Windows Store Apps: animate control when visibility changes? - xaml

In my app I have A grid with visibility bound to a property in the view model.
What I want to do is when the visibility property changes at the view model, the grid fades in or out according to the visibility value: Visible/Collapsed.
how can I achieve this ?

Inspired by the answer of "HDW Production", here's the code for Windows Store and Windows Phone Store apps:
public class FadingVisibilityGrid : Grid
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty DeferredVisibilityProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"DeferredVisibility", typeof (Visibility), typeof (FadingVisibilityGrid), new PropertyMetadata(default(Visibility), DeferredVisibilityChanged));
private static void DeferredVisibilityChanged(DependencyObject sender, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
var newVisibility = (Visibility)e.NewValue;
var grid = (FadingVisibilityGrid)sender;
var animation = new DoubleAnimation
{
Duration = new Duration(TimeSpan.FromMilliseconds(200))
};
Storyboard.SetTarget(animation, grid);
Storyboard.SetTargetProperty(animation, "Grid.Opacity");
grid.FadeStoryBoard.Stop();
grid.FadeStoryBoard = new Storyboard();
grid.FadeStoryBoard.Children.Add(animation);
if (newVisibility == Visibility.Visible)
{
animation.From = 0;
animation.To = 1;
grid.Visibility = Visibility.Visible;
grid.FadeStoryBoard.Begin();
}
else
{
animation.From = 1;
animation.To = 0;
grid.FadeStoryBoard.Completed += (o, o1) =>
{
grid.Visibility = newVisibility;
};
grid.FadeStoryBoard.Begin();
}
}
public Visibility DeferredVisibility
{
get { return (Visibility) GetValue(DeferredVisibilityProperty); }
set { SetValue(DeferredVisibilityProperty, value); }
}
private Storyboard _fadeStoryBoard = new Storyboard();
public Storyboard FadeStoryBoard
{
get { return _fadeStoryBoard; }
set { _fadeStoryBoard = value; }
}
}

You need a new DependencyProperty, either by inheriting from Grid and adding one or by creating an attached property. Let's call it DeferredVisibility and let it be of type Visibility.
When DeferredVisibility is changed to Visible, set the Visibility to Visible and animate the opacity from 0 to 1.
When DeferredVisibility is changed to Collapsed, animate the opacity from 1 to 0 and THEN set the Visibility to Collapsed.

Related

Is there any way to force execute the OnSizeAllocated method?

I have created a view using Xaml code behind. I did it using the code behind because I wanted to change the layout of the view based on the device orientation. So, the problem which I am facing is that the OnSizeAllocated method is being called after the view is loaded. So, it is unable to change the layout as per the device orientation. I just want to know if there is any way to invoke the OnSizeAllocated method before the view is loaded. Please click on the below link to view the code:
Please click Here to view the Code
1.Rearrange the Page
you could check if width is greater than height to determine if the device is now in landscape or portrait:
public partial class Page13 : ContentPage
{
private double _width ;
private double _height ;
private Grid grid;
private Label label;
private Entry entry;
private Button button;
public Page13 ()
{
_width = this.Width;
_height = this.Height;
label = new Label(){Text = "i am a laber"};
entry = new Entry(){WidthRequest = 200};
button = new Button(){Text = "Submit"};
grid = new Grid();
UpdateLayout();
StackLayout stackLayout = new StackLayout();
stackLayout.Children.Add(grid);
Content = stackLayout;
}
protected override void OnSizeAllocated(double width, double height)
{
base.OnSizeAllocated(width, height);
if (_width != width || _height != height)
{
_width = width;
_height = height;
UpdateLayout();
}
}
void UpdateLayout()
{
grid.RowDefinitions.Clear();
grid.ColumnDefinitions.Clear();
grid.Children.Clear();
if (_width > _height)
{
ScreenRotatedToLandscape();
}
else
{
ScreenRotatedToPortrait();
}
}
private void ScreenRotatedToLandscape()
{
grid.RowDefinitions.Add(new RowDefinition(){Height = new GridLength(1,GridUnitType.Auto)});
grid.RowDefinitions.Add(new RowDefinition() { Height = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.ColumnDefinitions.Add(new ColumnDefinition(){Width = new GridLength(1,GridUnitType.Auto)});
grid.ColumnDefinitions.Add(new ColumnDefinition() { Width = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.Children.Add(label,0,0);
grid.Children.Add(entry, 1, 0);
grid.Children.Add(button, 0, 1);
Grid.SetColumnSpan(button,2);
}
private void ScreenRotatedToPortrait()
{
grid.RowDefinitions.Add(new RowDefinition() { Height = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.RowDefinitions.Add(new RowDefinition() { Height = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.RowDefinitions.Add(new RowDefinition() { Height = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.ColumnDefinitions.Add(new ColumnDefinition() { Width = new GridLength(1, GridUnitType.Auto) });
grid.Children.Add(label, 0, 0);
grid.Children.Add(entry, 0, 1);
grid.Children.Add(button, 0, 2);
}
}
This is the recommended implementation pulled right from the Xamarin.Forms documentation.
2.Using Xamarin.Essentials
It adds additional functionality to cross-platform applications built in Xamarin. One of these new features is the ability to ping the device for the current orientation by accessing the DeviceDisplay.ScreenMetrics.Orientation property. This returns the current device orientation, which can be used to determine which layout to render.
it's similar to the one above
private bool IsPortrait;
public Page13 ()
{
...
IsPortrait = DeviceDisplay.ScreenMetrics.Orientation == ScreenOrientation.Portrait;
UpdateLayout();
...
}
void UpdateLayout()
{
grid.RowDefinitions.Clear();
grid.ColumnDefinitions.Clear();
grid.Children.Clear();
if (IsPortrait)
{
ScreenRotatedToPortrait();
}
else
{
ScreenRotatedToLandscape();
}
}
You can't force run that since the SizeAllocation hasn't changed, but you could do this to get orientation on initial load:
If you add the Xamarin.Essentials nuget package, as you can see here, you can get the orientation using this line of code DeviceDisplay.MainDisplayInfo.Orientation and you will get Landscape, Portrait, Square, or Unknown.
If you don't want to add the package, you can just use Application.Current.MainPage.Width and Application.Current.MainPage.Height to figure out orientation.

