How to set focus from ViewModel in Xamarin Forms

Question

I want to set the focus in a SearchBox control after do some asynchronous operations, and I would like to do it from my ViewModel.

How could I do this possible?

EDIT

ViewModel code:

    private bool _searchBarFocused;

    public bool SearchBarFocused
    {
        get { return _searchBarFocused; }
        set
        {
            _searchBarFocused = value;
            base.OnPropertyChanged("SearchBarFocused");
        }
    }

    public async Task InitializeData()
    {
        // Other operations...

        SearchBarFocused = true;
    }

View's code-behind code:

    protected override void OnAppearing()
    {
        base.OnAppearing();
        (this.BindingContext as MyViewModel).InitializeData();
    }

SearchBar XAML code:

  <SearchBar SearchCommand="{Binding SearchItemsCommand}">
    <SearchBar.Triggers>
      <DataTrigger TargetType="SearchBar"
                   Binding="{Binding SearchBarFocused, Mode=TwoWay}" Value="True">
        <Trigger.EnterActions>
          <triggers:SearchBarFocusTriggerAction Focused="True" />
        </Trigger.EnterActions>

        <Trigger.ExitActions>
          <triggers:SearchBarFocusTriggerAction Focused="False" />
        </Trigger.ExitActions>
      </DataTrigger>
    </SearchBar.Triggers>
  </SearchBar>

Trigger action code:

public class SearchBarFocusTriggerAction : TriggerAction<SearchBar>
{
    public bool Focused { get; set; }

    protected override void Invoke(SearchBar searchBar)
    {
        if (Focused)
            searchBar.Focus();
        else
            searchBar.Unfocus();
    }
}

Answer 1

This is an example of how I do, before this I used to do using MessagingCenter

in xaml , you need to give an x:Name to the obj you want to make focus.

<!-- PICKER's DEFINITION -->
<DatePicker
    x:Name="Datepicker"
    Date="{Binding SelectedDate, Mode=TwoWay}"
    IsEnabled="true"
    IsVisible="false">
</DatePicker>

then you have to make reference to that control in your command parameter on a button or for example in this case I use a toolbar item.

<!-- MENU TOOLBAR -->
<ContentPage.ToolbarItems>
    <ToolbarItem
        Command="{Binding ShowCalendarCommand}"
        Icon="Calendar"
        CommandParameter="{x:Reference Datepicker}" />
</ContentPage.ToolbarItems>

then in your vm command :

#region toolbar commands

public ICommand ShowCalendarCommand => new RelayCommand<Object>(ShowCalendar);

#endregion

private void ShowCalendar(Object obj)
{
    var calendar = (DatePicker)obj;
    calendar.Focus();
    //  MessagingCenter.Send(this, "Calendar");
}

Answer 2

One of options is to use Triggers (XAML way):

 <SearchBar x:Name="searchBar"
       Text=""
       Placeholder="type something">
    <SearchBar.Triggers>

        <DataTrigger TargetType="SearchBar"
                     Binding="{Binding ViewModelIsSearchBarFocused}"
                     Value="True">

            <Trigger.EnterActions>
                <local:FocusTriggerAction Focused="True" />
            </Trigger.EnterActions>

            <Trigger.ExitActions>
                <local:FocusTriggerAction Focused="False" />
            </Trigger.ExitActions>

        </DataTrigger>   

        <EventTrigger Event="Unfocused">
            <local:UnfocusedTriggerAction />
        </EventTrigger>    

    </SearchBar.Triggers>       
</SearchBar>

public class FocusTriggerAction : TriggerAction<SearchBar>
{
    public bool Focused { get; set; }

    protected override async void Invoke (SearchBar searchBar)
    {
        await Task.Delay(1000);

        if (Focused)
        {
            searchBar.Focus();
        }
        else
        {
            searchBar.UnFocus();
        }
    }
}

public class UnfocusedTriggerAction : TriggerAction<SearchBar>
{
    protected override void Invoke (SearchBar searchBar)
    {
        YourViewModel.ViewModelIsSearchBarFocused = false;
    }
}

Read more here: https://developer.xamarin.com/guides/cross-platform/xamarin-forms/working-with/triggers/