 at Runtime, while Text2 shows "Motor Overheat", which is the value of FLT_PTC_1 in Resources.resx (which can be translated). The issue is that I can't seem to be able to do what Text2 does using FaultText Property.
Is there a way to do it?
EDIT:
Solved it using mm8 solution, while maintaining the WPF Runtime Localization. The solution isn't pretty at all, since it consists in creating a Binding on a dummy class and then retrieving the binding value as a string, which seems a bit convoluted, but it's the best solution I could find.
public class ResourceConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
string resourceName = value as string;
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(resourceName)) //look up the resource here:
{
Binding b = new Binding(resourceName); //Create Binding using as Path the value of FaultText
b.Source = CultureResources.ResourceProvider; //Get the resources from WPF Runtime Localization ObjectDataProvider
BindingOperations.SetBinding(_dummy, Dummy.ValueProperty, b); //Set the Binding to the dummy class instance
return _dummy.GetValue(Dummy.ValueProperty); //Retrieve the value of the Binding from the dummy class instance and return it
}
return value;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
//Initialize Dummy class
private static readonly Dummy _dummy = new Dummy();
//Create a dummy class that accepts the Binding
private class Dummy : DependencyObject
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty ValueProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("Value", typeof(object), typeof(Dummy), new UIPropertyMetadata(null));
}
}
XAML same as mm8 proposed.

You could bind to the FaultText property and use a converter to look up the resource. Something like this:
public class ResourceConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
string resourceName = value as string;
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(resourceName)) //look up the resource here:
return Resource1.ResourceManager.GetString(resourceName);
return value;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
XAML:
<TextBlock Name="Text2">
<TextBlock.Text>
<Binding Path="FaultText">
<Binding.Converter>
<local:ResourceConverter />
</Binding.Converter>
</Binding>
</TextBlock.Text>
</TextBlock>

Resource could not be resolved

I got a error "The resource "ComponentTypeToStringConverter could not be resolved" Can someone tell me what am I doing wrong?
I've got this combo box:
<ComboBox SelectedItem="{Binding PcComponent.ComponentTypeName}" Grid.Column="1" Grid.Row="2" Grid.ColumnSpan="2">
<ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource ComponentTypeToStringConverter}}"/> <!-- HERE I got a error The resource "ComponentTypeToStringConverter could not be resolved -->
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
</ComboBox>
Resource:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:c="clr-namespace:PcConfigurator.Converters">
<c:ComponentTypeToStringConverter x:Key="ComponentTypeToStringConverter"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
Converter (namespace PcConfigurator.Converters):
public class ComponentTypeToStringConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
if (!(value is ComponentType)) { return null; }
ComponentType type = (ComponentType)value;
switch (type)
{
//Do something
}
throw new InvalidOperationException("Enum value is unknown");
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}

In design time. Your resources are not yet compiled and the current XAML file that you have where it has the ComboBox can't see the ResourceDictionary.
Assuming your resources is defined in App.xaml then you should have no problems with it when you run it in runtime as it'll be able to find the key.
If you want to get rid of the error in design time then what you can do is on your XAML file where the ComboBox lives, you can add the ResourceDictioanry so that it'll be able to find it.
Assuming this is a Window and you have ResourceDictionary that is not defined in the App.xaml but as a separate file
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary Source=""/>
</Window.Resources>

Binding inside of a binding

Ok I have a Observable collection containing string defined like so.
public ObservableCollection<string> OCGroundType { get; set; }
This collection is having resources key so what I'm trying to do is with this code
<ListBox HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="110" Margin="156,23,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="314" ItemsSource="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type Window}}, Path=OCGroundType}" >
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Label Content="{Binding Path=, Source={StaticResource Resources}}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
So what I'm trying to do is give the path the value of the itemsource is that possible?
Edit
That's what the staticresource is 'binded' to , a resourceDictionary
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:cultures="clr-namespace:Marcam.Cultures"
xmlns:properties="clr-namespace:Marcam.Properties">
<ObjectDataProvider x:Key="Resources" ObjectType="{x:Type cultures:CultureResources}" MethodName="GetResourceInstance"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
What the ObjectType is 'binded' to is a method who return the current Resources.resx, If I've understanded well how it's work because I've based this code on this WPF Localization

