EnumToBoolConverter

Article
03/01/2023

The EnumToBoolConverter is a one way converter that allows you to convert an Enum to a corresponding bool based on whether it is equal to a set of supplied enum values. It is useful when binding a collection of values representing an enumeration type to a boolean control property like the IsVisible property.

The Convert method returns the supplied value converted to an bool based on whether the value is equal to any of the defined TrueValues or the supplied CommandParameter.

The ConvertBack method is not supported.

Note

Note that the 'true' value to compare to can be supplied in the following ways:

as the TrueValue property on the converter.
as the ConverterParameter in the converter binding,

Note that the TrueValues property will take precedence over the ConverterParameter option.

BaseConverter Properties

The following properties are implemented in the base class, public abstract class BaseConverter:

Property	Description
`DefaultConvertReturnValue`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.Convert(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.
`DefaultConvertBackReturnValue`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.ConvertBack(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.

ICommunityToolkitValueConverter Properties

The following properties are implemented in the public interface ICommunityToolkitValueConverter:

Property	Type	Description
`DefaultConvertReturnValue`	`object?`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.Convert(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.
`DefaultConvertBackReturnValue`	`object?`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.ConvertBack(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.

Syntax

Each of the following examples make use of the following enum definition:

namespace MyLittleApp;

public enum MyDevicePlatform
{
    Android,
    iOS,
    macOS,
    Tizen,
    Windows
}

XAML

Including the XAML namespace

In order to use the toolkit in XAML the following xmlns needs to be added into your page or view:

xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit"

Therefore the following:

<ContentPage
    x:Class="CommunityToolkit.Maui.Sample.Pages.MyPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml">

</ContentPage>

Would be modified to include the xmlns as follows:

<ContentPage
    x:Class="CommunityToolkit.Maui.Sample.Pages.MyPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
    xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit">

</ContentPage>

Using the EnumToBoolConverter

The EnumToBoolConverter can be used as follows in XAML:

<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit"
             xmlns:mylittleapp="clr-namespace:MyLittleApp"
             x:Class="MyLittleApp.MainPage">
    <ContentPage.Resources>
         <ResourceDictionary>
             <toolkit:EnumToBoolConverter x:Key="MobileConverter">
                <toolkit:EnumToBoolConverter.TrueValues>
                    <mylittleapp:MyDevicePlatform>Android</mylittleapp:MyDevicePlatform>
                    <mylittleapp:MyDevicePlatform>iOS</mylittleapp:MyDevicePlatform>
                </toolkit:EnumToBoolConverter.TrueValues>
            </toolkit:EnumToBoolConverter>
         </ResourceDictionary>
    </ContentPage.Resources>

    <VerticalStackLayout>
        <Picker ItemsSource="{Binding Platforms}"
                SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedPlatform}" />
        <Label IsVisible="{Binding SelectedPlatform, Converter={StaticResource MobileConverter}}"
               Text="I am visible when the Picker value is Android or iOS."/>
    </VerticalStackLayout>
</ContentPage>

It is also possible to pass the converter parameter:

<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit"
             x:Class="MyLittleApp.MainPage">
    <ContentPage.Resources>
         <ResourceDictionary>
             <toolkit:EnumToBoolConverter x:Key="PlatformConverter" />
         </ResourceDictionary>
    </ContentPage.Resources>

    <VerticalStackLayout>
        <Picker ItemsSource="{Binding Platforms}"
                SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedPlatform}" />
        <Label IsVisible="{Binding SelectedPlatform, Converter={StaticResource PlatformConverter}, ConverterParameter={x:Static vm:MyDevicePlatform.Tizen}}"
               Text="I am visible when the Picker value is Tizen."/>
    </VerticalStackLayout>
</ContentPage>

C#

The EnumToBoolConverter can be used as follows in C#:

class EnumToBoolConverterPage : ContentPage
{
    public EnumToBoolConverterPage()
    {
        var picker = new Picker();
        picker.SetBinding(Picker.ItemsSourceProperty, nameof(ViewModel.Platforms));
        picker.SetBinding(Picker.SelectedItemProperty, nameof(ViewModel.SelectedPlatform));

        var label = new Label
        {
            Text = "I am visible when the Picker value is Tizen."
        };

		label.SetBinding(
			Label.IsVisibleProperty,
			new Binding(
				nameof(ViewModel.SelectedPlatform),
				converter: new EnumToBoolConverter(),
                converterParameter: MyDevicePlatform.Tizen));

		Content = new VerticalStackLayout
        {
            Children = { picker, label }
        };
    }
}

C# Markup

Our CommunityToolkit.Maui.Markup package provides a much more concise way to use this converter in C#.

using CommunityToolkit.Maui.Markup;

class EnumToBoolConverterPage : ContentPage
{
    public EnumToBoolConverterPage()
    {
        Content = new VerticalStackLayout
        {
            Children = 
            {
                new Picker()
                    .Bind(
                        Picker.ItemsSourceProperty, 
                        static (ViewModel vm) => vm.Platforms)
                    .Bind(
                        Picker.SelectedItemProperty,
                        static (ViewModel vm) => vm.SelectedPlatform),

                new Label()
                    .Text("I am visible when the Picker value is Tizen.")
                    .Bind(
                        Label.IsVisibleProperty,
                        static (ViewModel vm) => vm.SelectedPlatform,
                        converter: new EnumToBoolConverter(),
                        converterParameter: MyDevicePlatform.Tizen)
            }
        };
    }
}

Properties

Property	Type	Description
TrueValues	`IList<Enum>`	Enum values, that converts to `true` (optional).

Examples

You can find an example of this converter in action in the .NET MAUI Community Toolkit Sample Application.

API

You can find the source code for EnumToBoolConverter over on the .NET MAUI Community Toolkit GitHub repository.

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