I'm using a custom template in my itemscontrol to display the following result:
item 1, item 2, item3,
I want to change the template of the last item so the result becomes:
item 1, item2, item3
The ItemsControl:
<ItemsControl ItemsSource="{Binding Path=MyCollection}">
<ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" IsItemsHost="True"/>
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Name}"/>
<TextBlock Text=", "/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
Is there anyone who can give a solution for my problem? Thank you!
I've found the solution for my problem using only XAML. If there is anybody who needs to do the same, use this:
<ItemsControl ItemsSource="{Binding Path=MyCollection}">
<ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" IsItemsHost="True"/>
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock x:Name="comma" Text=", "/>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding}"/>
</StackPanel>
<DataTemplate.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource PreviousData}}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter TargetName="comma" Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
</DataTrigger>
</DataTemplate.Triggers>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
You can use DataTemplateSelector, in SelectTemplate() method you can check whether item is the last and then return an other template.
In XAML:
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<ContentPresenter
ContentTemplateSelector = "{StaticResource MyTemplateSelector}">
In Code behind:
private sealed class MyTemplateSelector: DataTemplateSelector
{
public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(
object item,
DependencyObject container)
{
// ...
}
}
This solution affects the last row and updates with changes to the underlying collection:
CodeBehind
The converter requires 3 parameters to function properly - the current item, the itemscontrol, the itemscount, and returns true if current item is also last item:
class LastItemConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
int count = (int)values[2];
if (values != null && values.Length == 3 && count>0)
{
System.Windows.Controls.ItemsControl itemsControl = values[0] as System.Windows.Controls.ItemsControl;
var itemContext = (values[1] as System.Windows.Controls.ContentPresenter).DataContext;
var lastItem = itemsControl.Items[count-1];
return Equals(lastItem, itemContext);
}
return DependencyProperty.UnsetValue;
}
public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
XAML
The Data-Trigger for a DataTemplate, that includes a textbox named 'PART_TextBox':
<DataTemplate.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Value="True" >
<DataTrigger.Binding>
<MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource LastItemConverter}">
<Binding RelativeSource="{RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type ItemsControl}}" />
<Binding RelativeSource="{RelativeSource Self}"/>
<Binding RelativeSource="{RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type ItemsControl}}" Path="Items.Count"/>
</MultiBinding>
</DataTrigger.Binding>
<Setter Property="Foreground" TargetName="PART_TextBox" Value="Red" />
</DataTrigger>
</DataTemplate.Triggers>
The converter as a static resource in the Xaml
<Window.Resources>
<local:LastItemConverter x:Key="LastItemConverter" />
</Window.Resources>
SnapShot
And a snapshot of it in action
The code has been added to the itemscontrol from this 'codeproject'
https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/242628/A-Simple-Cross-Button-for-WPF
Note the last item's text in red
One question... I see you're using an ItemsControl as opposed to say a ListBox and that it appears to be bound to a collection of strings, and that you're only trying to display the resulting text without formatting the individual parts, which makes me wonder if your desired output is actually the string itself as mentioned in the question, and not an actual ItemsControl per se.
If I'm correct about that, have you considered just using a simple TextBlock bound to the items collection, but fed through a converter? Then Inside the converter, you would cast value to an array of strings, then in the Convert method, simply Join them using a comma as the separator which will automatically, only add them between elements, like so...
var strings = (IEnumerable<String>)value;
return String.Join(", ", strings);
I have a WPF Combobox which is filled with, say, Customer objects. I have a DataTemplate:
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type MyAssembly:Customer}">
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Address}" />
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
This way, when I open my ComboBox, I can see the different Customers with their Name and, below that, the Address.
But when I select a Customer, I only want to display the Name in the ComboBox. Something like:
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type MyAssembly:Customer}">
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" />
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
Can I select another Template for the selected item in a ComboBox?
