Crash when binding InformationLayer to a string collection

[Frederic]

Say I have a DataContext with:

ObservableCollection<Toto> m_files = new ObservableCollection<Toto>();
public ObservableCollection<Toto> Filenames
{
    get
    {
        return m_files;
    }
}

For some reason, this code:

<map:InformationLayer ItemsSource="{Binding Filenames}">
    <map:InformationLayer.ItemTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <Canvas map:MapLayer.Location="5, 5" Width="100" Height="100" Background="AliceBlue">
                <TextBlock Text="{Binding}"/>
            </Canvas>
        </DataTemplate>
    </map:InformationLayer.ItemTemplate>
</map:InformationLayer>

crashes with this exception:

System.FormatException was unhandled
  Message=Input string was not in a correct format.
  Source=Telerik.Windows.Controls.DataVisualization
  StackTrace:
       at Telerik.Windows.Controls.Map.Location.Parse(String source) in c:\Builds\WPF_Scrum\Release_WPF_2010_Q1_SP2\Sources\Development\Controls\DataVisualization\Map\Location.cs:line 200
       at Telerik.Windows.Controls.Map.LocationConverter.ConvertFrom(ITypeDescriptorContext context, CultureInfo culture, Object value) in c:\Builds\WPF_Scrum\Release_WPF_2010_Q1_SP2\Sources\Development\Controls\DataVisualization\Map\LocationConverter.cs:line 40
       at System.ComponentModel.TypeConverter.ConvertFrom(Object value)
       at Telerik.Windows.Controls.Map.InformationLayer.GetLocationFromItem(Object item) in c:\Builds\WPF_Scrum\Release_WPF_2010_Q1_SP2\Sources\Development\Controls\DataVisualization\Map\Layers\InformationLayer.cs:line 1214
       at Telerik.Windows.Controls.Map.InformationLayer.PrepareContainerForItemOverride(DependencyObject element, Object item) in c:\Builds\WPF_Scrum\Release_WPF_2010_Q1_SP2\Sources\Development\Controls\DataVisualization\Map\Layers\InformationLayer.cs:line 449
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemsControl.MS.Internal.Controls.IGeneratorHost.PrepareItemContainer(DependencyObject container, Object item)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemContainerGenerator.System.Windows.Controls.Primitives.IItemContainerGenerator.PrepareItemContainer(DependencyObject container)
       at System.Windows.Controls.Panel.reGenerateChildren()
       at System.Windows.Controls.Panel.OnItemsChangedInternal(Object sender, ItemsChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Controls.Panel.OnItemsChanged(Object sender, ItemsChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemContainerGenerator.OnRefresh()
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemContainerGenerator.OnCollectionChanged(Object sender, NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemContainerGenerator.System.Windows.IWeakEventListener.ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, Object sender, EventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.WeakEventManager.DeliverEventToList(Object sender, EventArgs args, ListenerList list)
       at System.Windows.WeakEventManager.DeliverEvent(Object sender, EventArgs args)
       at System.Collections.Specialized.CollectionChangedEventManager.OnCollectionChanged(Object sender, NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Collections.Specialized.NotifyCollectionChangedEventHandler.Invoke(Object sender, NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.OnCollectionChanged(NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemCollection.System.Windows.IWeakEventListener.ReceiveWeakEvent(Type managerType, Object sender, EventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.WeakEventManager.DeliverEventToList(Object sender, EventArgs args, ListenerList list)
       at System.Windows.WeakEventManager.DeliverEvent(Object sender, EventArgs args)
       at System.Collections.Specialized.CollectionChangedEventManager.OnCollectionChanged(Object sender, NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.OnCollectionChanged(NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.Data.ListCollectionView.RefreshOverride()
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.RefreshInternal()
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.Refresh()
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.EndDefer()
       at System.Windows.Data.CollectionView.DeferHelper.Dispose()
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemCollection.SetCollectionView(CollectionView view)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemCollection.SetItemsSource(IEnumerable value)
       at System.Windows.Controls.ItemsControl.OnItemsSourceChanged(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.DependencyObject.OnPropertyChanged(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.FrameworkElement.OnPropertyChanged(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.DependencyObject.NotifyPropertyChange(DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs args)
       at System.Windows.DependencyObject.UpdateEffectiveValue(EntryIndex entryIndex, DependencyProperty dp, PropertyMetadata metadata, EffectiveValueEntry oldEntry, EffectiveValueEntry& newEntry, Boolean coerceWithDeferredReference, OperationType operationType)
       at System.Windows.DependencyObject.InvalidateProperty(DependencyProperty dp)
       at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.Invalidate(Boolean isASubPropertyChange)
       at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.TransferValue(Object newValue, Boolean isASubPropertyChange)