ListView flickering when updating binding collection

I am working on a Windows 10 Universal app and see some flickering issues when I use a ListView in my app. My ListView is using x:Bind to bind to an ObservableCollection in my View Model.
When user performs some actions, or a background update occurs, I do some processing that requires the ObservableCollection to be refreshed.
private ObservableCollection<Item> UIItems = new ObservableCollection<Item>();
private bool IsUpdating = false;
private void UpdateUIProperties(List<Item> newItems)
{
DispatcherHelper.CheckBeginInvokeOnUI(() =>
{
IsUpdating = true;
UIItems.Clear();
foreach (var item in newItems)
{
if (item.IsVisible)
{
UIItems.Add(item);
}
}
IsUpdating = false;
});
}
After this code gets executed, the ListView flickers and then the Scrollviewer goes all the way to the top. Is there any way to prevent this and have the ListView's ScrollViewer stay at its original offset?
A solution that seem to work for me is to bind the Itemsource to an Observable collection and then have another collection that contains the items that you want to add. Have the Item in the collection implement the interface below. When you want to update the collection use the MergeCollection method to make sure the items in the collection are preserved, but they have the new config.
public interface IConfigureFrom<T>
{
void ConfigureFrom(T other);
}
public static void MergeCollection<T>(ICollection<T> source, ICollection<T> dest) where T : IConfigureFrom<T>, new()
{
// First remove entries at the bottom of the dest list that are no longer there
if (dest.Count > source.Count)
{
for (int i = dest.Count - 1; i >= source.Count; i--)
{
var coll = dest as Collection<T>;
if (coll != null)
{
coll.RemoveAt(i);
}
else
{
dest.Remove(dest.Last());
}
}
}
// reconfigure existing entries with the new configureation
var sourecList = source.ToList();
var destList = dest.ToList();
for (int i = dest.Count - 1; i >= 0; i--)
{
var target = destList[i];
var config = sourecList[i];
target.ConfigureFrom(config);
}
// add new entries at the end and configure them from the source list
for (int i = dest.Count; i < source.Count; i++)
{
T newItem = new T();
newItem.ConfigureFrom(sourecList[i]);
dest.Add(newItem);
}
}
When changing all items in your ListView, it is usually better to just swap the whole ItemsSource.
Just set:
UIItems = new List<...>(your data);
And have it fire OnNotifyPropertyChanged of course.