Solution
With help from the answers, I solved it like this:
<UserControl.Resources>
<ControlTemplate x:Key="SimpleTemplate">
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" />
</StackPanel>
</ControlTemplate>
<ControlTemplate x:Key="ExtendedTemplate">
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Address}" />
</StackPanel>
</ControlTemplate>
<DataTemplate x:Key="CustomerTemplate">
<Control x:Name="theControl" Focusable="False" Template="{StaticResource ExtendedTemplate}" />
<DataTemplate.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type ComboBoxItem}}, Path=IsSelected}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter TargetName="theControl" Property="Template" Value="{StaticResource SimpleTemplate}" />
</DataTrigger>
</DataTemplate.Triggers>
</DataTemplate>
</UserControl.Resources>
Then, my ComboBox:
<ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding Customers}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCustomer}"
ItemTemplate="{StaticResource CustomerTemplate}" />
The important part to get it to work was Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type ComboBoxItem}}, Path=IsSelected}" Value="{x:Null}" (the part where value should be x:Null, not True).
The issue with using the DataTrigger/Binding solution mentioned above are two-fold. The first is you actually end up with a binding warning that you can't find the relative source for the selected item. The bigger issue however is that you've cluttered up your data templates and made them specific to a ComboBox.
The solution I present better follows WPF designs in that it uses a DataTemplateSelector on which you can specify separate templates using its SelectedItemTemplate and DropDownItemsTemplate properties as well as ‘selector’ variants for both.
Note: Updated for C#9 with nullability enabled and using pattern matching during the search
public class ComboBoxTemplateSelector : DataTemplateSelector {
public DataTemplate? SelectedItemTemplate { get; set; }
public DataTemplateSelector? SelectedItemTemplateSelector { get; set; }
public DataTemplate? DropdownItemsTemplate { get; set; }
public DataTemplateSelector? DropdownItemsTemplateSelector { get; set; }
public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item, DependencyObject container) {
var itemToCheck = container;
// Search up the visual tree, stopping at either a ComboBox or
// a ComboBoxItem (or null). This will determine which template to use
while(itemToCheck is not null
and not ComboBox
and not ComboBoxItem)
itemToCheck = VisualTreeHelper.GetParent(itemToCheck);
// If you stopped at a ComboBoxItem, you're in the dropdown
var inDropDown = itemToCheck is ComboBoxItem;
return inDropDown
? DropdownItemsTemplate ?? DropdownItemsTemplateSelector?.SelectTemplate(item, container)
: SelectedItemTemplate ?? SelectedItemTemplateSelector?.SelectTemplate(item, container);
}
}
To make it easier to use in XAML, I've also included a markup extension that simply creates and returns the above class in its ProvideValue function.
public class ComboBoxTemplateSelectorExtension : MarkupExtension {
public DataTemplate? SelectedItemTemplate { get; set; }
public DataTemplateSelector? SelectedItemTemplateSelector { get; set; }
public DataTemplate? DropdownItemsTemplate { get; set; }
public DataTemplateSelector? DropdownItemsTemplateSelector { get; set; }
public override object ProvideValue(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
=> new ComboBoxTemplateSelector(){
SelectedItemTemplate = SelectedItemTemplate,
SelectedItemTemplateSelector = SelectedItemTemplateSelector,
DropdownItemsTemplate = DropdownItemsTemplate,
DropdownItemsTemplateSelector = DropdownItemsTemplateSelector
};
}
And here's how you use it. Nice, clean and clear and your templates stay 'pure'
Note: 'is:' here is my xmlns mapping for where I put the class in code. Make sure to import your own namespace and change 'is:' as appropriate.
<ComboBox x:Name="MyComboBox"
ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"
ItemTemplateSelector="{is:ComboBoxTemplateSelector
SelectedItemTemplate={StaticResource MySelectedItemTemplate},
DropdownItemsTemplate={StaticResource MyDropDownItemTemplate}}" />
You can also use DataTemplateSelectors if you prefer...
<ComboBox x:Name="MyComboBox"
ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"
ItemTemplateSelector="{is:ComboBoxTemplateSelector
SelectedItemTemplateSelector={StaticResource MySelectedItemTemplateSelector},
DropdownItemsTemplateSelector={StaticResource MyDropDownItemTemplateSelector}}" />
Or mix and match! Here I'm using a template for the selected item, but a template selector for the DropDown items.
