Visual Tree Extensions

  • 2 minutes to read
  • Contributors
    • Nikola Metulev
    • Mojo Jojo

The VisualTree extensions provide a collection of extensions methods for UI controls.

It provides DependencyObject extensions to aid in using the VisualTreeHelper class. The official VisualTreeHelper documentation best explains reasons for walking the Visual Tree.

Syntax

// Include namespace to access extensions.
using Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.UI.Extensions;

// Find visual descendant control using its name.
var control = uiElement.FindDescendantByName("MyTextBox");

// Find first visual descendant control of a specified type.
control = uiElement.FindDescendant<ListView>();

// Find all visual descendant controls of the specified type.
foreach (var child in uiElement.FindDescendants<ListViewItem>())
{
    // ...
}

// Find first visual ascendant control using its name.
control = uiElement.FindAscendantByName("MyScrollViewer");

// Find first visual ascendant control of a specified type.
control = uiElement.FindAscendant<ScrollViewer>();

' Include namespace to access extensions.
Imports Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.UI.Extensions

' Find visual descendant control using its name.
Dim control = uiElement.FindDescendantByName("MyTextBox")

' Find first visual descendant control of a specified type.
control = uiElement.FindDescendant(Of ListView)()

' Find all visual descendant controls of the specified type.
For Each child In uiElement.FindDescendants(Of ListViewItem)()
    ' ...
Next

' Find first visual ascendant control using its name.
control = uiElement.FindAscendantByName("MyScrollViewer")
' Find first visual ascendant control of a specified type.
control = uiElement.FindAscendant(Of ScrollViewer)()

Methods

Methods Return Type Description
FindAscendant(this DependencyObject) T where T : DependencyObject Find first visual ascendant control of a specified type
FindAscendantByName(this DependencyObject, String) FrameworkElement Find visual ascendant FrameworkElement control using its name
FindDescendant(this DependencyObject) T where T : DependencyObject Find first descendant control of a specified type
FindDescendantByName(this DependencyObject, String) FrameworkElement Find descendant FrameworkElement control using its name
FindDescendants(this DependencyObject) IEnumerable where T : DependencyObject Find all descendant controls of the specified type

Requirements

Device family Universal, 10.0.15063.0 or higher
Namespace Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.UI.Extensions
NuGet package Microsoft.Toolkit.Uwp.UI

API