How to format DataGrid rows based on data's units

Question

I have a DataGrid with a collection of parameters, each of which have properties for name and a value. Each parameters' value can be one of a multitude of units (ft, btuh, kw, currency, string, unit less double, etc.) How do I format the data grid rows to display the value with the units and a unit dependent rounding factor? See below for an example.

The DataGrid can reference different object classes with different collections of parameters so the solution has to be dynamic. Maybe add a Units enum to the parameter class and then somehow read that from the DataGrid and format the row accordingly?

Answer 1

One approach I would take would be make a converter. I've made you one just to pitch the idea but you should probably modify it to suit your needs.

public class CellUnitConverter : MarkupExtension, IValueConverter
{
    public override object ProvideValue(IServiceProvider serviceProvider)
    {
        return this;
    }

    public string Unit { get; set; }

    public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        //Checks both if the value is null or if the converter somehow gets used ahead of time
        if (value == null || value == DependencyProperty.UnsetValue)
        {
            return string.Empty;
        }

        // You can place some rounding rules here

        return $"{value} {Unit}";
    }

    public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        return null;
    }
}

As it uses the MarkupExtension, you can just place it in the binding of the cell

Binding="{Binding Results, Converter={converters:CellUnitConverter Unit=CFM}}"

However, if you want different units depending on the value, you could also Bind the unit to another property such of each element.

Let's you are displaying a collection of DataItem where each one has a Title, Result,Unit. Then, you bind one column to the Title and the other one to the Result, such like

Binding="{Binding Result, Converter={converters:CellUnitConverter Unit={Binding Unit}}}"

Hope this points to the solution.