<ComboBox x:Name="MyComboBox"
ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"
ItemTemplateSelector="{is:ComboBoxTemplateSelector
SelectedItemTemplate={StaticResource MySelectedItemTemplate},
DropdownItemsTemplateSelector={StaticResource MyDropDownItemTemplateSelector}}" />
Additionally, if you don't specify a Template or a TemplateSelector for the selected or dropdown items, it simply falls back to the regular resolving of data templates based on data types, again, as you would expect. So, for instance, in the below case, the selected item has its template explicitly set, but the dropdown will inherit whichever data template applies for the DataType of the object in the data context.
<ComboBox x:Name="MyComboBox"
ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"
ItemTemplateSelector="{is:ComboBoxTemplateSelector
SelectedItemTemplate={StaticResource MyTemplate} />
Enjoy!
Simple solution:
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}"/>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Address}">
<TextBlock.Style>
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ComboBoxItem}}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</TextBlock.Style>
</TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
(Note that the element that is selected and displayed in the box and not the list is not inside a ComboBoxItem hence the trigger on Null)
If you want to switch out the whole template you can do that as well by using the trigger to e.g. apply a different ContentTemplate to a ContentControl. This also allows you to retain a default DataType-based template selection if you just change the template for this selective case, e.g.:
<ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<ContentControl Content="{Binding}">
<ContentControl.Style>
<Style TargetType="ContentControl">
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ComboBoxItem}}"
Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter Property="ContentTemplate">
<Setter.Value>
<DataTemplate>
<!-- ... -->
</DataTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</ContentControl.Style>
</ContentControl>
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
Note that this method will cause binding errors as the relative source is not found for the selected item. For an alternate approach see MarqueIV's answer.
In addition to what said by H.B. answer, the Binding Error can be avoided with a Converter. The following example is based from the Solution edited by the OP himself.
The idea is very simple: bind to something that alway exists (Control) and do the relevant check inside the converter.
The relevant part of the modified XAML is the following. Please note that Path=IsSelected was never really needed and ComboBoxItem is replaced with Control to avoid the binding errors.
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding
RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type Control}},
Converter={StaticResource ComboBoxItemIsSelectedConverter}}"
Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter TargetName="theControl" Property="Template" Value="{StaticResource SimpleTemplate}" />
</DataTrigger>
The C# Converter code is the following:
public class ComboBoxItemIsSelectedConverter : IValueConverter
{
private static object _notNull = new object();
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
// value is ComboBox when the item is the one in the closed combo
if (value is ComboBox) return null;
// all the other items inside the dropdown will go here
return _notNull;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
}
I was going to suggest using the combination of an ItemTemplate for the combo items, with the Text parameter as the title selection, but I see that ComboBox doesn't respect the Text parameter.
I dealt with something similar by overriding the ComboBox ControlTemplate. Here's the MSDN website with a sample for .NET 4.0.
In my solution, I change the ContentPresenter in the ComboBox template to have it bind to Text, with its ContentTemplate bound to a simple DataTemplate that contains a TextBlock like so:
<DataTemplate x:Uid="DataTemplate_1" x:Key="ComboSelectionBoxTemplate">
<TextBlock x:Uid="TextBlock_1" Text="{Binding}" />
</DataTemplate>
with this in the ControlTemplate:
<ContentPresenter Name="ContentSite" IsHitTestVisible="False" Content="{TemplateBinding Text}" ContentTemplate="{StaticResource ComboSelectionBoxTemplate}" Margin="3,3,23,3" VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Left"/>
With this binding link, I am able to control the Combo selection display directly via the Text parameter on the control (which I bind to an appropriate value on my ViewModel).
