Develop Reference

ResourceDictionary is not used as button style

I am trying to use ResourceDictionary to set up a style for a button
<Window.Resources>
<vieModel:MainWindowViewModel x:Key="MainViewModel"/>
<ResourceDictionary x:Key="ButtonStyle"> //If I don't use key it gives error
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="GlassButton.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
and using it as
<Button Style="{DynamicResource ButtonStyle}"/>
Now, when I do this it complains that ResourceDictionary can not be applied to Style. When I use "GlassButton" as defined in GlassButton.xaml it says that GlassButton could not be resolved.
when I use it like
<Button Style="{StaticResource ButtonStyle}"/>
or use GlassButton in both cases either it complains or wont work.
GlassButton.xaml looks like this, and compiling fine
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:Citations">
<Style x:Key="GlassButton" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="42" />
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="White" />
<Setter Property="Template">
I am taking this example from here or here both are kind of using same approach of using ResourceDictionary. I am doing as shown but it still not working. Do I need a converter for this? or I am doing something wrong?

The following worked for me. Check that the path to GlassButton.xaml is correct. If you put it in a folder such as Styles you would need to use Source="Styles/GlassButton.xaml".
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="GlassButton.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
<Button Style="{DynamicResource GlassButton}"
Content="Button Content"/>
</Grid>

I should be using it as follows
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="GlassButton.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<vieModel:MainWindowViewModel x:Key="MainViewModel"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
This worked

Move the
<vieModel:MainWindowViewModel x:Key="MainViewModel"/>
line to inside of ResoruceDictonary like below:. Then you don't need to enter the key x:Key="ButtonStyle" and then style will be applied
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary >
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="GlassButton.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<vieModel:MainWindowViewModel x:Key="MainViewModel"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>

Reference Main Window's Dictionary from Resource Dictionary

I have a WPF Window:
<Window x:Class="MyUI.MainWindow"
and so on>
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<Style TargetType="{x:Type s:SurfaceListBox}" x:Key="FatherStyle" >
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
</Window>
I have a resource dictionary in MyResourceDictionary.xaml:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="........."
and so on >
<Style TargetType="{x:Type s:SurfaceListBox}" x:Key="ChildStyle" BasedOn="{StaticResource FatherStyle}" />
</ResourceDictionary>
But when I try to reference ChildStyle from MyUI.Window:
<Window as shown in 1st block of code above>
<s:SurfaceListBox Style="{StaticResource ResourceKey=ChildStyle}" />
</Window>
It tells me that it can't find FatherStyle. I read here and merged the dictionary in MyResourceDictionary.xaml:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="........."
and so on >
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="MainWindow.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<Style ChildStyle as shown above />
</ResourceDictionary>
Now it tells me it can't find ChildStyle. How do I reference this properly?

You can't reference a resource dictionary contained in a Window-type XAML file, from another file. What you need to do is create a separate resource dictionary, "Shared.xaml" or whatever:
<ResourceDictionary ... >
<Style TargetType="{x:Type s:SurfaceListBox}" x:Key="FatherStyle" >
</ResourceDictionary>
Now reference the shared one from your main window:
... and also from "MyResourceDictionary.xaml":
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="........."
and so on >
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Shared.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<Style TargetType="{x:Type s:SurfaceListBox}" x:Key="ChildStyle" BasedOn="{StaticResource FatherStyle}" />
</ResourceDictionary>
And now in your "MyUI.xaml" window, you should be able to access the "ChildStyle" as you expected, by referencing "MyResourceDictionary":
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="........."
and so on >
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="MyResourceDictionary.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<s:SurfaceListBox Style="{StaticResource ResourceKey=ChildStyle}" />
</ResourceDictionary>

