What is the recommended way to skin an entire application in WPF?
Solution 1
The basic approach to take is using resources all through your application and dynamically replacing the resources at runtime.
See http://www.nablasoft.com/alkampfer/index.php/2008/05/22/simple-skinnable-and-theme-management-in-wpf-user-interface/ for the basic approach
Solution 2
The replacing of resource will work but I found "structural skinning" to be more powerfull! Read more about it on CodeProject...
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/WPF/podder1.aspx
Solution 3
I have found the way to apply generic templates to all controls without using template keys. The solution is to use the type of the control as the Style key.
Example:
<Application.Resources>
<Style x:Key="{x:Type Button}" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<Setter Property="Button.Background" Value="CornflowerBlue"/>
<Setter Property="Button.Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate x:Name="MyTemplate">
...
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</Application.Resources>
here the Style key is x:Key="{x:Type Button}", so the style will be applied to all controls of type button without the control declaring the Style property to be a static or dynamic resource.
Comments
-
Pop Catalin almost 2 years
I want my WPF application to be skinnable, by applying a certain XAML template, and the changes to be application wide, even for dynamic controls or controls that aren't even in the visual/logical tree.
What can I use to accomplish this type of functionality? Are there any good resources or tutorials that show how this specific task can be done?