programmatically using a value converter in C# in Silverlight

Question

I have a C# Silverlight application. In this application I have defined a value converter that I am using in the XAML. I have run into a situation where I need to programmatically use this value converter in my code behind. My question is, how do I do that? In XAML, I am using my value converter as follows:

<TextBlock x:Name="myTextBlock" Text="{Binding Mode=OneWay, Path=FirstName, Converter={StaticResource myConverter}, ConverterParameter=NotSet}" />

How do I use this converter in my code-behind?

Thanks!

Answer 1

If you just want to call the converter explicitly in the code behind, just use the converter class just like any other class and call its Convert() methos with appropriate parameters

YourConverter conv = new YourConverter();
conv.Convert(...)

Answer 2

I personally add a static method to the converter like so:

public static object Convert(object value)
{
    return new MyConverter().Convert(value, null, null, CultureInfo.CurrentCulture);
}

You can then use this in code like so:

MyConverter.Convert(valueToConvert);

You can even change the return type and cast the result before returning to make usage easier.