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Why are my custom controls not always receiving MouseEnter events?

Alright, I'm fairly new to WPF and I ran into a very strange problem. The relevant section of my XAML defines a Border around a ScrollViewer around a StackPanel which is populated using an ItemsControl that is then databound to a CollectionViewSource which in turn wraps a standard ObservableCollection. The ItemsControl defines a DataTemplate that contains only one tag: a custom control I've made called a StackElement. I'm handling three events from this control — MouseEnter, MouseLeave, and PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp. These events can fire, but do so unreliably.
For example, after some new StackElements are added, the MouseEnter event generally doesn't fire on the first StackElement until I've moused over a few others. Once a MouseOver manages to fire once, it continues to fire correctly on that StackElement from there on out.
However, the first time mousing over a StackElement doesn't always fail. If I approach the StackElements from beneath and try the last one first, it will always fire. When I do this, sometimes the first one will work, but the second one won't fire. Once, both of them did manage to operate correctly, but it happens infrequently.
I'm not multithreading anything, none of my parent controls handle events of their own, all event handlers consist only of a WriteLine() statement for debugging purposes, and the StackElement code-behind isn't handling any events either.
I've tried decoupling the ItemsControl from the CollectionViewSource in favor of binding it directly to the ObservableCollection, which did nothing other than (as I expected) bypass the sorting functionality I added to the ViewSource. I tried handling the events in the StackElement class itself, in addition to making them be tied to other controls contained within StackElement. I tried using DataTriggers, which if I remember worked as expected, but I need to include more advanced logic such as multiselection and the inability to lightly highlight an already-selected StackElement.
For context, I'm intending to use these events to lightly highlight StackElements when the user drags the mouse over them and to strongly highlight them when the mouse is pressed — basically, I need something that looks and feels like Windows File Explorer. From what I've seen this can't be accomplished in an elegant fashion with DataTriggers alone.
Here's my event handlers (in MainWindow.xaml):
private void StackElement_OnPreviewMouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("OnPreviewMouseLeftButtonUp fired for a StackElement.");
}
private void StackElement_OnMouseEnter(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("OnMouseEnter fired for a StackElement.");
}
private void StackElement_OnMouseLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Console.WriteLine("OnMouseLeave fired for a StackElement.");
}
Here's how I'm adding to the bound collection (for testing, which is why it's hooked up to a random button):
private void Btn_File_PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
InitiativeStackElement t = new InitiativeStackElement(new Entity("TestName", 10, 11, 12, 13, null)); //InitiativeStackElement implements INotifyPropertyChanged so the databindings work
_entityProvider.Elements.Add(t); //_entityProvider is just a reference to a XAML-defined resource class, which is loaded up in the constructor so I don't have to call TryGetResource() whenever I want to use it. it's currently used for testing purposes only
}
Finally, here's the portion of my XAML containing the StackElements:
<Border Grid.Row="1"
Margin="0,1,0,0"
Style="{StaticResource StandardBorder}">
<ScrollViewer Name="Scv_InitiativeStack">
<StackPanel Name="Stp_InitiativeStack">
<ItemsControl Name="Its_InitiativeStack" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource SortedInitiativeStack}}">
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<con:StackElement Element="{Binding}" PreviewMouseLeftButtonUp="StackElement_OnPreviewMouseLeftButtonUp" MouseEnter="StackElement_OnMouseEnter" MouseLeave="StackElement_OnMouseLeave"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
</StackPanel>
</ScrollViewer>
</Border>
The StackElement class just defines a single DependencyProperty of type InitiativeStackElement. The properties of this object are bound to a few controls within the StackElement, which always displays correctly. It's the behavior of the events that have me confused.
As described, I'm expecting the MouseEnter event to fire whenever the mouse is dragged onto the StackElement. However, it's only firing after I fulfill seemingly random conditions that shouldn't affect it's functionality, like mousing over another StackElement first. There are no error messages.

Alright, I was able to get the functionality I wanted using ListBox:
<Window.Resources>
<DataTemplate x:Key="InitiativeStackTemplate">
<con:StackElement Element="{Binding}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</Window.Resources>
<Border Margin="0,1,0,0"
Grid.Row="1"
Style="{StaticResource StandardBorder}">
<ScrollViewer Name="Scv_InitiativeStack">
<ListBox Name="Lbx_InitiativeStack"
SelectionMode="Extended"
ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource SortedInitiativeStack}}"
ItemTemplate="{StaticResource InitiativeStackTemplate}"
HorizontalContentAlignment="Stretch"/>
</ScrollViewer>
</Border>
Everything works as expected.

How to build my own close button?

