Custom Markup Extension In Xamarin.Forms

In Xamarin.Forms, we can use different markup extensions. Let's now create our own markup extension.

Target Audience

People with basic knowledge of C# and XAML.

Tools

  • Visual Studio or Xamarin Studio
  • Windows or Mac OS

Installation

Download Visual Studio Installer from here.

You can install Visual Studio 2017 with Xamarin workload.

In this example, I am using VS 2017 on Windows OS with Xamarin workload installed in it and also, with Developer mode ON.

Uses of XAML Markup Extensions

  • Used in Data Binding.
  • Important for Sharing Objects.
  • Referring constants can be used throughout the application.
  • Custom Markup Extensions are also made.
  • Markup Extensions implement IMarkupExtension Interface.

Creating a Markup Extension

Here, we are going to make a markup extension for images in XAML. By creating this markup extension, we can add images in Xamarin.Forms through XAML.

First, create an empty Xamarin.forms portable project and create a folder named “MarkupExtension”.

Right click on Project -> Add  -> New Folder.

Xamarin

Name the folder as MarkupExtensions.

Right click MarkupExtensions folder -> Add -> New Class. Then, add a class named EmbeddedImage.cs.

xamarin

xamarin

After adding a class, now let's implement IMarkupExtension to this class and make this class public.

Implementing IMarkupExtension

  1. public class EmbeddedImage : IMarkupExtension  
  2.   {  
  3.       public object ProvideValue(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)  
  4.       {  
  5.           throw new NotImplementedException();  
  6.       }  
  7.   }  

This should be the code after implementing a Markup Extension.

Now, add a public property named ResourceId, which, we will use to add image source in XAML.

Code

  1. public string ResourceId { get; set; }  
  2.      public object ProvideValue(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)  
  3.      {  
  4.          if (String.IsNullOrWhiteSpace(ResourceId))  
  5.              return null;  
  6.   
  7.         return ImageSource.FromResource(ResourceId);  
  8.      }  

Here, we have set the ResourceId. If ResourceId is null or white space, then null will return; otherwise the image source is set to ResourceId.

Now, let's use it in XAML. First, we have to add project namespace.

  1. xmlns:local="clr-namespace:ProjectName.MarkupExtensions"  

Now, add a folder named Resources and add images in it. After this, use <Image> Tag and set its source. And in its source, we will use our markup extension to set the image source.

  1. <Image Source="{local:EmbeddedImage ResourceId=ProjectName.Resources.Image.extension}"></Image>  

Now, you can use this markup extension to add images through XAML.

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