How can I refer to a binding converter in another namespace in Silverlight XAML?

c#, datatemplate, markup, silverlight, xaml

Solution

You want to make a static resource first, then bind to the converter that is a static resource.

 <UserControl.Resources> 
   <conv:IntConverter x:Key="IntConverter"></conv:IntConverter> 
 </UserControl.Resources> 
 <StackPanel> 
    <TextBlock x:Name="Result" Margin="15" FontSize="20" 
              HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" 
               Text="{Binding Converter={StaticResource IntConverter}}"> 
    </TextBlock> 
 </StackPanel> 
</Window>

So the "conv:" xml namespace was registered at the top of the document like you do with custom controls:

xmlns:conv="clr-namespace:MyFooCompany.Converters"

This example is adapted from the below linked tutorial regarding the same issue for WPF:

http://www.dev102.com/2008/07/17/wpf-binding-converter-best-practices/

Problem

Since you apparently can't create a Silverlight DataTemplate in C#, I'm trying to create one in XAML. I have a converter that I need to refer to, that I have defined in C# in another namespace. I've tried doing this: ``` <UserControl.Resources> <DataTemplate x:Key="PriceTemplate"> <TextBlock Text="{Binding Price, Converter={Converters:PriceConverter}}" /> </DataTemplate> </UserControl.Resources> ``` Where Converters is an xmlns that points to the correct namespace. However, I get a compilation error that says: Type 'Converters:PriceConverter' is used like a markup extension but does not derive from MarkupExtension. I tried adding System.Windows.Markup.MarkupExtension as a parent to my converter, but it apparently doesn't exist in Silverlight. How can I refer to my converter in XAML, without having to rewrite it in XAML?

Original source