       at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.Activate(Object item)
       at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.AttachToContext(AttachAttempt attempt)
       at System.Windows.Data.BindingExpression.MS.Internal.Data.IDataBindEngineClient.AttachToContext(Boolean lastChance)
       at MS.Internal.Data.DataBindEngine.Task.Run(Boolean lastChance)
       at MS.Internal.Data.DataBindEngine.Run(Object arg)
       at MS.Internal.Data.DataBindEngine.OnLayoutUpdated(Object sender, EventArgs e)
       at System.Windows.ContextLayoutManager.fireLayoutUpdateEvent()
       at System.Windows.ContextLayoutManager.UpdateLayout()
       at System.Windows.UIElement.UpdateLayout()
       at System.Windows.Interop.HwndSource.SetLayoutSize()
       at System.Windows.Interop.HwndSource.set_RootVisualInternal(Visual value)
       at System.Windows.Interop.HwndSource.set_RootVisual(Visual value)
       at System.Windows.Window.SetRootVisual()
       at System.Windows.Window.SetupInitialState(Double requestedTop, Double requestedLeft, Double requestedWidth, Double requestedHeight)
       at System.Windows.Window.CreateSourceWindowImpl()
       at System.Windows.Window.SafeCreateWindow()
       at System.Windows.Window.ShowHelper(Object booleanBox)
       at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter)
       at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter, Delegate catchHandler)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WrappedInvoke(Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter, Delegate catchHandler)
       at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeImpl()
       at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.InvokeInSecurityContext(Object state)
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.runTryCode(Object userData)
       at System.Runtime.CompilerServices.RuntimeHelpers.ExecuteCodeWithGuaranteedCleanup(TryCode code, CleanupCode backoutCode, Object userData)
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.RunInternal(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
       at System.Windows.Threading.DispatcherOperation.Invoke()
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.ProcessQueue()
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WndProcHook(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
       at MS.Win32.HwndWrapper.WndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam, Boolean& handled)
       at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.DispatcherCallbackOperation(Object o)
       at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.InternalRealCall(Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter)
       at System.Windows.Threading.ExceptionWrapper.TryCatchWhen(Object source, Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter, Delegate catchHandler)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.WrappedInvoke(Delegate callback, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter, Delegate catchHandler)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.InvokeImpl(DispatcherPriority priority, TimeSpan timeout, Delegate method, Object args, Boolean isSingleParameter)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Invoke(DispatcherPriority priority, Delegate method, Object arg)
       at MS.Win32.HwndSubclass.SubclassWndProc(IntPtr hwnd, Int32 msg, IntPtr wParam, IntPtr lParam)
       at MS.Win32.UnsafeNativeMethods.DispatchMessage(MSG& msg)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrameImpl(DispatcherFrame frame)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.PushFrame(DispatcherFrame frame)
       at System.Windows.Threading.Dispatcher.Run()
       at System.Windows.Application.RunDispatcher(Object ignore)
       at System.Windows.Application.RunInternal(Window window)
       at System.Windows.Application.Run(Window window)
       at System.Windows.Application.Run()
       at WpfApplication1.App.Main() in C:\Users\frederic.souchu\documents\visual studio 2010\Projects\WpfMap\WpfApplication1\obj\x86\Release\App.g.cs:line 0
       at System.AppDomain._nExecuteAssembly(Assembly assembly, String[] args)
       at System.AppDomain.ExecuteAssembly(String assemblyFile, Evidence assemblySecurity, String[] args)
       at Microsoft.VisualStudio.HostingProcess.HostProc.RunUsersAssembly()
       at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart_Context(Object state)
       at System.Threading.ExecutionContext.Run(ExecutionContext executionContext, ContextCallback callback, Object state)
       at System.Threading.ThreadHelper.ThreadStart()
  InnerException: System.FormatException
       Message=Input string was not in a correct format.
       Source=Telerik.Windows.Controls.DataVisualization
       StackTrace:
            at Telerik.Windows.Controls.Map.Location.Parse(String source) in c:\Builds\WPF_Scrum\Release_WPF_2010_Q1_SP2\Sources\Development\Controls\DataVisualization\Map\Location.cs:line 185
       InnerException:

Note that replacing the <string> element by any sort of class just works fine!
Regards
Frederic

[Andrey]

Hi Frederic,

It works as designed. When InformationLayer is bound to a string collection it is supposed that this is a collection of the string representation of the Location objects. It tries to parse strings as Location and throws an exception when string has wrong format. You can't bind InformationLayer to the arbitrary string collection.

All the best,
Andrey Murzov
the Telerik team