Hi, I created a new forms project, blank template. However I am unable to use the xaml designer. When I choose the designer option for the xaml file, it just flashes a black page for a second then goes to code view. The mainpage.xamlfile it creates for the new project will not open either. I do have xaml designer enabled under tools, options and it does work for xamarin android projects.
This is the first forms project I am attempting so not sure why it would not work.
Answers
I managed to get the designer to show by opening the source then right clicking on the file and choosing view designer, however I am unable to do anything, I can't edit, add controls or anything.
Normally, double click the file directly could open the xaml file.
And this appears to be an IDE issue.
Try to raise issues here:
https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/spaces/8/index.html
It will open but not edit, same thing with VS2017.
I have been reading that you cannot actually do UI editing like this with Forms, it has to be all hand coded, is that true?
What do you mean by
Do you want to achieve this in Forms application? Double click the .xaml file to open the designer.
Here is my
MainPage
. Do you mean this designer:No, I mean the visual designer, the one where you drag controls from the tool bar and place them on the canvas, move them around with the mouse, etc., the same as when editing a storyboard with the iOS designer or and Android xaml.
There's no such designer in Xamarin Forms.
We could only choose controls from Toolbox to the xaml source code.
The "design" window is only used to preview the source code.
That seems weird and backwards from making it easier, would be interested to know why they created designers for ios and android but not forms.
If you want to raise feature requests, please open it here:
https://developercommunity.visualstudio.com/spaces/8/index.html