Implementing Syncfusion .NET MAUI Smart Text Editor

SfSmartTextEditor is a multiline text input control that accelerates typing with AI-powered predictive suggestions. It integrates with Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Ollama, or any custom AI service via IChatInferenceService, and falls back to your custom UserPhrases list when AI is unavailable. Suggestions appear inline or as a popup near the caret and can be accepted with Tab or Right Arrow.

When to Use This Skill

• Add a multiline text input with AI-powered autocomplete to a .NET MAUI app
• Configure suggestion display as inline (desktop) or popup (touch devices)
• Integrate Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Ollama, Claude, DeepSeek, Gemini, or Groq
• Implement a custom AI service via IChatInferenceService
• Customize text style, placeholder, suggestion colors, popup background, or character limits
• Respond to text change events or MVVM commands
• Apply the liquid glass visual effect to the editor

Component Overview

The SfSmartTextEditor control provides:

• AI-Powered Predictions: Context-aware completions via Azure OpenAI, OpenAI, Ollama, or custom IChatInferenceService integration
• Flexible Suggestion Display: Inline mode (desktop-first seamless flow) or Popup mode (touch-first overlay) with platform-specific defaults
• Offline Fallback: Custom UserPhrases library for AI-free suggestions when network or API is unavailable
• Smart Context Engine: UserRole property shapes suggestion tone and relevance based on typing scenario
• Multi-Input Acceptance: Tab/Right Arrow keyboard shortcuts (desktop) and tap/click gestures (all platforms)
• Character Limit Validation: MaxLength enforcement to prevent input beyond specified constraints
• Rich Customization: TextStyle, placeholder colors, suggestion preview colors, and popup background styling
• MVVM Support: Two-way Text binding, TextChanged event, and TextChangedCommand for reactive data flow
• Modern Effects: Liquid Glass Effect support for translucent designs (iOS/macOS 26+, .NET 10)

Documentation and Navigation Guide

Getting Started

📄 Read: references/getting-started.md

• NuGet package installation (Syncfusion.Maui.SmartComponents)
• Handler registration with ConfigureSyncfusionCore() in MauiProgram.cs
• AI service registration with ConfigureSyncfusionAIServices()
• Adding SfSmartTextEditor in XAML and C#
• Configuring UserRole and UserPhrases for context-aware suggestions
• Offline fallback behavior when AI is unavailable

Suggestion Display Modes

📄 Read: references/suggestion-display-modes.md

• Inline mode — suggestion rendered in-place after the caret (desktop-first)
• Popup mode — compact overlay near caret (touch-first, Android/iOS)
• Platform defaults and when to override them
• Accepting suggestions with Tab or Right Arrow keys
• Platform limitations (Tab key not supported on Android/iOS)

Customization

📄 Read: references/customization.md

• Setting and data-binding editor text via Text property
• Font and color via TextStyle (SmartTextEditorStyle)
• Placeholder text and PlaceholderColor
• SuggestionTextColor — style the suggestion preview text
• SuggestionPopupBackground — background color of popup suggestions
• MaxLength — enforce a character limit

Events

📄 Read: references/events.md

• TextChanged event with OldTextValue and NewTextValue
• XAML event subscription and C# handler pattern
• TextChangedCommand for MVVM / data-binding scenarios
• ViewModel command setup example

AI Service Configuration (Azure OpenAI / OpenAI / Ollama)

📄 Read: references/ai-service-configuration.md

• Azure OpenAI — required NuGet packages, endpoint/key/model configuration
• OpenAI — API key and model setup
• Ollama — self-hosted local model configuration
• Registering the chat client and ConfigureSyncfusionAIServices() in MauiProgram.cs
• Choosing the right provider for your scenario

Custom AI Services (Claude / DeepSeek / Gemini / Groq)

📄 Read: references/custom-ai-services.md

• IChatInferenceService interface and when to use it
• Claude AI — request/response models, service class, registration
• DeepSeek — chat completions integration and registration
• Gemini — Google AI Studio setup, safety settings, registration
• Groq — low-latency OpenAI-compatible endpoint, registration
• No need to call ConfigureSyncfusionAIServices() when using custom services
• Troubleshooting when no suggestions appear

Liquid Glass Effect

📄 Read: references/liquid-glass-effect.md

• Prerequisites: .NET 10, macOS 26+ or iOS 26+
• Wrapping SfSmartTextEditor in SfGlassEffectView
• Enabling via EnableLiquidGlassEffect="True"
• Setting Background="Transparent" for correct glass tinting
• Full XAML and C# examples