I have a wpf application with a MVVM. I am trying here to build my own close button. Based on this answer Creating a custom Close Button in WPF I added a button event handler in the View(xaml.cs) code. However, it is not recognizing the Close(); call (doesn't exist in the context - Can't resolve symbol).
Also I tried the other answer and added Command and CommandParameter into my button's xaml. But the function behind is not getting hits. In How to bind Close command to a button using the RelayCommand also my wpf is not recognizing RelayCommand. Then How can I use the RelayCommand in wpf said that I have to write it myself(really?). I remember there was a simple way similar to just set an event handler for the button and call Close();. But, how can I do that or why it is not working for me?
View code:
private void closeButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
// I want to call close the whole app on button click
//Close(); is not recognized
}
private void performMainCloseButtonCommand(object Parameter)
{
// This doesn't get hits on button click
Window objWindow = Parameter as Window;
objWindow.Close();
}
Button XAML:
<Button x:Name="closeButton" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,0.5" Padding="0" Margin="701,0,0,0" BorderThickness="0" Click="closeButton_Click" Command="{Binding MainCloseButtonCommand}" CommandParameter="{Binding ElementName = mainWindow}" Height="45" Width="45" >
<StackPanel Height="45" Width="45">
<Image x:Name="closeButtonImage" Margin="0" Source="/ProjectName;component/Resources/x.fw.png" Height="33"/>
<TextBlock Text="Close" Width="36" Padding="6,0,0,0" HorizontalAlignment="Center" Height="13" FontSize="10"/>
</StackPanel>
</Button>

Close isn't recognized in your event handler because there is probably no method called Close in your current class. If you want to call main window's close method you can use:
private void closeButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
Application.Current.MainWindow.Close();
}
Above is not a good way to do this and does not align with MVVM pattern. Which relates to your second question. Without seeing remaining part of your code, its hard to say why command binding isn't working. My guess you haven't wired up the commands properly for it to fire. You will need to ensure that you have created your RelayCommand instance and your command properties are correctly set.

Why button changes color when I click or hover on it? Xaml windows 8

I have created a button using XAML and have defined some simple properties for it.
<Button Name="btnNext" Grid.Row="1" Content="PARA" Width="200" Grid.Column="1" Background="#FF2D2D2D" HorizontalAlignment="Right" FontSize="40" Height="380" BorderThickness="0" />
It happens that when I click on the button or put the mouse over, it changes color.
I have tried to escape this behaviour in the btnNext_Click method but it does not affect anything.
private void btnNext_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
Button button = sender as Button;
if (button != null)
{
button.Background = new SolidColorBrush(hexToColorConvertor("#FF2D2D2D"));
START_POINT += (uint)NUMBER_OF_BUTTONS1;
ReadFile(START_POINT);
}
}
Does anyone have any idea how to resolve this?

In XAML, button have default style for different states like Normal, MouseOver, Pressed etc..
Whenever button moves from one state to another, it changes its look using default style obviously. You can find more information related to default style here
Now, If you want to override this default behavior, you can do it easily with Expression-blend. More of this can be found here and here
Hope this information will help you.. :)

WPF - Capture an event from a control that is not on top

I have a WPF application that I am working on where there is a button that is obscured by a partially opaque rectangle overlay. The button is still visible, but it can not receive any events because they are all caught by the rectangle which is on top of it.
Is there any way to set a pass-through so that the event is received by the next visual item underneath? If not is there some other workaround that could be used in this situation?

Set IsHitTestVisible="false" on the opaque overlay.

You need to set IsHitTestVisible="False" for the control over your button.
This example shows that a button is covered by a border, but the border doesn't get any event since because of the IsHitTestVisible="False" condition of border:
<Grid Background="Yellow">
<Button Click="Button_Click" Width="100" Height="25"/>
<Border Background="Cyan" Opacity="0.4" Width="200" Height="200" IsHitTestVisible="False" />
</Grid>
C# code,
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show("iiiiiii");
}

You could add the your own event to the rectangle event (or in the click event of the rectangle it self) and check there if it's with in buttons area
Rectangle.Click += your_click_event;
private void your_click_event(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
//check if it's coordinates are within the underlining button.
//fire button click event
}
But it would be more convient to set
IsHitTestVisible="False"
Like mentioned in other posts. UIElement.IsHitTestVisible Property

I would recommend to look in to routed events in WPF. Routed events get routed based primarily on the visual tree. Routed events support a RoutingStrategy of Bubble, Tunnel, or Direct.
Understanding Routed Events and Commands In WPF

Highlight Line on GotFocus

I want to highlight a Line if it was clicked. Like a TreeViewItem is highlighted while it is selected or got focused (It seems, that there is a diffrence - While it is focused(and selected) its Highlight-Color is blue, if it only got selected and lost focused its grayish.).
I tried to catch the Gotfocus Event of Line without knowing which property I want to change, but it is not even firing(Though Focusable = true).
I got the MouseDown event firing(which i primarly don't want to use for this) and still don't know which property to change. Msdn and Google returns nothing senseful.
Any Ideas?
Thanks in Advance.

You can use style and triggers for this kind of work. You won't need any code only XAML will work. Create a trigger that will fire once the mouse down = true and inside that trigger change the color of line or it's background or whatever you want
see this for basics about Triggers.

Check this now.
for example
<Path Data="M101,42 L380,76" Fill="#FFF4F4F5" Height="35"
Margin="101,42,243,0" Stretch="Fill" Stroke="Black"
VerticalAlignment="Top" MouseEnter="Path_MouseEnter" Name="myLine"/>
and c#
private void Path_MouseEnter(object sender,
System.Windows.Input.MouseEventArgs e)
{
myLine.Stroke = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Green);
}
please check now :)