I used next approach
<UserControl.Resources>
<DataTemplate x:Key="SelectedItemTemplate" DataType="{x:Type statusBar:OffsetItem}">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=ShortName}" />
</DataTemplate>
</UserControl.Resources>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<ComboBox DisplayMemberPath="FullName"
ItemsSource="{Binding Path=Offsets}"
behaviors:SelectedItemTemplateBehavior.SelectedItemDataTemplate="{StaticResource SelectedItemTemplate}"
SelectedItem="{Binding Path=Selected}" />
<TextBlock Text="User Time" />
<TextBlock Text="" />
</StackPanel>
And the behavior
public static class SelectedItemTemplateBehavior
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty SelectedItemDataTemplateProperty =
DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached("SelectedItemDataTemplate", typeof(DataTemplate), typeof(SelectedItemTemplateBehavior), new PropertyMetadata(default(DataTemplate), PropertyChangedCallback));
public static void SetSelectedItemDataTemplate(this UIElement element, DataTemplate value)
{
element.SetValue(SelectedItemDataTemplateProperty, value);
}
public static DataTemplate GetSelectedItemDataTemplate(this ComboBox element)
{
return (DataTemplate)element.GetValue(SelectedItemDataTemplateProperty);
}
private static void PropertyChangedCallback(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
var uiElement = d as ComboBox;
if (e.Property == SelectedItemDataTemplateProperty && uiElement != null)
{
uiElement.Loaded -= UiElementLoaded;
UpdateSelectionTemplate(uiElement);
uiElement.Loaded += UiElementLoaded;
}
}
static void UiElementLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
UpdateSelectionTemplate((ComboBox)sender);
}
private static void UpdateSelectionTemplate(ComboBox uiElement)
{
var contentPresenter = GetChildOfType<ContentPresenter>(uiElement);
if (contentPresenter == null)
return;
var template = uiElement.GetSelectedItemDataTemplate();
contentPresenter.ContentTemplate = template;
}
public static T GetChildOfType<T>(DependencyObject depObj)
where T : DependencyObject
{
if (depObj == null) return null;
for (int i = 0; i < VisualTreeHelper.GetChildrenCount(depObj); i++)
{
var child = VisualTreeHelper.GetChild(depObj, i);
var result = (child as T) ?? GetChildOfType<T>(child);
if (result != null) return result;
}
return null;
}
}
worked like a charm. Don't like pretty much Loaded event here but you can fix it if you want
Yes. You use a Template Selector to determine which template to bind at run-time. Thus if IsSelected = False then Use this template, if IsSelected = True, use this other template.
Of Note:
Once you implement your template selector, you will need to give the templates keynames.
I propose this solution without DataTemplateSelector, Trigger, binding nor behavior.
The first step is to put the ItemTemplate (of the selected element) in the ComboBox resources and the ItemTemplate (of the item in the drop down menu) in the ComboBox.ItemsPanel resources and give both resources the same key.
The second step is to postpone the ItemTemplate resolution at run time by using both a ContentPresenter and a DynamicResource in the actual ComboBox.ItemTemplate implementation.
<ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding Items, Mode=OneWay}">
<ComboBox.Resources>
<!-- Define ItemTemplate resource -->
<DataTemplate x:Key="ItemTemplate" DataType="viewModel:ItemType">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding FieldOne, Mode=OneWay}" />
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.Resources>
<ComboBox.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<StackPanel Grid.IsSharedSizeScope="True"
IsItemsHost="True">
<StackPanel.Resources>
<!-- Redefine ItemTemplate resource -->
<DataTemplate x:Key="ItemTemplate" DataType="viewModel:ItemType">
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" SharedSizeGroup="GroupOne" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="10" SharedSizeGroup="GroupSpace" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" SharedSizeGroup="GroupTwo" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock Grid.Column="0" Text="{Binding FieldOne, Mode=OneWay}" />
<TextBlock Grid.Column="2" Text="{Binding FieldTwo, Mode=OneWay}" />
</Grid>
</DataTemplate>
</StackPanel.Resources>
</StackPanel>
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemsPanel>
<ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<ContentPresenter ContentTemplate="{DynamicResource ItemTemplate}" />
</DataTemplate>
</ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
</ComboBox>
In a WPF app, in MVP app, I have a combo box,for which I display the data fetched from Database. Before the items added to the Combo box, I want to display the default text such as
" -- Select Team --"
so that on pageload it displays and on selecting it the text should be cleared and the items should be displayed.
