Difference between revisions of "Converters In Xamarin"
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= List of Available Converters = | = List of Available Converters = | ||
− | The following list contains all currently available converters for UBIK Xamarin customizing. | + | The following list contains all currently available converters for UBIK Xamarin customizing. |
+ | |||
+ | '''Two-way''' converters can be used with two-way bindings, e.g. a text-box displaying an editable value. If the value updates in the model, the text-box text changes. If the user edits the value, the value in the model behind also gets updated. | ||
+ | |||
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | {| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%" | ||
|- | |- | ||
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Converts a '''byte stream''' value into an '''image source'''. | Converts a '''byte stream''' value into an '''image source'''. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | ChildAreaTemplateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || | + | | ChildAreaTemplateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Child<wbr/>Area<wbr/>Template || Content<wbr/>ViewModel || || |
− | Returns a '''ChildAreaTemplate''' from a ''' | + | Returns a '''ChildAreaTemplate''' from a '''Content<wbr/>ViewModel''' or ''null'' if the ViewModel cannot be interpreted. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | ChildItem<wbr/>SelectionMode<wbr/>To<wbr/>SfListView<wbr/>SelectionMode<wbr/>Converter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || [https://help.syncfusion.com/cr/cref_files/xamarin/Syncfusion.SfListView.XForms~Syncfusion.ListView.XForms.SfListView~SelectionMode.html ListView<wbr/>SelectionMode] || ChildItem<wbr/>SelectionMode || || |
− | Converts a ''' | + | Converts a '''ChildItem<wbr/>SelectionMode''' to a Syncfusion '''[https://help.syncfusion.com/cr/cref_files/xamarin/Syncfusion.SfListView.XForms~Syncfusion.ListView.XForms.SfListView~SelectionMode.html ListView<wbr/>SelectionMode]'''. Default is "Single". |
|- | |- | ||
| ClassificationToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || ContentViewModel || || | | ClassificationToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || ContentViewModel || || | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| DateTimeOffsetToDateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime] || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetimeoffset DateTimeOffset] || || | | DateTimeOffsetToDateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime] || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetimeoffset DateTimeOffset] || || | ||
− | Converts a '''[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetimeoffset DateTimeOffset]''' to the correct '''[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime]'''. If the value cannot be interpreted, a new ''DateTime'', generated from the device's current time (<code>DateTime.Now</code>) is returned. | + | Converts a '''[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetimeoffset DateTimeOffset]''' to the correct '''[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime]''', applied to the current date and time. If the value cannot be interpreted, a new ''DateTime'', generated from the device's current time (<code>DateTime.Now</code>) is returned. |
|- | |- | ||
| DateTimeToFromNowStringConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || String || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime] || || | | DateTimeToFromNowStringConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || String || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.datetime DateTime] || || | ||
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Returns ''true'' if the given value and parameter are '''not equal to each other''', ''false'' otherwise. | Returns ''true'' if the given value and parameter are '''not equal to each other''', ''false'' otherwise. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | SelectionChangedEventArgsConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.controls.selectionchangedeventargs | + | | SelectionChangedEventArgsConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || [https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.controls.selectionchangedeventargs List<wbr/>Selection<wbr/>Changed<wbr/>EventArgs] || [https://help.syncfusion.com/cr/cref_files/xamarin/Syncfusion.SfListView.XForms~Syncfusion.ListView.XForms.ItemSelectionChangedEventArgs.html Item<wbr/>Selection<wbr/>Changed<wbr/>EventArgs] || || |
− | Converts an Syncfusion '''[https://help.syncfusion.com/cr/cref_files/xamarin/Syncfusion.SfListView.XForms~Syncfusion.ListView.XForms.ItemSelectionChangedEventArgs.html | + | Converts an Syncfusion '''[https://help.syncfusion.com/cr/cref_files/xamarin/Syncfusion.SfListView.XForms~Syncfusion.ListView.XForms.ItemSelectionChangedEventArgs.html Item<wbr/>Selection<wbr/>Changed<wbr/>EventArgs]''' to a '''[https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/api/system.windows.controls.selectionchangedeventargs List<wbr/>Selection<wbr/>Changed<wbr/>EventArgs]'''. <br/>The use-case of this converter is highly specific. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | FilterCriterionToValueConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || String || | + | | FilterCriterionToValueConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || String || FilterCriterion || || |
− | Converts a '''FilterCriterion''' to its value. The functionality is similar to UWP's FilterCriterionToValueConverter. | + | Converts a [[Property_Based_Content_Filters|'''FilterCriterion''']] to its value. The functionality is similar to UWP's FilterCriterionToValueConverter. |
