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>

How to make WPF AutoCompleteBox accept more than one Property for filtering

I want to search in multiple fields in AutoCompleteBox, I want to search in ClientName if the user starts typing characters, and search in ClientNumber if the user starts typing numbers.
I searched on the internet and from this Answer I understand that I should use Converter to accomplish what I want, But unfortunately, they do not explain how can I write the converter!
This is the AutoCompleteBox
<toolkit:AutoCompleteBox x:Name="txbClientName" FilterMode="StartsWith" IsTextCompletionEnabled="True"
ItemsSource="{Binding ocClients}"
ValueMemberBinding="{Binding Converter= {StaticResource ClientSearch}}"
SelectedItem="{Binding ElementName=this,
Path=ContactPerson,
Mode=TwoWay,
UpdateSourceTrigger=LostFocus}" PreviewKeyUp="txbClientName_PreviewKeyUp" LostFocus="txbClientName_LostFocus">
<toolkit:AutoCompleteBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<Label Content="{Binding ContactPerson}"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</toolkit:AutoCompleteBox.ItemTemplate>
What should the ClientSearch Converter do ??
public class ClientSearchConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, System.Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
//What should I write here !!!
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, System.Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new System.NotImplementedException();
}
}
Any help, please!

SelectedItem binding on ComboBox not showing selected value

I'm trying to build a settings page to allow the user to choice which action to execute on item swipe, like the Outlook app.
To do this I created an enum containing the available actions, and I'm binding it to a ComboBox.
Everything works, the user can choose the action and his choice is saved correctly. The problem is that the ComboBox doesn't show the selected item when I navigate to the page, it shows it only after selection.
This means that if user changes selection then the ComboBox is updated, but the selected item is shown as blank upon navigation.
Here's my code:
(XAML)
<ComboBox x:Uid="LeftActionComboBox"
Grid.Row="0"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
SelectedItem="{Binding LeftSwipeActionType, Mode=TwoWay, Converter={StaticResource StringToSwipeActionTypesConverter}}"
ItemsSource="{Binding LeftSwipeActionType, Converter={StaticResource EnumToStringListConverter}}"/>
(VM Property)
public SwipeActionTypes LeftSwipeActionType
{
get { return _settings.LeftSwipeActionTypeProperty; }
set
{
_settings.LeftSwipeActionTypeProperty = value;
// RaisePropertyChanged causes a StackOverflow, but not using it is not the problem since the ComboBox is empty only before set
}
}
(Converter StringToSwipeActionTypesConverter, localization-ready)
// Returns localized string value for the Enum
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
var enumValue = (SwipeActionTypes) value;
switch (enumValue)
{
case SwipeActionTypes.Copy:
return App.ResourceLoader.GetString("CopySwipeActionName");
case SwipeActionTypes.Delete:
return App.ResourceLoader.GetString("DeleteSwipeActionName");
default:
throw new ArgumentOutOfRangeException();
}
}
// Parses the localized string into the enum value
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
var stringValue = (string) value;
if (stringValue.Equals(App.ResourceLoader.GetString("CopySwipeActionName")))
{
return SwipeActionTypes.Copy;
}
if (stringValue.Equals(App.ResourceLoader.GetString("DeleteSwipeActionName")))
{
return SwipeActionTypes.Delete;
}
return null;
}
(Converter EnumToStringListConverter)
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
var valueType = value.GetType();
return Enum.GetNames(valueType).ToList();
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
return value;
}
Any idea on why this is failing?

The reason you are getting a StackOverflow exception is because every time you change LeftSwipeActionType property you are changing the ItemsSource of the ComboBox which changes the SelectedItem which fires INotifyPropertyChanged which changes the ItemsSource and so on and so on.
Once you stop using the same property for ItemsSource and SelectedItem then the correct initial selection will be set.
Rather than use a converter to create your ItemsSource you should just create is in your ViewModel
public MyViewModel(type enumType)
{
SourceForItems = Enum.GetValues(enumType);
}
public IEnumerable SourceForItems { get; private set; }

