XAML new Description property for Input-Box controls

By Fons Sonnemans, posted on
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I'm in the process of learning the new Windows SDK Preview. Today's subject is the new Description property which is added to the TextBox, PasswordBox, RichEditBox, AutoSuggestBox and ComboBox input controls.

Demo

I have created a small demo page with all the input controls which have a Description. The Description is shown below the control in a gray color.

The XAML is very simple. The Description is of the type object. The PasswordBox in this example has a TextBlock with two Runs (one Bold) in it as the Description. It also supports DataBinding. The Description of the ComboBox is databound to the SelectedIndex.

<StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
            VerticalAlignment="Center"
            Width="300"
            Spacing="8">
    <TextBox Header="TextBox"
                Text="Hello World!"
                Description="TextBox Description" />
    <PasswordBox Header="PasswordBox"
                    Password="secret">
        <PasswordBox.Description>
            <TextBlock>
        <Run Text="PasswordBox"
                FontWeight="Bold" />
        <Run Text="Description" />
            </TextBlock>
        </PasswordBox.Description>
    </PasswordBox>
    <RichEditBox Header="RichEditBox"
                    Description="RichEditBox Description" />
    <AutoSuggestBox Header="AutoSuggestBox"
                    Description="AutoSuggestBox Description" />
    <ComboBox Header="ComboBox"
                x:Name="comboBoxDemo"
                Description="{x:Bind comboBoxDemo.SelectedIndex, Mode=OneWay}"
                SelectedIndex="2"
                HorizontalAlignment="Stretch">
        <ComboBoxItem Content="A" />
        <ComboBoxItem Content="B" />
        <ComboBoxItem Content="C" />
        <ComboBoxItem Content="D" />
    </ComboBox>
</StackPanel>

Description color

You can easily change the color of the Description by defining a Brush Resource with the Key SystemControlDescriptionTextForegroundBrush. I added one to the StackPanel with the color Red.

<StackPanel HorizontalAlignment="Center"
            VerticalAlignment="Center"
            Width="300"
            Spacing="8">
    <StackPanel.Resources>
        <SolidColorBrush x:Key="SystemControlDescriptionTextForegroundBrush"
                         Color="Red" />
    </StackPanel.Resources>
    <TextBox Header="TextBox"
             Text="Hello World!"
             Description="TextBox Description" />

The Descriptions are now Red.

Closure

The Description is a small but nice new addition. Nothing you couldn't do yourself with a normal TextBlock but this is easier.

Fons

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