|- | |- | ||
| GuidPropertyValueConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || String || Guid || Binding, where source is ContentViewModel || | | GuidPropertyValueConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✓ || String || Guid || Binding, where source is ContentViewModel || | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| IntToColorConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Color || Integer || || | | IntToColorConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Color || Integer || || | ||
− | Converts an '''integer''' value to a '''color'''. If the value cannot be interpreted, the converter tries to parse the parameter as a ''color'' to return it. If everything fails, ''transparent'' is returned. | + | Converts an ARGB '''integer''' value to a '''color'''. If the value cannot be interpreted, the converter tries to parse the parameter as a ''color'' to return it. If everything fails, ''transparent'' is returned. |
|- | |- | ||
| ItemCountToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Integer || Integer || | | ItemCountToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Integer || Integer || | ||
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|- | |- | ||
| PropertyNameExistsToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean (Nullable) || ContentViewModel,<br/>IContent || || | | PropertyNameExistsToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean (Nullable) || ContentViewModel,<br/>IContent || || | ||
− | Converts a property to a '''boolean | + | Converts a property to a '''boolean''' based on its '''existence'''. If it exists, ''true'' will be returned, else ''false'' or ''null'' (if something couldn't be properly interpreted). |
|- | |- | ||
| PropertyNameExistsToInvertedBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean (Nullable) || ContentViewModel,<br/>IContent || || | | PropertyNameExistsToInvertedBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean (Nullable) || ContentViewModel,<br/>IContent || || | ||
− | Converts a property to a '''boolean | + | Converts a property to a '''boolean''' based on its '''existence'''. If it exists, ''false'' will be returned, else ''true'' or ''null'' (if something couldn't be properly interpreted). |
|- | |- | ||
| RootAreaTemplateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || ContentView || Object || || | | RootAreaTemplateConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || ContentView || Object || || | ||
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Converts a '''item''' of a '''selective list''' to its value. If none is found, the passed ''value'' will be returned. | Converts a '''item''' of a '''selective list''' to its value. If none is found, the passed ''value'' will be returned. | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | SelectiveListToItemsConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || List | + | | SelectiveListToItemsConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || List of PropertyItems || IPropertyItem || || |
Returns all items from a selective list. | Returns all items from a selective list. | ||
|- | |- | ||
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| TypeNameToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Object || String || Returns ''true'' if the type name of the value is present in the parameter-string (seperated by <code><nowiki>|</nowiki></code>). | | TypeNameToBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Object || String || Returns ''true'' if the type name of the value is present in the parameter-string (seperated by <code><nowiki>|</nowiki></code>). | ||
|- | |- | ||
− | | TypeNameToInvertedBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Object || String || Inverted '' | + | | TypeNameToInvertedBoolConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || Boolean || Object || String || Inverted ''TypeNameTo<wbr/>BoolConverter''. |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | DataTemplateItemTemplateSelectorConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || ChildItem<wbr/>Template<wbr/>Selector || String || String || Chooses what '''ChildItem<wbr/>Template<wbr/>Selector''' to return. Having a parameter with the content "Small" returns the small item template selector. |
|- | |- | ||
− | + | | DataTemplateItemsPanelConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || ItemsPanelTemplate || Query<wbr/>Details<wbr/>Page<wbr/>ViewModel || || Chooses what '''ItemPanel<wbr/>Template''' to return. Having a parameter with the content "Small" returns the small item template selector. | |
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | + | ||
− | | DataTemplateItemsPanelConverter || style="text-align: center;" | ✗ || ItemsPanelTemplate || | + | |
|} | |} | ||
=== Definition === | === Definition === |
Revision as of 12:23, 7 August 2019
Converters are used to prepare application data to format a UI defined by a XAML markup. These converters make it possible to show elements only when specific conditions (like data being available) are met. This allows the creation of a good UI with XAML code only, improving code readability while also decreasing code complexity.
This page explains how to properly use converters for customizing the UBIK Xamarin User Interface. Furthermore, all available converters are listed to provide a good reference.
List of Available Converters
The following list contains all currently available converters for UBIK Xamarin customizing.
