Toolbox for Maui is empty

Lloyd Sheen 1,376

Add new Maui project. Toolbox is empty. Attempt to load is a complete failure as this menu item does not bring any Maui controls in the add dialog.

Somehow production ready is not applicable to Maui at least in terms of VS 2022.

Lloyd Sheen 1,376 Reputation points

2022-08-23T20:25:00.513+00:00

So just updated to 17.3.2 In the release notes it says fixes VS toolbox. Another case of saying something does not make it happen.

MS do some QA please.

1 answer

Rob Caplan - MSFT 5,412 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-08-19T19:41:06.61+00:00

Updated information, raised from the comment below.

The MAUI ToolBox experience hasn't yet been specifically implemented. What you are seeing appears to be coming from the Xamarin ToolBox and is not designed for this MAUI context. The proper MAUI ToolBox experience is planned for a future release. Keep an eye on the release notes for upcoming Visual Studio previews.

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This is expected behavior, as Visual Studio does not contain a Xaml designer for MAUI (nor does Xamarin Forms, since VS 16.9). The Toolbox lists items valid in the currently open designer.

See the .Net MAUI XAML Overview

There is no visual designer for producing XAML in .NET MAUI apps. All XAML must be hand-written, but you can use XAML hot reload to view your UI as you edit it.

There is an open proposal requesting one in the MAUI GitHub repo at Winforms like designer with optional hot reload xaml window #3439
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Lloyd Sheen 1,376 Reputation points

2022-08-19T21:31:20.483+00:00

Well my current Xamarin project has toolbox items and it is VS 2022. When I installed 17.3 and created first app the toolbox had Maui items. When I installed DevExpress and create the first app using their template then the items disappeared. I have since installed 17.3.1 and the native toolbox items have reappeared for Maui. Tomorrow I will use that template again to create a project and see what happens with the toolbox but while there is no designer (and since hot reload does not work for me is a bit of a ..... (rude word).

Rob Caplan - MSFT 5,412 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-08-20T00:14:52.983+00:00

Interesting. I was wrong - the Toolbox isn't tied to the designer and is available with the text Xaml editor.

I just pulled out a PC and it's working fine for me in VS 2022 17.4P1, and I don't see any reports of general issues with 17.3 as released. There was an issue with the ToolBox in 17.3 previews, but it was fixed before release.

These are partially controlled by the template, so if it only occurs when using the DevExpress template then it's likely a problem with that.

For your Hot Reload problems I'd recommend opening a support case and somebody can work with you 1:1 to see what's going on with your system and get you unblocked. You can open a .Net 6 case at .Net/.Net 6.0/Tools and Compilers/Multi-platform App UI (.NET MAUI) Tools

--Rob

Lloyd Sheen 1,376 Reputation points

2022-08-23T16:14:32.763+00:00

The problem with the Toolbox is not just with the DevExpress template. I updated to 17.3.1 and the toolbox magically appeared. I closed VS and rep-opened and toolbox is empty again,.

Created a new project from the generic Maui template and controls show in the toolbox. They are Xamarin controls not Maui. There are big problems with Maui and VS at the present and now having spent last 2 days trying to get things back to "normal" my project has become secondary.

If I were to show a supervisor this I would be collecting garbage the next day to pay my way. This shows that GA for Maui while being declared is not really true.

Rob Caplan - MSFT 5,412 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2022-08-23T21:54:41.143+00:00

Hi Lloyd. Thanks for the additional information that you saw only the Xamarin controls and not Maui. That cracked the case here: unfortunately, the answer is that the MAUI Toolbox Experience hasn't yet been implemented and is on the roadmap for a later release. It will show up first in the VS Preview track before it comes to a GA version. What you're seeing appears to be coming from the Xamarin implementation, which is giving you the partial functionality you report.

I also see that you've reported this problem correctly on the developer community site at https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/t/Maui-toolbox-items-have-vanished/10128455 . Thank you. That is the correct place to report VS Tooling issues, and it will be triaged (in this case linked to the existing workitem) and you'll receive feedback on the progress there.

Gary Hayes 1 Reputation point

2022-08-23T22:42:37.757+00:00

Yes, same issue. I started building an app last night fresh after update of Visual Studios. The toolbar was there. I closed Visual Studios and reopened project today, toolbox is gone.
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