Selecting data from DB is happening. I need to display the default text until the user selects an item from combo box.
Please guide me
The easiest way I've found to do this is:
<ComboBox Name="MyComboBox"
IsEditable="True"
IsReadOnly="True"
Text="-- Select Team --" />
You'll obviously need to add your other options, but this is probably the simplest way to do it.
There is however one downside to this method which is while the text inside your combo box will not be editable, it is still selectable. However, given the poor quality and complexity of every alternative I've found to date, this is probably the best option out there.
You can do this without any code behind by using a IValueConverter.
<Grid>
<ComboBox
x:Name="comboBox1"
ItemsSource="{Binding MyItemSource}" />
<TextBlock
Visibility="{Binding SelectedItem, ElementName=comboBox1, Converter={StaticResource NullToVisibilityConverter}}"
IsHitTestVisible="False"
Text="... Select Team ..." />
</Grid>
Here you have the converter class that you can re-use.
public class NullToVisibilityConverter : IValueConverter
{
#region Implementation of IValueConverter
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
return value == null ? Visibility.Visible : Visibility.Collapsed;
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new NotImplementedException();
}
#endregion
}
And finally, you need to declare your converter in a resource section.
<Converters:NullToVisibilityConverter x:Key="NullToVisibilityConverter" />
Where Converters is the place you have placed the converter class. An example is:
xmlns:Converters="clr-namespace:MyProject.Resources.Converters"
The very nice thing about this approach is no repetition of code in your code behind.
I like Tri Q's answer, but those value converters are a pain to use. PaulB did it with an event handler, but that's also unnecessary. Here's a pure XAML solution:
<ContentControl Content="{Binding YourChoices}">
<ContentControl.ContentTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Grid>
<ComboBox x:Name="cb" ItemsSource="{Binding}"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="tb" Text="Select Something" IsHitTestVisible="False" Visibility="Hidden"/>
</Grid>
<DataTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger SourceName="cb" Property="SelectedItem" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter TargetName="tb" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</Trigger>
</DataTemplate.Triggers>
</DataTemplate>
</ContentControl.ContentTemplate>
</ContentControl>
No one said a pure xaml solution has to be complicated. Here's a simple one, with 1 data trigger on the text box. Margin and position as desired
<Grid>
<ComboBox x:Name="mybox" ItemsSource="{Binding}"/>
<TextBlock Text="Select Something" IsHitTestVisible="False">
<TextBlock.Style>
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding ElementName=mybox,Path=SelectedItem}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</TextBlock.Style>
</TextBlock>
</Grid>
Set IsEditable="True" on the ComboBox element. This will display the Text property of the ComboBox.
I dont know if it's directly supported but you could overlay the combo with a label and set it to hidden if the selection isn't null.
eg.
<Grid>
<ComboBox Text="Test" Height="23" SelectionChanged="comboBox1_SelectionChanged" Name="comboBox1" VerticalAlignment="Top" ItemsSource="{Binding Source=ABCD}" />
<TextBlock IsHitTestVisible="False" Margin="10,5,0,0" Name="txtSelectTeam" Foreground="Gray" Text="Select Team ..."></TextBlock>
</Grid>
Then in the selection changed handler ...
private void comboBox1_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)
{
txtSelectTeam.Visibility = comboBox1.SelectedItem == null ? Visibility.Visible : Visibility.Hidden;
}
Based on IceForge's answer I prepared a reusable solution:
xaml style:
<Style x:Key="ComboBoxSelectOverlay" TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="Grid.ZIndex" Value="10"/>
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{x:Static SystemColors.GrayTextBrush}"/>
<Setter Property="Margin" Value="6,4,10,0"/>
<Setter Property="IsHitTestVisible" Value="False"/>
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
example of use:
<Grid>
<ComboBox x:Name="cmb"
ItemsSource="{Binding Teams}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedTeam}"/>
<TextBlock DataContext="{Binding ElementName=cmb,Path=SelectedItem}"
Text=" -- Select Team --"
Style="{StaticResource ComboBoxSelectOverlay}"/>
</Grid>
Not tried it with combo boxes but this has worked for me with other controls...
ageektrapped blogpost
He uses the adorner layer here to display a watermark.
