SfTextInputLayout Entry not focusable inside CollectionView DataTemplate until InvalidateMeasure() is called

[Björn Möller]

Hello Syncfusion Team,

I have found a focus/initial layout issue with SfTextInputLayout in a .NET MAUI application.

Environment

• .NET MAUI: .NET 10

• Syncfusion MAUI: 33.2.13

• Control: SfTextInputLayout

• Scenario: SfTextInputLayout inside a CollectionView.ItemTemplate / DataTemplate

Problem

Inside a CollectionView.DataTemplate, an Entry hosted inside an SfTextInputLayout is visible and appears enabled, but it cannot receive focus after the page is initially loaded.

The issue is not limited to mouse/touch input. The control also cannot be reached correctly via keyboard tab navigation.

The same Entry works correctly when the SfTextInputLayout is removed.

Important Findings

I initially suspected a binding issue because the problem seemed related to empty or nullable values. However, after further testing, this does not appear to be the cause.

I tested the following:

• Binding to string

• Binding to long?

• Empty string values

• Null values

• Non-empty values

• Removing all behaviors

• Removing validation

• Removing custom styles

• Removing surrounding controls

• Removing additional labels/buttons/gesture recognizers

• Using SfTextInputLayout.InputView explicitly

• Swapping the bindings between fields

• Reordering the fields

• Placing the fields side by side and below each other

The issue remained related to the initial creation/layout of the SfTextInputLayout inside the DataTemplate, not to the bound property itself.

Very Important Observation

If I change something in XAML while the app is running and Hot Reload is triggered, the same control becomes focusable afterwards.

Also, if I call InvalidateMeasure() on the SfTextInputLayout after it has loaded, the issue disappears.

This strongly suggests that the SfTextInputLayout is initially measured or initialized incorrectly inside the CollectionView.DataTemplate.

Simplified XAML

<CollectionView ItemsSource="{Binding Items}">
    <CollectionView.ItemTemplate>
        <DataTemplate x:DataType="local:MyItem">

            <Grid
                ColumnDefinitions="*,*"
                RowDefinitions="Auto"
                ColumnSpacing="8">

                <syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout
                    Grid.Column="0"
                    Hint="Start">
                    <Entry
                        Keyboard="Numeric"
                        Text="{Binding Start}" />
                </syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout>

                <syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout
                    Grid.Column="1"
                    Hint="End">
                    <Entry
                        Keyboard="Numeric"
                        Text="{Binding End}" />
                </syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout>

            </Grid>

        </DataTemplate>
    </CollectionView.ItemTemplate>
</CollectionView>

Example Model

public class MyItem : ObservableObject
{
    private long? _start;
    public long? Start
    {
        get => _start;
        set => SetProperty(ref _start, value);
    }

    private long? _end;
    public long? End
    {
        get => _end;
        set => SetProperty(ref _end, value);
    }
}

Workaround

The following workaround fixes the issue:

public class InvalidateMeasureOnLoadedBehavior : Behavior<VisualElement>
{
    protected override void OnAttachedTo(VisualElement bindable)
    {
        bindable.Loaded += OnLoaded;
        base.OnAttachedTo(bindable);
    }

    protected override void OnDetachingFrom(VisualElement bindable)
    {
        bindable.Loaded -= OnLoaded;
        base.OnDetachingFrom(bindable);
    }

    private void OnLoaded(object? sender, EventArgs e)
    {
        if (sender is VisualElement view)
        {
            view.InvalidateMeasure();

            if (view.Parent is VisualElement parent)
                parent.InvalidateMeasure();
        }
    }
}

Used like this:

<syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout
    Grid.Column="1"
    Hint="End">

    <syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout.Behaviors>
        <local:InvalidateMeasureOnLoadedBehavior />
    </syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout.Behaviors>

    <Entry
        Keyboard="Numeric"
        Text="{Binding End}" />

</syncfusion:SfTextInputLayout>

After this re-measure on Loaded, the contained Entry becomes focusable.

Expected Behavior

The Entry inside SfTextInputLayout should be focusable immediately after the page and the CollectionView item template are initially loaded, without requiring Hot Reload or a manual InvalidateMeasure() call.

Actual Behavior

The Entry is visible and enabled but cannot receive focus until the layout is invalidated/re-measured.

Could you please check whether this is a known issue with SfTextInputLayout inside CollectionView.DataTemplate in .NET MAUI / .NET 10, or provide a recommended official workaround?

Thank you.

[Tameem Ansari Yousoof Iqbal]

Hi Björn Möller,

Thank you for reporting the issue.

We have carefully reviewed the scenario and created a simple sample using the code structure you provided. After validating on our end, we were unable to reproduce the reported issue. The Entry inside the SfTextInputLayout within the CollectionView.DataTemplate is able to receive focus as expected once the page is loaded.

For your reference, we have attached a demo video and the sample project that demonstrates the working behavior.

To help us investigate this further, could you please verify the attached sample on your side and share the following details:

• Device model name
• OS version
• Platform (Android/iOS/Windows/Mac)
• Any additional configurations or customizations applied in your project

These details will help us analyze the issue more precisely and provide you with an appropriate solution.

We look forward to your response.

Thanks!

Regards,

Tameem

Attachment: SimpleSample_545811a9.zip