Using code behind to access ResourceDictionary

Question

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:

 

<Style x:Key="AppButton" BasedOn="{x:Null}" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">

...

<Storyboard x:Key="FullLight">

...

<Storyboard x:Key="LowLight">

...

 

This is in a file called MyButtons.xaml

 

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

 

    <Button Click="btnRollForward_Clicked" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,0.5" HorizontalAlignment="Left" x:Name="btnRollForward" Style="{DynamicResource AppButton}" Width="125" Content="RollForward" Foreground="#FFFFFFFF">
    ...
    </Button>
    <Button RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,0.5" x:Name="btnTransfer" Style="{DynamicResource AppButton}" Width="125" Content="TransferThisFile" Foreground="#FFFFFFFF" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="129,0,0,0">
     ...
    </Button>

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.

Answer 1

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.

 

Answer 2

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.

Answer 3

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);

}

 

Answer 4

Thanks for the help

Answer 5

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