Is Everyone Writing Converters?

I am writing some XAML where the data I am binding needs some formatting
(e.g. numbers, dates, etc.). If my rounds through the books and web are
correct, WPF expects me to write converters for simple formatting. Maybe
I've missed it, but is there a simple string converter in the framework?
I know I can write in in several lines of code, but that's true with much
of the .NET framework. A simple converter that allows me to specify a format
string as a ConverterParameter would be great, but to use it in Blend and
other tools, it has to be created early as GAC'd. To paraphrase a famous
singer, for converters, "GAC is Whack!"...

Anyone know of a good solution that doesn't require either I get someone
else's converter or write my own?

Thanks,

Shawn Wildermuth
Microsoft MVP (C#)
http://wildermuthconsulting.com
mailto:swildermuth@REMOVE_ALLCAPS_adoguy.com

I'm afraid the answer is yes. IMHO, that's one of the main lacks in WPF.
Same thing if u have to make a simple calculation on your data before
presenting them.
I've heard about an undocumented API to do that deep inside the framework
but I don't know more...


"Shawn Wildermuth" <swildermuth@REMOVE_ALLCAPS_adoguy.com> wrote in message
news:4dbdaca44c6e8c92ea799c6956b@msnews.microsoft.com...
>I am writing some XAML where the data I am binding needs some formatting
>(e.g. numbers, dates, etc.). If my rounds through the books and web are
>correct, WPF expects me to write converters for simple formatting. Maybe
>I've missed it, but is there a simple string converter in the framework? I
>know I can write in in several lines of code, but that's true with much of
>the .NET framework. A simple converter that allows me to specify a format
>string as a ConverterParameter would be great, but to use it in Blend and
>other tools, it has to be created early as GAC'd. To paraphrase a famous
>singer, for converters, "GAC is Whack!"...
>
> Anyone know of a good solution that doesn't require either I get someone
> else's converter or write my own?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Shawn Wildermuth
> Microsoft MVP (C#)
> http://wildermuthconsulting.com
> mailto:swildermuth@REMOVE_ALLCAPS_adoguy.com
>
>

It is true that you'll need to create converters for many things in WPF.

I wrote a simple generic one here:

http://www.wiredprairie.us/journal/2...atted_num.html

I don't understand why Microsoft didn't create a few for us to use as
standards.

But, why would you need to use anything in the GAC? You can easily reference
a non-GAC'd assembly in most cases and use the converter as is within XAML.

--Aaron
http://www.wiredprairie.us/journal


"Shawn Wildermuth" <swildermuth@REMOVE_ALLCAPS_adoguy.com> wrote in message
news:4dbdaca44c6e8c92ea799c6956b@msnews.microsoft.com...
>I am writing some XAML where the data I am binding needs some formatting
>(e.g. numbers, dates, etc.). If my rounds through the books and web are
>correct, WPF expects me to write converters for simple formatting. Maybe
>I've missed it, but is there a simple string converter in the framework? I
>know I can write in in several lines of code, but that's true with much of
>the .NET framework. A simple converter that allows me to specify a format
>string as a ConverterParameter would be great, but to use it in Blend and
>other tools, it has to be created early as GAC'd. To paraphrase a famous
>singer, for converters, "GAC is Whack!"...
>
> Anyone know of a good solution that doesn't require either I get someone
> else's converter or write my own?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Shawn Wildermuth
> Microsoft MVP (C#)
> http://wildermuthconsulting.com
> mailto:swildermuth@REMOVE_ALLCAPS_adoguy.com
>
>