ColorToByteAlphaConverter

Article
03/01/2023

The ColorToByteAlphaConverter is a one way converter that allows users to convert an incoming Color to the alpha component as a value between 0 and 255.

The Convert method returns the alpha component as a value between 0 and 255 from the supplied value.

The ConvertBack method is not supported.

BaseConverter Properties

The following properties are implemented in the base class, public abstract class BaseConverter:

Property	Description
`DefaultConvertReturnValue`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.Convert(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.
`DefaultConvertBackReturnValue`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.ConvertBack(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.

ICommunityToolkitValueConverter Properties

The following properties are implemented in the public interface ICommunityToolkitValueConverter:

Property	Type	Description
`DefaultConvertReturnValue`	`object?`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.Convert(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.
`DefaultConvertBackReturnValue`	`object?`	Default value to return when `IValueConverter.ConvertBack(object?, Type, object?, CultureInfo?)` throws an `Exception`. This value is used when CommunityToolkit.Maui.Options`.ShouldSuppressExceptionsInConverters` is set to `true`.

Syntax

The following examples will show how to use the ColorToByteAlphaConverter to display the alpha component of a specific Color.

XAML

Including the XAML namespace

In order to use the toolkit in XAML the following xmlns needs to be added into your page or view:

xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit"

Therefore the following:

<ContentPage
    x:Class="CommunityToolkit.Maui.Sample.Pages.MyPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml">

</ContentPage>

Would be modified to include the xmlns as follows:

<ContentPage
    x:Class="CommunityToolkit.Maui.Sample.Pages.MyPage"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
    xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit">

</ContentPage>

Using the ColorToByeAlphaConverter

The ColorToByteAlphaConverter can be used as follows in XAML:

<ContentPage xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2021/maui"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2009/xaml"
             xmlns:toolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/dotnet/2022/maui/toolkit"
             x:Class="CommunityToolkit.Maui.Sample.Pages.Converters.ColorToByteAlphaConverterPage">

    <ContentPage.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <toolkit:ColorToByteAlphaConverter x:Key="ColorToByteAlphaConverter" />
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </ContentPage.Resources>

    <VerticalStackLayout>
         <Label Text="The alpha component is:" />

         <Label Text="{Binding MyFavoriteColor, Converter={StaticResource ColorToByteAlphaConverter}}" />
     </VerticalStackLayout>

</ContentPage>

C#

The ColorToByteAlphaConverter can be used as follows in C#:

class ColorToByteAlphaConverterPage : ContentPage
{
    public ColorToByteAlphaConverterPage()
    {
        var label = new Label();

 		label.SetBinding(
 			Label.TextProperty,
 			new Binding(
 				nameof(ViewModel.MyFavoriteColor),
 				converter: new ColorToByteAlphaConverter()));

 		Content = new VerticalStackLayout
 		{
 			Children =
 			{
 				new Label { Text = "The alpha component is:" },
 				label
 			}
 		};
    }
}

C# Markup

Our CommunityToolkit.Maui.Markup package provides a much more concise way to use this converter in C#.

using CommunityToolkit.Maui.Markup;

class ColorToByteAlphaConverterPage : ContentPage
{
    public ColorToByteAlphaConverterPage()
    {
        Content = new VerticalStackLayout
        {
            Children =
            {
                new Label()
                    .Text("The alpha component is:"),
                new Label()
                    .Bind(
                        Label.TextProperty,
                        static (ViewModel vm) => vm.myFavoriteColor,
                        converter: new ColorToByteAlphaConverter())
            }
        };
    }
}

Examples

You can find an example of this converter in action in the .NET MAUI Community Toolkit Sample Application.

API

You can find the source code for ColorToByteAlphaConverter over on the .NET MAUI Community Toolkit GitHub repository.

Share via