HappyNomad's solution was very good and helped me eventually arrive at this slightly different solution.
<ComboBox x:Name="ComboBoxUploadProject"
Grid.Row="2"
Width="200"
Height="23"
Margin="64,0,0,0"
ItemsSource="{Binding projectList}"
SelectedValue ="{Binding projectSelect}"
DisplayMemberPath="projectName"
SelectedValuePath="projectId"
>
<ComboBox.Template>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="ComboBox">
<Grid>
<ComboBox x:Name="cb"
DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
ItemsSource="{Binding ItemsSource, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
SelectedValue ="{Binding SelectedValue, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}"
DisplayMemberPath="projectName"
SelectedValuePath="projectId"
/>
<TextBlock x:Name="tb" Text="Select Item..." Margin="3,3,0,0" IsHitTestVisible="False" Visibility="Hidden"/>
</Grid>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger SourceName="cb" Property="SelectedItem" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter TargetName="tb" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</ComboBox.Template>
</ComboBox>
Easiest way is to use CompositeCollection to merge default text and data from database directly in ComboBox e.g.
<ComboBox x:Name="SelectTeamComboBox" SelectedIndex="0">
<ComboBox.ItemsSource>
<CompositeCollection>
<ComboBoxItem Visibility="Collapsed">-- Select Team --</ComboBoxItem>
<CollectionContainer Collection="{Binding Source={StaticResource ResourceKey=MyComboOptions}}"/>
</CompositeCollection>
</ComboBox.ItemsSource>
</ComboBox>
And in Resources define StaticResource to bind ComboBox options to your DataContext, because direct binding in CollectionContainer doesn't work correctly.
<Window.Resources>
<CollectionViewSource Source="{Binding}" x:Key="MyComboOptions" />
</Window.Resources>
This way you can define your ComboBox options only in xaml e.g.
<ComboBox x:Name="SelectTeamComboBox" SelectedIndex="0">
<ComboBox.ItemsSource>
<CompositeCollection>
<ComboBoxItem Visibility="Collapsed">-- Select Team --</ComboBoxItem>
<ComboBoxItem >Option 1</ComboBoxItem>
<ComboBoxItem >Option 2</ComboBoxItem>
</CompositeCollection>
</ComboBox.ItemsSource>
</ComboBox>
I would recommend the following:
Define a behavior
public static class ComboBoxBehaviors
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty DefaultTextProperty =
DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached("DefaultText", typeof(String), typeof(ComboBox), new PropertyMetadata(null));
public static String GetDefaultText(DependencyObject obj)
{
return (String)obj.GetValue(DefaultTextProperty);
}
public static void SetDefaultText(DependencyObject obj, String value)
{
var combo = (ComboBox)obj;
RefreshDefaultText(combo, value);
combo.SelectionChanged += (sender, _) => RefreshDefaultText((ComboBox)sender, GetDefaultText((ComboBox)sender));
obj.SetValue(DefaultTextProperty, value);
}
static void RefreshDefaultText(ComboBox combo, string text)
{
// if item is selected and DefaultText is set
if (combo.SelectedIndex == -1 && !String.IsNullOrEmpty(text))
{
// Show DefaultText
var visual = new TextBlock()
{
FontStyle = FontStyles.Italic,
Text = text,
Foreground = Brushes.Gray
};
combo.Background = new VisualBrush(visual)
{
Stretch = Stretch.None,
AlignmentX = AlignmentX.Left,
AlignmentY = AlignmentY.Center,
Transform = new TranslateTransform(3, 0)
};
}
else
{
// Hide DefaultText
combo.Background = null;
}
}
}
User the behavior
<ComboBox Name="cmb" Margin="72,121,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top"
local:ComboBoxBehaviors.DefaultText="-- Select Team --"/>
IceForge's answer was pretty close, and is AFAIK the easiest solution to this problem. But it missed something, as it wasn't working (at least for me, it never actually displays the text).