Two-way converters can be used with two-way bindings, e.g. a text-box displaying an editable value. If the value updates in the model, the text-box text changes. If the user edits the value, the value in the model behind also gets updated.
Converter | 2-Way | Output Type | Input Type | Parameter Type | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BooleanConverter | ✓ | Boolean | Boolean |
Interprets the boolean value and returns it. If the value cannot be interpreted, false is returned. | |
BooleanInvertConverter | ✓ | Boolean | Boolean |
Interprets and converts a boolean into its inverted value. If the value cannot be interpreted, false is returned. | |
BooleanToFontAttributeConverter | ✗ | FontAttribute | Boolean |
Converts a boolean into a font attribute value. In detail, if the value is true, the parameter is interpreted (Bold, Italic, None) and returned. The default returned font-attribute is None. | |
ByteToImageSourceValueConverter | ✗ | ImageSource | Byte[ ], Byte Stream |
Converts a byte stream value into an image source. | |
ChildAreaTemplateConverter | ✗ | Child |
Content |
Returns a ChildAreaTemplate from a Content | |
ChildItem |
✓ | ListView |
ChildItem |
Converts a ChildItem | |
ClassificationToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | ContentViewModel |
Returns a boolean indicating whether the given ContentViewModel is successfully classified. | |
ContainsToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | String, Guid, Object |
Checks if the delivered value is contained within a collection of values (delivered in the parameter, seperated with | |
ContainsToInvertedBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | String, Guid, Object |
Same as the ContainsToBoolConverter, but with inverted output. | |
ContentAreaTeamplateConverter | ✗ | UBIKContentArea | ContentViewModel | This converter is not yet finished and just returns the UBIKContentArea if the value is a ContentViewModel. | |
DateTimeOffsetToDateConverter | ✓ | DateTime | DateTimeOffset |
Converts a DateTimeOffset to the correct DateTime, applied to the current date and time. If the value cannot be interpreted, a new DateTime, generated from the device's current time ( | |
DateTimeToFromNowStringConverter | ✗ | String | DateTime |
Returns a DateTime into a human-readable and easily understandable string message (the last applying one will be taken):
| |
DebugConverter | ✓ | Object | Object |
A converter returning the given value for debug reasons. | |
DistanceToStringConverter | ✗ | String | Double |
Returns the given value interpreted as length. Values are returned in kilometers with two comma digits (e.g. 2.84km), values smaller than 1km are returned as meters and NaN will be returned as infinity. If the value cannot be interpreted, an empty string will be returned. | |
EqualityToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | Object, String |
Object, String |
Returns true if the given value and parameter are equal to each other, false otherwise. |
EqualityToInvertedBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | Object, String |
Object, String |
Returns true if the given value and parameter are not equal to each other, false otherwise. |
SelectionChangedEventArgsConverter | ✗ | List |
Item |
Converts an Syncfusion Item | |
FilterCriterionToValueConverter | ✓ | String | FilterCriterion |
Converts a FilterCriterion to its value. The functionality is similar to UWP's FilterCriterionToValueConverter. | |
GuidPropertyValueConverter | ✓ | String | Guid | Binding, where source is ContentViewModel |
Returns the first item of the parameter's Source-ViewModel that matches the given GUID value. If none is found, null is returned. |
IntToColorConverter | ✗ | Color | Integer |
Converts an ARGB integer value to a color. If the value cannot be interpreted, the converter tries to parse the parameter as a color to return it. If everything fails, transparent is returned. | |
ItemCountToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | Integer | Integer |
This converter has a property to set the boolean return value, called LesserThanReturnValue. This property-value will be returned if the given value is smaller than or equal to the threshold (parameter, defaults to 0). If the value is bigger than the threshold, the inverted LesserThanReturnValue will be returned. |
ItemCountToOverflowConverter | ✗ | String | Integer | Integer | Creates a human-readable text indicating how many items are available. The value will be interpreted as the total item count and the parameter as overflow threshold (defaults to 99). If there are more items than the overflow, the overflow value with a + sign will be returned (e.g. 99+). If not, the value itself will be returned. If everything fails, null is returned. |
NullToBoolConverter | ✓ | Boolean | Object, String |
Null or an empty string value get converted to true, and everything else to false. | |
NullToInvertedBoolConverter | ✓ | Boolean | Object, String |
Null or an empty string value get converted to false, and everything else to true. | |
PathToImageSourceValueConverter | ✗ | Image Source | String |
Reads the path provided as parameter and creates an image source from it. | |
PercentageToProgressConverter | ✗ | Double | Integer, Double |
