WPF XAML Global Reference

Question

Is there a way to reuse a 3rd party control reference?

For example, I have this referenced in my App.xaml

xmlns:cust="clr-namespace:ThirdParty.Controls;assembly=ThirdParty.Controls"

I don't want to repeat this 3rd party control xml namespace on each page/control that needs a control from the library.

Is there anyway to centralize these references and use the prefix defined here? The possibility of each control having a different prefix is also worrisome. In asp.net you would put a reference in the web.config and it was available globally, I'm just looking to see if there is a similar method in WPF.

Answer 1

Two options I am thinking

1) Wrap that control into a UserControl and then use your UserControl in all the places.

2) Declare the third party control as a Resource somewhere and then use DynamicResource reference to that on your other places.

The second option can be implemented as bellow.

Where ever you want the third party control put a ContentControl like bellow

<ContentControl Template="{DynamicResource thirdPartyControlTemplate}" />

The ControlTemplate will be in the Resource file or at App.Xaml as bellow.

  xmlns:thridParty="clr-namespace:WpfCustomControlLibrary1;assembly=WpfCustomControlLibrary1"                >
<Application.Resources>
    <ControlTemplate x:Key="thirdPartyControlTemplate" TargetType="{x:Type ContentControl}">
        <thridParty:ThirdPartyControl />
    </ControlTemplate>
</Application.Resources>

You can see that the namespace declaration will be always on this resource file and you will be able to use that Control control from any place

Answer 2

Take an example from the built-in control template for a Label:

<ControlTemplate TargetType="Label" 
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" 
    xmlns:s="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" 
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"&gt;

Show Me The Template is an amazingly helpful resource for these kinds of things. HTH