Why isn't there visual inheritance in WPF?

Question

In Windows Forms, it was useful at times to have one window that inherited from another window. But in WPF, this is not allowed. Why is there no visual inheritance for WPF windows?

Answer 1

Hi Epotter,

WPF is deliberately very, very different from Windows Forms. The composability model is not based on Windows, but on classes with things like Dependency Object Visual, UIElement. You can also dramatically modify the behavior of existing things using control templates, styles, data binding and other techniques.

I encourage you to experiment! WPF is very easy to prototype with

RGR

Answer 2

In WPF, a large effort was made to separate visual from logical. Because of this, there is a LARGE amount of freedom to make the UI look however you want. All of the controls, including windows, are "lookless". You can provide your own look via templates and styles. A default visual style has been provided that makes everything look like you would expect, but you don't have to use it.

Answer 3

WPF makes it even easier to achieve things like styled dialogbox templates. Implement it once with appropriate Template Properties and you'r set for much WPF goodness.