Xamarin.Forms XAML Toolbox

Visual Studio 2017 version 15.8 and Visual Studio for Mac 7.6 now have a Toolbox available while editing Xamarin.Forms XAML files. The toolbox contains all the built-in Xamarin.Forms controls and layouts, which can be dragged into the XAML editor.

Visual Studio

In Visual Studio 2017, open a Xamarin.Forms XAML file for editing. The toolbox can be shown by pressing Ctrl + W, X on the keyboard, or choosing the View > Toolbox menu item.

The toolbox can be hidden and docked like other panes in Visual Studio 2017, using the icons in the top-right or the context menu. The Xamarin.Forms XAML toolbox has custom view options that can be changed by right-clicking on each section. Toggle the List View option to switch between the list and compact views:

When a Xamarin.Forms XAML file is opened for editing, drag any control or layout from the toolbox into the file, then take advantage of Intellisense to customize the user interface.

Visual Studio for Mac

In Visual Studio for Mac, choose the View > Pads > Toolbox menu item to show the toolbox:

The toolbox can be hidden and pinned like other pads in Visual Studio for Mac, using the icons in the top-right of the pad. The Xamarin.Forms XAML toolbox has custom view options that can be changed with the buttons next to the search box:

• Show categories
• Use compact display

The full and compact options are shown below:

When a Xamarin.Forms XAML file is opened for editing, drag any control or layout from the toolbox into the file, then take advantage of Intellisense to customize the user interface.