access ResourceDictionary across different projects in solution

How do I access a ResourceDictionary from different project in a solution?
My Solution file contains a few projects. One of these projects is named "Common" and contains a Resource called SharedResource.xaml.
SharedResource.xaml in Common:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
mc:Ignorable="d">
<ImageBrush x:Key="UserIcon" ImageSource="/Images\icon_user.png"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
This is how I tried to make the SharedResource Dictionary usable in one of my UserControls.
<UserControl x:Class="MasterDataManagement.View.DisplayMasterDataView"
xmlns:telerik="http://schemas.telerik.com/2008/xaml/presentation"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:i="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/2010/interactivity"
xmlns:command="http://www.galasoft.ch/mvvmlight"
xmlns:common="clr-namespace:Common;assembly=Common"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignWidth="800" d:DesignHeight="600" d:DataContext="{Binding DisplayMasterDataViewModel, Source={StaticResource ViewModelLocator}}">
<UserControl.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary> <!-- ERROR Each dictionary entry must have an associated key.-->
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/Common;component/Resources/SharedResources.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>
<Grid>
<!-- Removed Content -->
</Grid>
</UserControl>
Unfortunately, this approach doesn't work and I'm not sure what I missed. The Code above causes this error message: Each dictionary entry must have an associated key.
Any thoughts?
Notes:
I can't put the ResourceDictionary into App.xaml because I create direct UserControl instances(something like UserControl uc = new DisplayMasterDataView() ).
Only the App.xaml from the Project which is set as StartUp Project is "executed". My solution consists out of one MainProject (which is set as StartUp Project) and a few other projects which are used as modules in the MainProject. Now, I need to use this modules in my MainProject which is done like this:
UserControl uc = new DisplayMasterDataView();
My point is that creating an instance of an UserControl from a different project does not execute the App.xaml in the project which consist the UserControl. Therefore I have to use <UserControl.Resources> </UserControl.Resources> to define my resources.
I just mentioned this because the most sample projects use the App.xaml to define Resources.

Each dictionary entry must have an associated key...
Surely that error is just telling you that you need to add a key to your ResourceDictionary using the x:Key notation... in this case, the 'dictionary entry' is your ResourceDictionary and the 'associated key' is whatever you call it to reference it later, in my example below, 'CommonResourceDictionary':
<ResourceDictionary x:Key="CommonResourceDictionary">
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary
Source="pack://application:,,,/Common;component/Resources/SharedResources.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>

My WinView project contains a file called ViewResources.xaml in which I place all the resources needed by the controls in that project. It also links in other xaml files in the same project:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="MainTabControlStyle.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<!-- ==================== Data Templates ==================== -->
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type myNameSpace:MyViewModel}">
<controls:MyUserControl MyProperty="{Binding ...etc...}" />
</DataTemplate>
</ResourceDictionary>
My main project then references this in App.xaml:
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<!-- Main Theme -->
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/WPF.Themes;component/BureauBlue/Theme.xaml" />
<!-- Global Resources for Views -->
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MyProject.WinView;component/ViewResources.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/MyProject.WinUI;component/HelpResources.xaml" />
... and so on and so forth ...
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
I don't see how this would stop you from creating UserControls directly.

