Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:05:26 Z

I've been searching the web for an answer to what I think is a simple problem. I have placed a button in a resource dictionary with several storyboards. Two of those storyboards are "FullLight" and "LowLight". The button is named AppButton. So, on the resource dictionary you would see:

...

...

...

This is in a file called MyButtons.xaml

In "Window1.xaml", here is the code for the buttons:

Now, I am attempting to have a click event for btnRollForward fire the "LowLight" storyboard for btnTransfer. In other words, I would like the button named "btnTransfer" to darken when "btnRollForward" is clicked.

In Window1.xaml.cs, I have wired up:

private void btnRollForward_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            // Insert code here that will fire the "LowLight" storyboard for btnTransfer
        }

I have looked everywhere on the internet and cannot get past this simple problem. My main issue is: How do I get the storyboard event named "LowLight" specifically for btnTransfer to fire? Trial and error has been unsuccessful so far. Any help would be appreciated.

Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 23:42:15 Z

Code Snippet

Storyboard lowLight = btnTransfer.FindResource("LowLight") as Storyboard;

if (lowLight != null)

{

lowLight.Begin(btnTransfer);

}

Note that this asumes you have already set the Storyboard.TargetName and Storyboard.TargetProperty attached properties on the animations within your storyboard.

Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 20:26:53 Z

Thank you very much for replying. I certainly agree with your answer.

I fully expected it to work, but have run into this error:

'rectangle' name cannot be found in the name scope of 'System.Windows.Controls.Button'

'rectangle' refers to the <Rectangle> object that serves as the button in appbutton.

I have spent a day trying out different workarounds.

I am using Visual Studio 2005 and Blend version 1.01. Am I running into a Microsoft bug?

When the other events on the button are triggered, everything works fine. It is only when I press the btnRollForward that I get an error.

Here is more of the code from MyButtons.xaml

<Style x:Key="AppButton" BasedOn="{x:Null}" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
  <Setter Property="Template">
   <Setter.Value>
    <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
     <ControlTemplate.Resources>
      <Storyboard x:Key="LowLight">
       <ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames BeginTime="00:00:00" Duration="00:00:00.0010000"          Storyboard.TargetName="rectangle" Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Shape.Fill).(GradientBrush.GradientStops)[1].(GradientStop.Color)">

......

<Storyboard x:Key="FullLight">
       <ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames BeginTime="00:00:00" Storyboard.TargetName="rectangle" Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Shape.Fill).(GradientBrush.GradientStops)[0].(GradientStop.Color)">
.....

<Grid>
      <Rectangle Visibility="Visible" Stroke="#FFFAF4F4" StrokeThickness="0" x:Name="rectangle">
       <Rectangle.Fill>
        <LinearGradientBrush EndPoint="0.512,1" StartPoint="0.512,0.785">
         <GradientStop Color="#FF000000" Offset="0"/>
         <GradientStop Color="#FFFEEAA9" Offset="0.986"/>
        </LinearGradientBrush>
       </Rectangle.Fill>
      </Rectangle>
      <ContentPresenter SnapsToDevicePixels="{TemplateBinding SnapsToDevicePixels}" HorizontalAlignment="{TemplateBinding HorizontalContentAlignment}" VerticalAlignment="{TemplateBinding    VerticalContentAlignment}" RecognizesAccessKey="True"/>
</Grid>
     <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
      <Trigger Property="IsFocused" Value="True"/>
      <Trigger Property="IsDefaulted" Value="True"/>
      <Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
       <Trigger.EnterActions>
        <BeginStoryboard x:Name="LowLight_BeginStoryboard" Storyboard="{StaticResource LowLight}"/>
       </Trigger.EnterActions>
       <Trigger.ExitActions>
        <BeginStoryboard x:Name="Darken_BeginStoryboard" Storyboard="{StaticResource Darken}"/>
       </Trigger.ExitActions>
      </Trigger>
      <Trigger Property="IsPressed" Value="True">
       <Trigger.EnterActions>
        <BeginStoryboard x:Name="FullLight_BeginStoryboard" Storyboard="{StaticResource FullLight}"/>
       </Trigger.EnterActions>
      </Trigger>
      <Trigger Property="IsEnabled" Value="False"/>
     </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
    </ControlTemplate>
   </Setter.Value>
  </Setter>
</Style>

... the wired up event:

private void btnRollForward_Clicked(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            Storyboard lowLight = btnTransfer.FindResource("LowLight") as Storyboard;
            if (lowLight != null)
            {
                lowLight.Begin(btnTransfer);
            }

        }

Thanks again.

Any help on this problem would be appreciated.

Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Sun, 02 Sep 2007 21:20:27 Z

Ahhh... the storyboard resides within your control template. That's a very important piece of information.

In that case, you should be able to do this:

Code Snippet

Storyboard lowLight = btnTransfer.Template.FindResource("LowLight") as Storyboard;

if (lowLight != null)

{

lowLight.Begin(btnTransfer);

}

It's simply a matter of namescope.

You could also do the following, in your scenario, to avoid the resource resolution

Code Snippet

Storyboard lowLight = btnTransfer.Template.Resources["LowLight"] as Storyboard;

if (lowLight != null)

{

lowLight.Begin(btnTransfer);

}

Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Tue, 11 Sep 2007 01:38:18 Z

Thanks for the help

Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Sat, 27 Sep 2008 00:29:45 Z

Yeah, thanks ... this helped me too:
http://cplotts.wordpress.com/2008/09/26/dr-wpf-namescopes/