How to format listbox items with dashes (no binding)?

Question

Hi all,
I have a couple of listboxes that I fill with data just by assigning the lists (List<Int32> or List<String>) to  myListbox.ItemsSource. I think I need to convert Int32 to string first, then add dashes. The string list I can just add the
dashes. I also need to get the original value (either Int32 or String) when I select an item in any listboxes from the selectionChanged event.
I read about value converters but I'm not sure how to use them without data binding.
Can someone point me in the right direction please?
Thanks
//---- List<Int32>
List<Int32> woList = new List<Int32>();
//assume woList=1234567, 3456789. I need to display it as 12345-67, 34567-89
workOrderListbox.ItemsSource = woList;
//---- List<String>
List<String> pnList = new List<String>();
//assume pnList=123456789AXC, SDF3456789FR. I need to display it as 12-3456789-AXC, SD-F345678-9FR
partNumberListbox.ItemsSource = pnList;

Answer 1

You could just define an ItemTemplate for the ListBox and then use a converter as usual:
namespace WpfApplication61
public class YourConverter : IValueConverter
public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
//123456789AXC
string s = value as string; //or string s = System.Convert.ToInt32(value).ToString();
if (s.Length < 12)
return s;
return string.Format("{0}-{1}-{2}", s.Substring(0,2), s.Substring(2,7), s.Substring(9));
public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, System.Globalization.CultureInfo culture)
throw new NotImplementedException();
<ListBox Name="partNumberListbox" xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication61">
<ListBox.Resources>
<local:YourConverter x:Key="conv"/>
</ListBox.Resources>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=., Converter={StaticResource conv}}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
public Window2()
InitializeComponent();
List<String> pnList = new List<String>();
pnList.Add("123456789AXC");
partNumberListbox.ItemsSource = pnList;
The UI element in the visual ListBoxItem container (TextBlock) that gets created will always binds to some source property of the object in the ItemsSource.
You can not apply a StringFormat on a string value and also using a converter is a more flexible way to customize the display of a source property.
Hope that helps.
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