Syntax error binding to a static resource in Silverlight

Question

I am having a problem with accessing Application Resources from a UserControl in my Silverlight application. Here is my UserControl:

<UserControl x:Class="MyApp.MainControl"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" 
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" 
    xmlns:basics="clr-namespace:System.Windows.Controls;assembly=System.Windows.Controls" >
    <basics:TabControl TabStripPlacement="Left">
        <basics:TabItem Name="tabHome" Header="Home"></basics:TabItem>
        <basics:TabItem Name="tabPatients" Header="{StaticResource My_Patients}"></basics:TabItem>
        <basics:TabItem Name="tabOrganization" Header="My Organization"></basics:TabItem>
    </basics:TabControl>
</UserControl>

I am getting an error on the line where I set the Header property of the tabPatients tab to the static resource My_Patients.

Here is my Application file:

<Application xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             xmlns:System="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" 
             x:Class="MyApp.App">
    <Application.Resources>
        <System:String x:Key="My_Patients">All My Patients</System:String>
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

Can anyone tell me what is wrong?

Answer 1

From what I recall, this is a bug that's been around for some time--you can specify a string StaticResource for a string property, but not for a content control's content (i.e. the TabItem's Header).

I may be wrong, but I think the following workaround may help:

Header="{Binding Source={StaticResource My_Patients}}"

At any rate, if your goal is to make your application localizable, I'd recommend reading Tim Heuer's blog post on the subject.