Xamarin Forms Switch XAML

I'm new in Xamarin and i'm trying to create a simple page with some components.
One of these component is a Switch it works fine by itself but i would like to change the basic text "inactive/active" by "male/female"
I've seen that in Xaml for windows phone there is a ToggleSwitch Component with a On/OffContent property but i can't seems to find an equivalent in XAML for Xamarin Forms
any idea ?
Thank you!
The lack of built in switch options, or at least the lack of being able to rename the switch options, has been asked a few times.
You could go with custom renders, modify the text at the OS level or do like I chose to do, just build your own switch.
This switch is two buttons laid out horizontally with the text Yes and No. The selected button gets a red border, and the unselected a transparent border.
class CustomSwitch : Grid
{
public event EventHandler<SelectedItemChangedEventArgs> ItemSelected;
private Button negative;
private Button positive;
public static readonly BindableProperty SelectedItemProperty = BindableProperty.Create<CustomSwitch, Object>(t => t.SelectedItem, null, BindingMode.TwoWay, propertyChanged: OnSelectedItemChanged);
public CustomSwitch()
{
try
{
this.HorizontalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center;
this.VerticalOptions = LayoutOptions.Center;
negative = new Button();
negative.Text = "No";
negative.Style = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Style_Button_Switch;
negative.Clicked += (o,s) => OnSelectedItemChanged(this, ItemSelected, (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.False);
positive = new Button();
positive.Text = "Yes";
positive.Style = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Style_Button_Switch;
positive.Clicked += (o, s) => OnSelectedItemChanged(this, ItemSelected, (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.True);
this.Children.Add(negative, 0,0);
this.Children.Add(positive, 1,0);
}
catch(System.Exception ex)
{
<YourNameSpace>.Classes.Helpers.Helper_ErrorHandling.SendErrorToServer(ex, this.GetType().Name, System.Reflection.MethodBase.GetCurrentMethod().Name);
}
}
public Object SelectedItem
{
get
{
return base.GetValue(SelectedItemProperty);
}
set
{
if (SelectedItem != value)
{
base.SetValue(SelectedItemProperty, value);
InternalUpdateSelected();
}
}
}
private void InternalUpdateSelected()
{
if((int)SelectedItem == (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.False)
{
negative.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_Selected;
positive.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_UnSelected;
positive.Opacity = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Opaque_High;
}
else if ((int)SelectedItem == (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.True)
{
negative.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_UnSelected;
negative.Opacity = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Opaque_High;
positive.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_Selected;
}
else
{
negative.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_UnSelected;
negative.Opacity = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Opaque_High;
positive.BorderColor = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Color_UnSelected;
positive.Opacity = <YourNameSpace>.AppStyling.Opaque_High;
}
}
private static void OnSelectedItemChanged(BindableObject bindable, object oldValue, object newValue)
{
CustomSwitch boundSwitch = (CustomSwitch)bindable;
if((int)newValue != (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.Unselected)
{
boundSwitch.SelectedItem = (int)newValue == (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.False ? (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.False : (int)Classes.Collections.Enums.SelectionStatus.True;
}
if (boundSwitch.ItemSelected != null)
{
boundSwitch.ItemSelected(boundSwitch, new SelectedItemChangedEventArgs(newValue));
}
boundSwitch.InternalUpdateSelected();
}
}

Binding to UserControl in WinRT

I created a simple Rating user control, the problem this control won't in WinRT work when I use binding, it works fine on windows phone, This is my Control:
public sealed partial class RatingControl : UserControl
{
public int Rate { get { return (int)GetValue(RateProperty); } set { SetValue(RateProperty, value); } }
public static readonly DependencyProperty RateProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("Rate",
typeof(int),
typeof(RatingControl), null);
public RatingControl()
{
this.InitializeComponent();
this.Loaded += RatingControl_Loaded;
}
void RatingControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
List<Image> Images = new List<Image>();
for (int i = 0; i < 5; i++)
{
Image img = new Image { Width = 35, Height = 35, Margin = new Thickness(3) };
img.Source = new BitmapImage { UriSource = new System.Uri("ms-appx:Images/Stars/notFilled.png") };
Images.Add(img);
sp.Children.Add(img);
}
for (int i = 0; i < Rate; i++)
Images[i].Source = new BitmapImage { UriSource = new System.Uri("ms-appx:Images/Stars/Filled.png") };
}
}
When I hardcode the value, it works fine:
<local:RatingControl Rate="3" />
but when I use Binding, it just shows zero stars. I checked the value of Rate, it is always zero.
<local:RatingControl Rate="{Binding Decor, Mode=TwoWay}" />
UPDATE: I just found out that the binding happens before I get the value of the Rate, so its zero all the time. How can I fix that? I need the binding to happens after I get the value. Also I thought the Binding happens everytime I change the Rate value.
SOLUTION: I Didnt implement the DependencyObject right, I should've done this:
public static readonly DependencyProperty RateProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("Rate",
typeof(int),
typeof(RatingControl), new PropertyMetadata(0, new PropertyChangedCallback(BindRateControl)));
SOLUTION: I Didnt implement the DependencyObject right, I should've done this (adding a callback method):
public static readonly DependencyProperty RateProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("Rate",
typeof(int),
typeof(RatingControl),
new PropertyMetadata(0, new PropertyChangedCallback(BindRateControl)));
has you try adding the UserControl from code-behind. this help you to ensure that the UserControl is triggered after getting the value.

