What is the recomended way to skin an entire application in WPF?

Question

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?

Answer 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

Answer 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

Answer 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.

Answer 4

Does anyone know if the recently-released Composite Application Guidance from the MS patterns & practices group offers skinning abilities? http://www.codeplex.com/CompositeWPF