Here comes the solution, thanks you for pointing me into the right direction Rohit Vats!
Not Working
<UserControl.Resources>
<gridView:RadContextMenuXamlHolder x:Key="ContextMenuHolder">
<telerik:RadContextMenu DataContext="{Binding Path=UIElement.Column.DataControl.DataContext, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}" InheritDataContext="False"
StaysOpen="True" x:Name="CellCellContextMenu" Placement="Bottom" Loaded="ContextMenu_OnLoaded">
<telerik:RadMenuItem x:Name="ColumnsMenuEntry" Header="Choose Columns:" ItemsSource="{Binding Path=Menu.UIElement.Column.DataControl.Columns, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}" StaysOpenOnClick="True">
<telerik:RadMenuItem.ItemContainerStyle>
<Style TargetType="telerik:RadMenuItem">
<Setter Property="Header" Value="{Binding Header}" />
<Setter Property="IsChecked" Value="{Binding IsVisible, Mode=TwoWay}" />
<Setter Property="IsCheckable" Value="True" />
</Style>
</telerik:RadMenuItem.ItemContainerStyle>
</telerik:RadMenuItem>
<telerik:RadMenuItem Header="Show all columns" Click="RadMenuItem_ShowAllColumns_OnClick"/>
<telerik:RadMenuItem Header="Hide all columns" Click="RadMenuItem_HideAllColumns_OnClick"/>
</telerik:RadContextMenu>
</gridView:RadContextMenuXamlHolder>
<Style TargetType="telerik:GridViewHeaderCell">
<Setter Property="telerik:RadContextMenu.ContextMenu" Value="{Binding Path=CellContextMenu, Source={StaticResource ContextMenuHolder}}"/>
</Style>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/Common;component/SharedResources.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>
Working
<UserControl.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<gridView:RadContextMenuXamlHolder x:Key="ContextMenuHolder">
<telerik:RadContextMenu DataContext="{Binding Path=UIElement.Column.DataControl.DataContext, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}" InheritDataContext="False"
StaysOpen="True" x:Name="CellCellContextMenu" Placement="Bottom" Loaded="ContextMenu_OnLoaded">
<telerik:RadMenuItem x:Name="ColumnsMenuEntry" Header="Choose Columns:" ItemsSource="{Binding Path=Menu.UIElement.Column.DataControl.Columns, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}" StaysOpenOnClick="True">
<telerik:RadMenuItem.ItemContainerStyle>
<Style TargetType="telerik:RadMenuItem">
<Setter Property="Header" Value="{Binding Header}" />
<Setter Property="IsChecked" Value="{Binding IsVisible, Mode=TwoWay}" />
<Setter Property="IsCheckable" Value="True" />
</Style>
</telerik:RadMenuItem.ItemContainerStyle>
</telerik:RadMenuItem>
<telerik:RadMenuItem Header="Show all columns" Click="RadMenuItem_ShowAllColumns_OnClick"/>
<telerik:RadMenuItem Header="Hide all columns" Click="RadMenuItem_HideAllColumns_OnClick"/>
</telerik:RadContextMenu>
</gridView:RadContextMenuXamlHolder>
<Style TargetType="telerik:GridViewHeaderCell">
<Setter Property="telerik:RadContextMenu.ContextMenu" Value="{Binding Path=CellContextMenu, Source={StaticResource ContextMenuHolder}}"/>
</Style>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/Common;component/SharedResources.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>
the trick was to move all resources into the <ResourceDictionary> </ResourceDictionary> tag.

Using style in StandardStyle xaml from another Style xaml

I have a custom Color.xaml as
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="MyColor1" Color="#7d897d"/>
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="MyColor2" Color="#078ab4"/>
</ResourceDictionary>
And App.xaml as
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<!-- Defines the colors used in the app-->
<ResourceDictionary Source="Color.xaml"/>
<!-- Styles that define common aspects of the platform look and
feel Required by Visual Studio project and item templates-->
<ResourceDictionary Source="StandardStyles.xaml"/>
<ResourceDictionary>
............
In My StandardStyle.xaml I'm not able to use the Color defined in the xaml.
<Style x:Key="HeadingTextStyle" TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="SemiLight"/>
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="20"/>
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource MyColor1}"/>
</Style>
It gives me an exception when I run the code
"Cannot find a Resource with the Name/Key MyColor1 [Line: 20 Position: 44]"
However I'm able to use this color in the UI xaml files.

Here it is, include the Color.xaml in StandardStyle.xaml as
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Color.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<!-- your styles here -->
</ResourceDictionary>

Silverlight. Cannot set base style from other xaml resources

I need to create resource with name OkButtonStyle based on RedButtonStyle.
But i have resource with key not found exception. What i am doing wrong?
I have two resouce dictionaries. One baseStyles.xaml where RedButtonStyle located and styles.xaml where i need to locate my okbuttonstyle but all my efforts results nothing.
App.xaml
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="baseStyles.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary x:Name="currentTheme" Source="styles.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
styles.xaml
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="baseStyles.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<Style x:Key="OkButtonStyle"
BasedOn="RedButtonStyle"
TargetType="Button">
</Style>
baseStyles.xaml
<Style x:Key="RedButtonStyle"
TargetType="Button">
...properties...
</Style>

Instead of using the syntax:
<Style BasedOn="RedButtonStyle" ...
use the syntax:
<Style BasedOn="{StaticResource RedButtonStyle}" ...
The Style.BasedOn property is not the name of the other style it is based on, it is the style it is based on.