binding to the ToString() method in a DataTemplate

Question

Is there any easy way to bind to the ToString() method in a DataTemplate? I would expect the Text property of a TextBlock to use ToString() by default for its Text property, but that does not happen. So any easy way to do this:

<DataTemplate x:Key="myTemplate">
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding ToString()}"/>
<DataTemplate>

Skid

Answer 1

You can use Text="{Binding}". The ToString() method is invoked implicitly.

Failure

This also works well when binding to an enum where you want to display the Enum.ToString(). – Lepido

how do you pass parmaeter to the ToString()method ? (for instance, for formatting a TimeSpan) – Putdown

@Putdown Check the StringFormat parameter – Failure

Also works with Text="{x:Bind}" – Letterpress

Answer 2

you can use a Converter. like this:

public class PropertyValueStringConverter : IValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        return value.ToString();
    }

    public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        throw new NotImplementedException();
    }
}

Pak

This worked for me. with a slight edit. return value != null ? value.ToString() : string.Empty; – Davey

Answer 3

Unfortunately, you cant bind control to method but you can circumvent to do that look:

public string GetText()
{
    return "I am happy";
}

public string MyText
{
    get { return GetText(); }
}

Now in XAML:

<DataTemplate x:Key="myTemplate">
    <TextBlock Text="{Binding MyText}"/>
<DataTemplate>

be careful MyText property must be in the context of the window.

Magnific

Answer 4

It would make more sense to add a string property, for that specific ToString() method, to the object you are binding to.

Loom

Answer 5

WPF does not support binding to methods directly, but you could use custom IValueConverter, ObjectDataProvider or any other approach as described here.

Rosenblast