How do I hide a PivotItem?

I have a Page with an Pivot-control and in some cases I don't want to show a particular PivotItem.
Setting the Visibility to collapsed doesn't seem to affect it at all.
Any suggestions?
you should be able to remove or add PivotItems dynamically in your Pivot by using the respective collection methods on Pivot.Items .
Let me know if this doesn't work for your scenario.
I've created a custom behavior for showing/hiding pivot item
Usage:
< i:Interaction.Behaviors>
< common:HideablePivotItemBehavior Visible="{Binding variable}" />
</ i:Interaction.Behaviors >
Code:
/// <summary>
/// Behavior which enables showing/hiding of a pivot item`
/// </summary>
public class HideablePivotItemBehavior : Behavior<PivotItem>
{
#region Static Fields
public static readonly DependencyProperty VisibleProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"Visible",
typeof(bool),
typeof(HideablePivotItemBehavior),
new PropertyMetadata(true, VisiblePropertyChanged));
#endregion
#region Fields
private Pivot _parentPivot;
private PivotItem _pivotItem;
private int _previousPivotItemIndex;
private int _lastPivotItemsCount;
#endregion
#region Public Properties
public bool Visible
{
get
{
return (bool)this.GetValue(VisibleProperty);
}
set
{
this.SetValue(VisibleProperty, value);
}
}
#endregion
#region Methods
protected override void OnAttached()
{
base.OnAttached();
this._pivotItem = AssociatedObject;
}
private static void VisiblePropertyChanged(DependencyObject dpObj, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs change)
{
if (change.NewValue.GetType() != typeof(bool) || dpObj.GetType() != typeof(HideablePivotItemBehavior))
{
return;
}
var behavior = (HideablePivotItemBehavior)dpObj;
var pivotItem = behavior._pivotItem;
// Parent pivot has to be assigned after the visual tree is initialized
if (behavior._parentPivot == null)
{
behavior._parentPivot = (Pivot)behavior._pivotItem.Parent;
// if the parent is null return
if (behavior._parentPivot == null)
{
return;
}
}
var parentPivot = behavior._parentPivot;
if (!(bool)change.NewValue)
{
if (parentPivot.Items.Contains(behavior._pivotItem))
{
behavior._previousPivotItemIndex = parentPivot.Items.IndexOf(pivotItem);
parentPivot.Items.Remove(pivotItem);
behavior._lastPivotItemsCount = parentPivot.Items.Count;
}
}
else
{
if (!parentPivot.Items.Contains(pivotItem))
{
if (behavior._lastPivotItemsCount >= parentPivot.Items.Count)
{
parentPivot.Items.Insert(behavior._previousPivotItemIndex, pivotItem);
}
else
{
parentPivot.Items.Add(pivotItem);
}
}
}
}
#endregion
}
You can remove the pivot item from the parent pivot control
parentPivotControl.Items.Remove(pivotItemToBeRemoved);
Removing PivotItems is easy, but if you want to put them back afterwards I've found that the headers get messed up and start overlapping each other. This also happens if you set the Visibility of a header to Collapsed and then later make it Visible again.
So I solved my particular problem by setting the opacity of each unwanted PivotItem (and its header) to 0.
PivotItem p = (PivotItem)MainPivot.Items.ToList()[indexToHide];
p.Opacity = 0;
((UIElement)p.Header).Opacity = 0;
However, this leaves gaps where the missing PivotItems are.
For me, the gaps were not a problem because I only want to remove items at the end of my PivotItemList, so I get some whitespace between the last and first PivotItems. The problem was, I was still able to swipe to a hidden PivotItem. In order to fix this, I overrode Pivot.SelectionChanged() so that whenever the user swipes to a hidden PivotItem, the code moves on to the next item instead. I had to use a DispatchTimer from within SelectionChanged() and actually move to the next PivotItem from the DispatchTimer callback, since you have to be in the UI thread to change PivotItem.SelectedIndex.
