I have a list of objects contained in an IEnumerable<>.
I would like to set the visibility of a control based on the count of this list. I have tried:
Visibility="{Binding MyList.Count>0?Collapsed:Visible, Mode=OneWay}"
But this doesn't work. I tried binding MyList.Count to the text in a text block to ensure that the count value was correct, and it is. It just doesn't seem to set the visibility correctly.
You cannot use logical or code-expressions in bindings (it expects a PropertyPath
). Either use a converter or triggers, which is what i would do:
<YourControl.Style>
<Style TargetType="YourControl">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed" />
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding MyList.Count}" Value="0">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Visible" />
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</YourControl.Style>
(You can of course refactor the style into a resource if you wish.)
There is three ways:
- to use Triggers mentioned by H.B.
- to use convertors by implementing IValueConverter in a class and setting the Converter property of Binding to an instance of IValueConverter in that class
- to define a property in your ViewModel to directly return the Visibility state.
You could always use Triggers method and it always is a good approach. The third method is useful(and is best) when you are using MVVM pattern (and you are not restricting yourself from referencing UI related assemblies in your ViewModel)
I suggest using Triggers, but if you dont want to make your xaml dirty by that much markup codes use converters.
You should use a converter, which converts the Count property to a Visibility value, or perhaps a new "HasItems" boolean property to a Visibility value. We use something, for example, called boolToVisibilityConvert, to handle jobs like this.
I can give you more precise details, if you need them.