C# WPF IsEnabled using multiple bindings?

Question

I have a WPF xaml file describing a section of a GUI and I'd like the enabling/disabling of a particular control to be dependent on two others. The code looks something like this at the moment:

<ComboBox Name="MyComboBox"
          IsEnabled="{Binding ElementName=SomeCheckBox, Path=IsChecked}"/>

But I'd like it to be dependant on another checkbox as well so something like:

<ComboBox Name="MyComboBox"
          IsEnabled="{Binding ElementName=SomeCheckBox&AnotherCheckbox, Path=IsChecked}"/>

What's the best way to go about that? I can't help feeling I'm missing something obvious or going about this the wrong way?

qqbenq · Answer 1 · 2014-09-01T16:24:06.107

99

You can use a MultiBinding with a converter which implements IMultiValueConverter.

Just to give an answer you can (almost) copy&paste:

Static resource needed:

<converterNamespace:BooleanAndConverter x:Key="booleanAndConverter" />

The ComboBox:

<ComboBox Name="MyComboBox">
  <ComboBox.IsEnabled>
    <MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource booleanAndConverter}">
      <Binding ElementName="SomeCheckBox" Path="IsChecked" />
      <Binding ElementName="AnotherCheckbox" Path="IsChecked"  />
    </MultiBinding>
  </ComboBox.IsEnabled>
</ComboBox>

The code for the converter:

namespace ConverterNamespace
{
    public class BooleanAndConverter : IMultiValueConverter
    {
        public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        {
            foreach (object value in values)
            {
                if ((value is bool) && (bool)value == false)
                {
                    return false;
                }
            }
            return true;
        }
        public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
        {
            throw new NotSupportedException("BooleanAndConverter is a OneWay converter.");
        }
    }
}

edited Sep 01 '14 at 16:24

answered Oct 06 '13 at 14:40

qqbenq

10,220
4
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45

I have one question, what if values is null ? Is it not better to have a check like this at the beginning: `if (values == null) { return false; }` ? – Devid Jan 08 '18 at 14:41
1

The `ConvertBack` method should return `null` instead of throwing a `NotSupportedException`, [according to MSDN](https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.windows.data.imultivalueconverter.convertback(v=vs.110).aspx#Remarks). – Knowledge Cube Apr 05 '18 at 13:03
4

In my opinion the Convert method is way easier to understand with LinQ: `return values.All(value => value is bool && (bool) value);` or `return values.All(value => value is bool b && b);` – Daniel Eisenreich Aug 15 '18 at 07:51
I know this is old, but I used this LinQ syntax instead: `return values.OfType().All(x => x);` – AidanH Sep 27 '18 at 10:25
And what if I need diffrent converters? – user5260143 Jun 12 '19 at 11:25

Kosau · Answer 2 · 2016-07-12T20:26:25.990

You can also try shorter version of the same:

public class BooleanAndConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        return values.OfType<IConvertible>().All(System.Convert.ToBoolean);
    }

    public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        throw new NotSupportedException();
    }
}

public class BooleanOrConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        return values.OfType<IConvertible>().Any(System.Convert.ToBoolean);
    }

    public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
    {
        throw new NotSupportedException();
    }
}

and, of course, you may need the converters for visibility, too:

public class BooleanOrToVisibilityConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public Visibility HiddenVisibility { get; set; }

    public bool IsInverted { get; set; }

    public BooleanOrToVisibilityConverter()
    {
        HiddenVisibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
        IsInverted = false;
    }

    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        bool flag = values.OfType<IConvertible>().Any(System.Convert.ToBoolean);
        if (IsInverted) flag = !flag;
        return flag ? Visibility.Visible : HiddenVisibility;
    }

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

public class BooleanAndToVisibilityConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public Visibility HiddenVisibility { get; set; }

    public bool IsInverted { get; set; }

    public BooleanAndToVisibilityConverter()
    {
        HiddenVisibility = Visibility.Collapsed;
        IsInverted = false;
    }

    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        bool flag = values.OfType<IConvertible>().All(System.Convert.ToBoolean);
        if (IsInverted) flag = !flag;
        return flag ? Visibility.Visible : HiddenVisibility;
    }

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

Is there no way to chain these? – Joshua Frank Jul 25 '18 at 16:07 — Joshua Frank, Jul 25 '18 at 16:07

score 14 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 03 '09 at 15:36

I believe you may have to use a MultiBinding with a MultiValueConverter. See here: http://www.developingfor.net/wpf/multibinding-in-wpf.html

Here is a directly related example: http://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/wpf/thread/5b9cd042-cacb-4aaa-9e17-2d615c44ee22

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Aug 15 '18 at 08:29

As extension to qqbenq's answer:

Added the function to handle the Count of a Collection for example if you want to check if some item of a ListView is selected.

Converter:

public class IsEnabledConverter : IMultiValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object[] values, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        foreach (var value in values)
        {
            switch (value)
            {
                case bool b when !b:
                case int i when i == 0:
                    return false;
            }
        }

        return true;
    }

    public object[] ConvertBack(object value, Type[] targetTypes, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        return null;
    }
}

Namespace <theNamespace:IsEnabledConverter x:Key="IsEnabledConverter"/>

Button

<Button x:Name="MyButton">
    <Button.IsEnabled>
        <MultiBinding Converter="{StaticResource IsEnabledConverter}">
            <Binding ElementName="MyListView" Path="SelectedItems.Count"/>
            <Binding ElementName="MyCheckBox" Path="IsChecked"/>
        </MultiBinding>
    </Button.IsEnabled>
</Button>

score 0 · Answer 5 · answered Aug 31 '22 at 13:14

When you don't want to use MultiBinding

public class AndEnabledTextBox : TextBox
{
    public static readonly DependencyProperty AndEnabled1SubProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register(nameof(AndEnabled1), typeof(bool), typeof(AndEnabledTextBox), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(new PropertyChangedCallback(OnAndEnabledPropertyChanged)));
    public static readonly DependencyProperty AndEnabled2SubProperty =
        DependencyProperty.Register(nameof(AndEnabled2), typeof(bool), typeof(AndEnabledTextBox), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(new PropertyChangedCallback(OnAndEnabledPropertyChanged)));
    public bool AndEnabled1 { get { return (bool)GetValue(AndEnabled1SubProperty); } set { SetValue(AndEnabled1SubProperty, value); } }
    public bool AndEnabled2 { get { return (bool)GetValue(AndEnabled2SubProperty); } set { SetValue(AndEnabled2SubProperty, value); } }
    protected override void OnInitialized(EventArgs e)
    {
        base.OnInitialized(e);
        IsEnabled = AndEnabled1 && AndEnabled2;
    }
    protected static void OnAndEnabledPropertyChanged(DependencyObject obj, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
    {
        AndEnabledTextBox textBox = (AndEnabledTextBox)obj;
        textBox.IsEnabled = textBox.AndEnabled1 && textBox.AndEnabled2;
    }
}

XMAL is more simplified when you use inherited controls.

<Window x:Class="WpfApp1.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApp1">
    <StackPanel>
        <ToggleButton x:Name="switch1" Content="{Binding ElementName=switch1, Path=IsChecked}"/>
        <ToggleButton x:Name="switch2" Content="{Binding ElementName=switch2, Path=IsChecked}"/>
        <local:AndEnabledTextBox Text="TEXT"
                                 AndEnabled1="{Binding ElementName=switch1, Path=IsChecked, Mode=OneWay}"
                                 AndEnabled2="{Binding ElementName=switch2, Path=IsChecked, Mode=OneWay}"/>
    </StackPanel>
</Window>

C# WPF IsEnabled using multiple bindings?

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