In the end, you can't just set the "Visibility" property of the TextBlock to "Hidden" in order for it to be hidden when the combo box's selected item isn't null; you have to SET it that way by default (since you can't check not null in triggers, by using a Setter in XAML at the same place as the Triggers.
Here's the actual solution based on his, the missing Setter being placed just before the Triggers:
<ComboBox x:Name="combo"/>
<TextBlock Text="--Select Team--" IsHitTestVisible="False">
<TextBlock.Style>
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Style.Setters>
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</Style.Setters>
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding ElementName=combo,Path=SelectedItem}" Value="{x:Null}">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</TextBlock.Style>
</TextBlock>
Not best practice..but works fine...
<ComboBox GotFocus="Focused" x:Name="combobox1" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="8,29,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="128" Height="117"/>
Code behind
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
bool clearonce = true;
bool fillonce = true;
public MainWindow()
{
this.InitializeComponent();
combobox1.Items.Insert(0, " -- Select Team --");
combobox1.SelectedIndex = 0;
}
private void Focused(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
if(clearonce)
{
combobox1.Items.Clear();
clearonce = false;
}
if (fillonce)
{
//fill the combobox items here
for (int i = 0; i < 10; i++)
{
combobox1.Items.Insert(i, i);
}
fillonce = false;
}
}
}
I believe a watermark as mentioned in this post would work well in this case
There's a bit of code needed but you can reuse it for any combobox or textbox (and even passwordboxes) so I prefer this way
I am using an IsNullConverter class in my project and it worked for me.
here is the code for it in c#,create a folder named Converter and add this class in that folder,as the trigger used doesnt supports value for rather than null,and IsNullConverter just do that
public class IsNullConverter : IValueConverter
{
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
return (value == null);
}
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
{
throw new InvalidOperationException("IsNullConverter can only be used OneWay.");
}
}
add the namespace in xaml file like this.
xmlns:Converters="clr-namespace:TymeSheet.Converter"
means
xmlns:Converters="clr-namespace:YourProjectName.Converter"
use this line below the resources to make it availabe through xaml code
<Converters:IsNullConverter x:Key="isNullConverter" />
here is the xaml code,i used here the trigger so whenever an item is selected in the combobox the visibilty of your text becomes false.
<TextBlock Text="Select Project" IsHitTestVisible="False" FontFamily="/TimeSheet;component/Resources/#Open Sans" FontSize="14" Canvas.Right="191" Canvas.Top="22">
<TextBlock.Resources>
<Converters:IsNullConverter x:Key="isNullConverter"/>
</TextBlock.Resources>
<TextBlock.Style>
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding ElementName=ProjectComboBox,Path=SelectedItem,Converter={StaticResource isNullConverter}}" Value="False">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</TextBlock.Style>
</TextBlock>
//XAML Code
// ViewModel code
private CategoryModel _SelectedCategory;
public CategoryModel SelectedCategory
{
get { return _SelectedCategory; }
set
{
_SelectedCategory = value;
OnPropertyChanged("SelectedCategory");
}
}
private ObservableCollection<CategoryModel> _Categories;
public ObservableCollection<CategoryModel> Categories
{
get { return _Categories; }
set
{
_Categories = value;
_Categories.Insert(0, new CategoryModel()
{
CategoryId = 0,
CategoryName = " -- Select Category -- "
});
SelectedCategory = _Categories[0];
OnPropertyChanged("Categories");
}
}
A little late but..
A more simple way would be to add a dummy data item to the list with parameter IsDummy=true and make sure it is not HitTestVisable and its hight is 1 pixel (using a Converter) so it wont be seen.