It's not possible, because a Binding is not a DependencyObject, so its properties cannot be bound.
However, you could achieve the desired result by using a converter that fetches the appropriate value from the resources.
EDIT: first, you need a converter like this:
public class ResourceConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
string key = (string)value;
return Properties.Resources.ResourceManager.GetObject(key, culture);
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
Then, declare an instance of this converter in the XAML resources:
<local:ResourceConverter x:Key="resourceConverter" />
And finally, just use this converter in your binding:
<Label Content="{Binding Path=., Converter={StaticResource resourceConverter}}"/>

Assuming Resources are mere string values declared under resources section of Window or UserControl, you can achieve that using IMultiValueConverter.
First of all you need to pass resource key and second ResourceDictionary of Window/UserControl wherever your resources are defined.
XAML will look like this:
<Label>
<Label.Content>
<MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource ResourceToValueConverter}">
<Binding/>
<Binding Path="Resources" RelativeSource="{RelativeSource
Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=Window}"/>
</MultiBinding>
</Label.Content>
</Label>
Ofcourse you need to add instance of ResourceToValueConverter in XAML.
Second here goes your converter code:
public class ResourceToValueConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter,
System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
return ((ResourceDictionary)values[1])[values[0]];
}
public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes,
object parameter,
System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
UPDATE
As you edited the question to include that resource is ObjectDataProvider, you can modify converter code.
You have ObjectDataProvider in your converter which you can get and call it's method to get the resource file(.resx) file. Get string value from the resource file and return it.
var provider = ((ResourceDictionary)values[1])["Resources"] as ObjectDataProvider;
var output = provider.Data;
return // Get string from resource file and return it.

Value Converter not Being Called XAML

I have put breakpoints inside the Value Converter and they are never triggered, but the page renders with no image being shown.
The XAML:
xmlns:datatypes="clr-namespace:DataTypes_Portable;assembly=DataTypes_WinPhone8"
...
<phone:PhoneApplicationPage.Resources>
<datatypes:WinPhone8ImageConverter x:Key="ImageConverter" />
</phone:PhoneApplicationPage.Resources>
...
<Image x:Name="LevelImage" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="Auto" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="Auto" Margin="0" Grid.ColumnSpan="5" Source="{Binding Converter={StaticResource ImageConverter}, Path=App.Main.Game.CurrentLevel.CurrentPart.Image}"/>
The CS:
public class WinPhone8ImageConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
var imageProvider = value as WinPhone8ImageProvider;
return imageProvider.Image;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
From what I can understand (by process of trial and elimination and looking at what exceptions are thrown) the problem is coming with part of the XAML where I am trying to bind to the value.
At a breakpoint the value at App.Main.Game.CurrentLevel.CurrentPart.Image is being set correctly (ie is an instance of WinPhone8ImageProvider).

It turns out this was nothing to do with the converter at all. The value was binding before the image had loaded (so the source was empty). For future reference check to make sure you are implementing theINotifyPropertyChanged correctly in your view models.

Can't get simple converter to work when using on a bound String

I have the following converter defined (C#):
class BodyValueConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
string s = value.ToString();
int prefixLength;
if (!int.TryParse(parameter.ToString(), out prefixLength))
return s;
return s.Substring(0, prefixLength);
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotSupportedException();
}
}
This will start at the start of the string being passed and will return the amount of characters I specify as a parameter.
In my XAML I have instanced the converter:
<local:BodyValueConverter x:Key="BodyValueConverter"/>
In attempting to use this converter in a textblock I get an error:
<DataTemplate x:Key="AppointmentTemplate">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Subject}"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Subject, Converter={StaticResource BodyValueConverter}, ConverterParameter=1}"></TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
The error is:
XAMLParseException: Provide value on 'System.Windows.Markup.StaticResourceHolder' threw an exception.
The first textblock works fine to display subject. The 2nd line is what gives me the exception.

What's the order of your objects in your XAML?
The Converter has to be defined prior to actually being used, so be sure your <Converter> is above your <DataTemplate> in your Resources
Another alternative is to switch to using a DynamicResource instead of a StaticResource, since a DynamicResource is evaluated when it is needed, not when the XAML is loaded

That error is usually thrown when it can't find the static resource you are looking for. You'll need to define that in your static resources.
<Window
.... snip ...
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:YourLocalNamespace"
<Window.Resources>
<local:BodyValueConverter x:Key="BodyValueConverter"/>
</Window.Resources>
.... snip ....
<DataTemplate x:Key="AppointmentTemplate">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Subject}"></TextBlock>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Subject, Converter={StaticResource BodyValueConverter}, ConverterParameter=1}"></TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</Window>
Note: This is when you are defining it in Window. You could define it elsewhere.
If this isn't the issue.... to find a more detailed explanation of what the parse error is... check the inner exception text.