CodexBloom - Programming Q&A Platform

C# 10: Issues with Custom Value Converters in XAML Binding - Unexpected Behavior with Nullable Types

πŸ‘€ Views: 4 πŸ’¬ Answers: 1 πŸ“… Created: 2025-06-06
c# wpf xaml data-binding C#

I'm building a feature where Hey everyone, I'm running into an issue that's driving me crazy..... I'm working on a WPF application using C# 10, and I'm facing an issue with my custom value converter for binding nullable types in XAML. My goal is to convert a nullable `int?` to a `string` for display purposes. I've implemented `IValueConverter` for this, but I'm observing unexpected behavior when the bound value is `null`. Here’s the converter I created: ```csharp public class NullableIntToStringConverter : IValueConverter { public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture) { if (value is int intValue) { return intValue.ToString(); } return ""; // Return an empty string for null } public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture) { if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(value as string)) { return null; // Return null if the string is empty } return int.Parse(value.ToString()); } } ``` In my XAML, I bind a `TextBox` to a nullable integer property: ```xml <TextBox Text="{Binding MyNullableInt, Converter={StaticResource NullableIntToStringConverter}}"/> ``` However, when the `MyNullableInt` property is set to `null`, the `TextBox` still shows a placeholder text instead of an empty string. Additionally, when I try to convert back, it throws a `FormatException` when attempting to parse non-numeric input. I've verified that `MyNullableInt` is indeed `null` when the binding occurs. I've tried checking for `null` in both the `Convert` and `ConvertBack` methods, but the behavior persists. I've also ensured that my XAML resources are correctly defined and that the converter is applied properly. Any insights into why the `TextBox` isn't reflecting an empty string as expected and how to handle parsing in a more robust manner would be greatly appreciated! What's the best practice here? I'm working on a service that needs to handle this. Am I missing something obvious? I'm working on a REST API that needs to handle this. I'd be grateful for any help.