WPF - How to create image button with template

Question

I am trying to create a button which has 3 images: a Normal image, a Pressed image and a Disabled image (I will use these for creating up/down arrow buttons).

I believe the correct approach would be to derive from Button and use a Template and set triggers to change the image. I have 3 dependency properties, one for each image.

The images would be .png and have transparent backgrounds (as they are not rectangular).

I am looking for something like CBitmapButton in MFC.

Answer 1

You won't need dependency properties because you are inheriting from Button. You already have the IsPressed and IsEnabled properties. In fact, this is all you need:

<Button x:Class="TestWpfApplication.ThreeStateImageButton"
   xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
   xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"&gt;
   <Button.Template>
      <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
         <Grid>
            <Image Name="Normal" Source="Resources/Normal.png"/>
            <Image Name="Pressed" Source="Resources/Pressed.png" Visibility="Hidden"/>
            <Image Name="Disabled" Source="Resources/Disabled.png" Visibility="Hidden"/>
         </Grid>
         <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
            <Trigger Property="IsPressed" Value="True">
               <Setter TargetName="Normal" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
               <Setter TargetName="Pressed" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
            </Trigger>
            <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False">
               <Setter TargetName="Normal" Property="Visibility" Value="Hidden"/>
               <Setter TargetName="Disabled" Property="Visibility" Value="Visible"/>
            </Trigger>
         </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
      </ControlTemplate>
   </Button.Template>
</Button>

With your UserControl code-behind file:

public partial class ThreeStateImageButton : Button
{
   public ThreeStateImageButton()
   {
      InitializeComponent();
   }
}

Answer 2

I have provided an alternative to this solution, its not quite as light weight but it offers much greater re-usability.

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2491941/wpf-tristate-image-button/3676177#3676177