First of all, here is whats wrong with your approach:
You are binding your ItemsSource to the same property as the SelectedItem, even tough you are using a converter this can cause an infinite update circle - and you don't want that.
Generating the same static list of elements over and over again seems a bit wasteful. Instead of passing an instance of a type, lets just pass the type itself to the converter:
EnumToMembersConverter.cs
public class EnumToMembersConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
return Enum.GetValues((Type)value).ToList();
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
return DependencyProperty.UnsetValue;
}
}
XAML
ItemsSource="{Binding Source={x:Type whateverNamespace:SwipeActionTypes}, Converter={StaticResource EnumToMembersConverter}}"
This will give you all Values of SwipeActionTypes, therefore you can bind it directly, without converting back again.
SelectedItem="{Binding LeftSwipeActionType, Mode=TwoWay}"
There is nothing wrong with using a ComboBox for types other than string, so lets make this your base for further steps:
<ComboBox x:Uid="LeftActionComboBox"
Grid.Row="0"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
SelectedItem="{Binding LeftSwipeActionType, Mode=TwoWay}"
ItemsSource="{Binding Source={x:Type whateverNamespace:SwipeActionTypes}, Converter={StaticResource EnumToMembersConverter}}"/>
The reason you wrote all those converts is probably because the ComboBox showed strange values instead of readable strings. No worries, we already have your converter, you just need to invert it (Convert SwipeActionTypes to String) and apply it to a TextBox:
<ComboBox x:Uid="LeftActionComboBox"
Grid.Row="0"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
SelectedItem="{Binding LeftSwipeActionType, Mode=TwoWay}"
ItemsSource="{Binding Source={x:Type whateverNamespace:SwipeActionTypes}, Converter={StaticResource EnumToMembersConverter}}">
<ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=., Converter = {StaticResource SwipeActionTypesStringConverter}}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
</ComboBox>
Note, I didn't run this code so you might need to adjust the used namespaces accordingly

File path to file name String converter not working

Using a wpf ListBox I'm trying to display a list of filename without displaying the full path (more convenient for user).
Data comes from an ObservableCollection which is filled using Dialog.
private ObservableCollection<string> _VidFileDisplay = new ObservableCollection<string>(new[] {""});
public ObservableCollection<string> VidFileDisplay
{
get { return _VidFileDisplay; }
set { _VidFileDisplay = value; }
}
In the end I want to select some items and get back the full file path. For this I have a converter :
public class PathToFilenameConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
//return Path.GetFileName(value.ToString());
string result = null;
if (value != null)
{
var path = value.ToString();
if (string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(path) == false)
result = Path.GetFileName(path);
}
return result;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
return value;
}
}
Which I bind to my listbox itemsource :
<ListBox x:Name="VideoFileList" Margin="0" Grid.Row="1" Grid.RowSpan="5" Template="{DynamicResource BaseListBoxControlStyle}" ItemContainerStyle="{DynamicResource BaseListBoxItemStyle}" ScrollViewer.HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Disabled" ItemsSource="{Binding Path=DataContext.VidFileDisplay, Converter={StaticResource PathToFileName},ElementName=Ch_Parameters, Mode=TwoWay,UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}" SelectedItem="{Binding Path=SelectedVidNames,ElementName=Ch_Parameters, Mode=TwoWay,UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}">
Without the converter, it is working fine (but of course this is the full path displayed in the listbox). With the converter I have one character per line... displaying this :
System.Collections.ObjectModel.ObservableCollection`1[System.String]
Where am I wrong ?
Thank you

In ItemsSource binding converter applies to the whole list and not to each item in the collection. If you want to apply your converter per item you need to do it ItemTemplate
<ListBox x:Name="VideoFileList" ItemsSource="{Binding Path=DataContext.VidFileDisplay, ElementName=Ch_Parameters}" ...>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=., Converter={StaticResource PathToFileName}}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>

Different Iitems in GridView

I'm trying to implement the following "start screen" interface for my Windows Store App.
I've figured a Gridview would be the component to use.
How do i display different type of items in a GridView?
Is this a good approach:
<GridView.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Grid>
<ContentControl Content="{Binding Converter={StaticResource local:ContentTypeToControlConverter}}" />
</Grid>
</DataTemplate>
</GridView.ItemTemplate>
And Class
public class ContentTypeToControlConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
if (value != null)
{
if (value is MenuItem)
{
return new MenuItemControl();
}
else if (value is RecentViewItem)
{
return new RecentItemControl();
}
}
return null;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}

If you are targeting Windows 8.1 or higher - you could use the Hub control. That way you can avoid having to specify groups of items for your GridView, but implementing a DataTemplateSelector and setting it as a ItemTemplateSelector property of the GridView is the way to have items based on different templates.