private void MainPivot_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)
{
t.Stop(); //t is my DispatchTimer, set to 100ms
if (MainPivot.SelectedIndex >= mFirstHiddenPivotItemIndex)
{
//move to the first or last PivotItem, depending on the current index
if (mCurrentSelectedPivotItemIndex == 0)
mPivotItemToMoveTo = mFirstHiddenPivotItemIndex - 1;
else
mPivotItemToMoveTo = 0;
t.Start();
}
mCurrentSelectedPivotItemIndex = MainPivot.SelectedIndex;
}
private void dispatcherTimer_Tick(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MainPivot.SelectedIndex = mPivotItemToMoveTo;
t.Stop();
}
foreach (PivotItem item in MyPivot.Items.ToList())
{
if (item.Visibility == Visibility.Collapsed)
MyPivot.Items.Remove(item);
}
Setting IsLocked property to true will make all other Pivot items to disappear except the current pivot item.
But this will not hide one particular pivot item of our choice.
To elaborate on the solution of adding/removing pivotItems, rather than hiding them.
Let's say we want the pivotItem to be initially invisible, and appear only on a certain event.
mainPivot.Items.Remove(someTab);
Then to add it again,
if (!mainPivot.Items.Cast<PivotItem>().Any(p => p.Name == "someTab"))
{
mainPivot.Items.Insert(1,someTab);
}
I've used Insert rather than add to control the position where the tab appears.
You have to ensure you don't add the same tab twice, which is the reason for the if statement.
I've modified the Bajena behavior to improve it, solving the issue with losing the original position of the PivotItem when showing/hiding repeteadly and the issue when parentpivot control is null (not initialized yet).
Notice that this behavior must be attached to the Pivot, not to the PivotItem.
Code:
public class PivotItemHideableBehavior : Behavior<Pivot>
{
private Dictionary<PivotItem, int> DictionaryIndexes { get; set; }
public static readonly DependencyProperty VisibleProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"Visible",
typeof(bool),
typeof(PivotItemHideableBehavior),
new PropertyMetadata(true, VisiblePropertyChanged));
public static readonly DependencyProperty PivotItemProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"PivotItem",
typeof(PivotItem),
typeof(PivotItemHideableBehavior),
new PropertyMetadata(null));
public bool Visible
{
get { return (bool)GetValue(VisibleProperty); }
set { SetValue(VisibleProperty, value); }
}
public PivotItem PivotItem
{
get { return (PivotItem)GetValue(PivotItemProperty); }
set { SetValue(PivotItemProperty, value); }
}
protected override void OnAttached()
{
base.OnAttached();
AssociatedObject.Loaded += AssociatedObject_Loaded;
}
protected override void OnDetaching()
{
base.OnDetaching();
AssociatedObject.Loaded -= AssociatedObject_Loaded;
}
private void AssociatedObject_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
DictionaryIndexes = new Dictionary<PivotItem, int>();
int index = 0;
foreach (PivotItem item in AssociatedObject.Items)
DictionaryIndexes.Add(item, index++);
}
private static void VisiblePropertyChanged(DependencyObject dpObj, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs change)
{
var behavior = (PivotItemHideableBehavior)dpObj;
var pivot = behavior.AssociatedObject;
if (!behavior.Visible)
{
if (pivot.Items.Contains(behavior.PivotItem))
pivot.Items.Remove(behavior.PivotItem);
}
else if (!pivot.Items.Contains(behavior.PivotItem))
{
int index = 0;
foreach (var item in behavior.DictionaryIndexes)
{
if (item.Key == behavior.PivotItem)
pivot.Items.Insert(index, behavior.PivotItem);
else if (pivot.Items.Contains(item.Key))
index++;
}
}
}
}
Usage:
<Interactivity:Interaction.Behaviors>
<Behaviors:PivotItemHideableBehavior PivotItem="{x:Bind PivotItemName}" Visible="{Binding IsPivotItemVisible}" />
</Interactivity:Interaction.Behaviors>