String format for binding text in WPF

Question

Say that I have a static text resource

public static string MainText = "Test: {0} Test2: {1}";

And I then want to use this text in WPF like this

<Label Content="x:Static ***.MainText" />

but bind two values to it, how do I do that?

I can add that I don't want to use Runs in a TextBlock since I want to keep the string as one string for translation. — Mathias
– Mathias, Commented Mar 15, 2016 at 13:21
You would use a Converter then. XAML can only go so far. And in YOur Binding you can also use StringFormat like so : <Label Content="{Binding INPCProperty, StringFormat}" — XAMlMAX
– XAMlMAX, Commented Mar 15, 2016 at 13:48

J.H. · Accepted Answer · 2016-03-15 13:47:58Z

2

Here are two ways you can do it, one with a converter and one without.

"Text1" and "Text2" in the bindings are properties of the DataContext.

You will need to change the "MainText" to be a property:

public static string MainText { get; set; } = "Test: {0} Test2: {1}";

Without a converter:

<Label>
    <Label.Content>
        <TextBlock>
            <TextBlock.Text>
                <MultiBinding StringFormat="{x:Static local:MainWindow.MainText}">
                    <Binding Path="Text1" />
                    <Binding Path="Text2" />
                </MultiBinding>
            </TextBlock.Text>
        </TextBlock>
    </Label.Content>
</Label>

With a converter:

<Label>
    <Label.Resources>
        <local:TextFormatConverter x:Key="TextFormatConverter" />
    </Label.Resources>
    <Label.Content>
        <MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource TextFormatConverter}" ConverterParameter="{x:Static local:MainWindow.MainText}">
            <Binding Path="Text1" />
            <Binding Path="Text2" />
        </MultiBinding>
    </Label.Content>
</Label>

And the converter:

public class TextFormatConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        string fmt = parameter as string;
        if (!string.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(fmt))
            return string.Format(fmt, values);
        return null;
    }

    public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        throw new NotImplementedException();
    }
}

answered Mar 15, 2016 at 13:47

J.H.

4,3221 gold badge20 silver badges16 bronze badges

Sign up to request clarification or add additional context in comments.

2 Comments

Mathias Over a year ago

Ok, I can't change it to a property because of the way we've set up our translation unfortunately. I wanted to see if there were some other solution than using a converter, but I'll just go for that then. Thanks :)

J.H. Over a year ago

You could pass something else in as the parameter that identifies the text - like, "MainText" and then use reflection or whatever you have to find the string format somehow (project specific).

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

String format for binding text in WPF

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Hot Network Questions

Collectives™ on Stack Overflow

1 Answer 1

2 Comments

Your Answer

Sign up or log in

Post as a guest

Related