WPF How to bind an enum with Description to a ComboBox

Question

How can I bind an enum with Description (DescriptionAttribute) to a ComboBox?

I got an enum:

public enum ReportTemplate
{
    [Description("Top view")]
    TopView,

    [Description("Section view")]
    SectionView
}

I tried this:

<ObjectDataProvider MethodName="GetValues" ObjectType="{x:Type System:Enum}"
                    x:Key="ReportTemplateEnum">
    <ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters>
        <x:Type TypeName="Helpers:ReportTemplate"/>
    </ObjectDataProvider.MethodParameters>
</ObjectDataProvider>

<Style x:Key="ReportTemplateCombobox" TargetType="dxe:ComboBoxEditSettings">
    <Setter Property="ItemsSource" 
            Value="{Binding Source={x:Type Helpers:ReportTemplate}}"/>
    <Setter Property="DisplayMember" Value="Description"/>
    <Setter Property="ValueMember" Value="Value"/>
</Style>

Can't succeed to do this, any simple solution?

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

This can be done by using a converter and item template for your comboBox.

Here is the converter code which when bound to an enum will return the Description value:

namespace FirmwareUpdate.UI.WPF.Common.Converters
{
    public class EnumDescriptionConverter : IValueConverter
    {
        private string GetEnumDescription(Enum enumObj)
        {
            FieldInfo fieldInfo = enumObj.GetType().GetField(enumObj.ToString());

            object[] attribArray = fieldInfo.GetCustomAttributes(false);

            if (attribArray.Length == 0)
            {
                return enumObj.ToString();
            }
            else
            {
                DescriptionAttribute attrib = attribArray[0] as DescriptionAttribute;
                return attrib.Description;
            }
        }

        object IValueConverter.Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
        {
            Enum myEnum = (Enum)value;
            string description = GetEnumDescription(myEnum);
            return description;
        }

        object IValueConverter.ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
        {
            return string.Empty;
        }
    }
}

Then in your xaml you need to use and item template.

<ComboBox Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1"  Height="25" Width="100" Margin="5"
              ItemsSource="{Binding Path=MyEnums}"
              SelectedItem="{Binding Path=MySelectedItem}"
              >
        <ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
            <DataTemplate>
                <TextBlock Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource enumDescriptionConverter}}"/>
            </DataTemplate>
        </ComboBox.ItemTemplate>
    </ComboBox>