Than just register to SelectionChanged and in it, set the index to the dummy item index.
It works like a charm and this way you don't mess with the style and colors of the ComboBox or your application theme.
InitializeComponent()
yourcombobox.text=" -- Select Team --";
The above code demonstrates the simplest way to achieve it. After window load, declare the text of the combobox, using the .Text property of the combobox. This can be extended to the DatePicker, Textbox and other controls as well.
EDIT: Per comments below, this is not a solution. Not sure how I had it working, and can't check that project.
It's time to update this answer for the latest XAML.
Finding this SO question searching for a solution to this question, I then found that the updated XAML spec has a simple solution.
An attribute called "Placeholder" is now available to accomplish this task. It is as simple as this (in Visual Studio 2015):
<ComboBox x:Name="Selection" PlaceholderText="Select...">
<x:String>Item 1</x:String>
<x:String>Item 2</x:String>
<x:String>Item 3</x:String>
</ComboBox>
I did it before binding the combobox with data from database in codebehind like this -
Combobox.Items.Add("-- Select Team --");
Combobox.SelectedIndex = 0;
Put a label on top of the combobox.
Bind the content of the label to to the combobox Text property.
Set the opacity of the combobox to zero , Opacity=0.
Write default text in the combobox Text property
<ComboBox Name="cb"
Text="--Select Team--" Opacity="0"
Height="40" Width="140" >
<ComboBoxItem Content="Manchester United" />
<ComboBoxItem Content="Lester" />
</ComboBox>
</Grid>
This is old, but here's my idea in kind of MVVM style. I'm using Stylet MVVM framework.
This is View:
<UserControl x:Class="ComboBoxWithPlaceholderTextView"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:s="https://github.com/canton7/Stylet"
mc:Ignorable="d"
>
<Grid>
<ComboBox
ItemsSource="{Binding ItemsSource}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedItem}"
DropDownOpened="{s:Action DropDownOpened}"
DropDownClosed="{s:Action DropDownClosed}"
IsDropDownOpen="{Binding IsDropDownOpened}"
/>
</Grid>
and then in ViewModel
public class ComboBoxWithPlaceholderTextViewModel : Screen
{
private List<string> _itemsSource;
private string _placeholderText;
private string _selectedItem;
private bool _isDropDownOpened;
public bool IsDropDownOpened
{
get => _isDropDownOpened;
set
{
if (value == _isDropDownOpened)
{
return;
}
SetAndNotify(ref _isDropDownOpened, value);
}
}
public string SelectedItem
{
get
{
return _selectedItem;
}
set
{
SetAndNotify(ref _selectedItem, value);
}
}
public string PlaceholderText
{
get { return _placeholderText; }
set
{
if (value == _placeholderText)
{
return;
}
SetAndNotify(ref _placeholderText, value);
}
}
public List<string> ItemsSource
{
get { return _itemsSource; }
set
{
SetAndNotify(ref _itemsSource, value);
if (!IsDropDownOpened && (string.IsNullOrEmpty(SelectedItem) || !SelectedItem.Equals(PlaceholderText)))
{
ItemsSource.Insert(0, PlaceholderText);
SelectedItem = ItemsSource[0];
}
}
}
public void DropDownOpened()
{
ItemsSource.RemoveAt(0);
SelectedItem = null;
}
public void DropDownClosed()
{
if (SelectedItem is null)
{
ItemsSource.Insert(0, PlaceholderText);
SelectedItem = ItemsSource[0];
}
}
}
In this way I don't have to care if text will escape combo, but I have to care if placeholder text is selected.
Only set the IsEditable attribute to true
<ComboBox Name="comboBox1"
Text="--Select Team--"
IsEditable="true" <---- that's all!
IsReadOnly="true"/>
I know this is semi old but what about this way:
<DataTemplate x:Key="italComboWM">
<TextBlock FontSize="11" FontFamily="Segoe UI" FontStyle="Italic" Text="--Select an item--" />
</DataTemplate>
<ComboBox EmptySelectionBoxTemplate="{StaticResource italComboWM}" />