The numeric value (int or double), interpreted as percentage from 0 to 100, get converted to a progress level (0 to 1). Values outside this range will be contained. | |
PropertyNameExistsToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean (Nullable) | ContentViewModel, IContent |
Converts a property to a boolean based on its existence. If it exists, true will be returned, else false or null (if something couldn't be properly interpreted). | |
PropertyNameExistsToInvertedBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean (Nullable) | ContentViewModel, IContent |
Converts a property to a boolean based on its existence. If it exists, false will be returned, else true or null (if something couldn't be properly interpreted). | |
RootAreaTemplateConverter | ✗ | ContentView | Object |
If the provided value is not null, the UBIKRootArea template will be returned. | |
SelectiveItemToValueConverter | ✓ | Boolean, String, Integer, Double, DateTime, Guid, FileReferenceData, GeoData, Object |
Boolean, String, Integer, Double, DateTime, Guid, FileReferenceData, GeoData, Object |
Binding, where source is ContentViewModel |
Converts a item of a selective list to its value. If none is found, the passed value will be returned. |
SelectiveListToItemsConverter | ✗ | List of PropertyItems | IPropertyItem |
Returns all items from a selective list. | |
SfDataSourceConverter | ✗ | DataSource (for ListView) | Double | String (Expression) |
It's an advanced converter used for loading items and applying filters on it. It replaces to CollectionToViewConverter from the WinX.UWP project. The data source can be directly used with a SfListView. |
StringContainsToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | String | String |
Returns a boolean indicating whether the parameter string is included in the value string. |
StringContainsToInvertedBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | String | String |
Same as the StringContainsToBoolConverter but with inverted output. |
StringFormatConverter | ✗ | String | Object | String | Allows the creation of a nicely formatted string message, similar to C#'s String.Format method. The value will be interpreted as the {0} element, and the parameter is the template string (e.g. The total count is: {0}! . Up to two additional parameters, named Parameter1 and Parameter2, can be defined at the converter declaration. Adding formatting options to the {0} notation is not possible.
|
ToStringFormatConverter | ✗ | String | Double, Float, Integer, DateTime, String |
String | Converts primitives or DateTime to string and allows the application of formatting options (as parameter). Adding a . to the end of the format-parameter allows truncation of all decimal places.
|
ToTypeConverter | ✗ | Object | Object | String | Attempts to convert value to the Type specified in parameter, returning the value. |
TypeNameToBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | Object | String | Returns true if the type name of the value is present in the parameter-string (seperated by | ).
|
TypeNameToInvertedBoolConverter | ✗ | Boolean | Object | String | Inverted TypeNameTo |
DataTemplateItemTemplateSelectorConverter | ✗ | ChildItem |
String | String | Chooses what ChildItem |
DataTemplateItemsPanelConverter | ✗ | ItemsPanelTemplate | Query |
Chooses what ItemPanel |
Definition
In Xamarin, before converters can be used, they need to be defined in the page's Resources tag. Make sure to include the UBIK.CPL.Converters
namespace in the namespace definitions!
The following example shows how the NullToBoolConverter
can be defined:
xmlns="http://xamarin.com/schemas/2014/forms"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
xmlns:converters="clr-namespace:UBIK.CPL.Converters;assembly=UBIK.CPL">
<ContentView.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<converters:NullToBoolConverter x:Key="NullToBool" />
</ResourceDictionary>
</ContentView.Resources>
<!-- Cuztomizing -->
</ContentView>
The key NullToBool makes this converter accessible from the customizing in this page.
Usage
A converter can only be used in conjunction with a {Binding}
. The following is an easy example, showing how the NullToBool converter, defined above, can be used.
If MyBindableProperty is null or an empty string, the converter will return true, making the Label visible!
Parameter
Some converters accept a ConverterParameter, that passes additional information. Closely read the description of the available converters to find out which accept or even require a parameter to work properly. In Ubik, some converters accept a string parameter, consisting of multiple individual parameters separated by |
.
An example of this behavior is the ContainsToBoolConverter, which checks if the current value is contained within a collection of values (passed as the parameter):
The label will only be visible if the MyValue property (which is expected to parse as an Integer in this example) is one of the values of the parameter.
Again, to get the converter working, don't forget to define it in the page's resources!
FallbackValue
In some rare cases, a converter might not return anything desired (like null) if some condition doesn't work out as it should (e.g. value is null). To still be able to get a usable return value, it's possible to define a FallbackValue.