Set resource or style to a window from different class library

Question

I am following prism to build wpf application. In my application, there is a helper class library where I defined resources and styles which is going to be used by multiple class libraries in the solution.

But I am getting error when I try to set a resource to Style attribute of a window. The window is in differnt class library as of a resource.

The error that I am getting is : Cannot find resource named '{resourceName}'. Resource names are case sensitive. Error at object 'MyWindow' in markup file

I used the following code but it is not working

<Window x:Class="Class1" Style="{StaticResource resourceName}">

<Window.Resources>    
        <ResourceDictionary>     
        <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

       <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/classlibrary;component/Dictionary/resource1.xaml" />              </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

    < /ResourceDictionary>

< /Window.Resources>
</Window>

your code seems to be trimmed off. Edit and if possible put the complete xaml. — publicgk, Mar 28 '11 at 19:13
whoever downvoted the question, please let the questioner (he seems to be new to stackoverflow) know why. — publicgk, Mar 28 '11 at 19:17
Why don't you also post the error you're getting - it will help people to be able to answer your question. — Zann Anderson, Mar 28 '11 at 19:54

score 3 · Answer 1 · answered Mar 29 '11 at 17:07

You need to use the DynamicResource markup extension. The reason for this is because the external ResourceDictionary you import is declared in your xaml after the style is set for your Window. A working example of setting a Window's style with a style defined in a referenced class library is below:

The "MainWindow" xaml:

<Window x:Class="WpfApplication3.MainWindow"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
    Style="{DynamicResource TestStyle}">
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary 
Source="pack://application:,,,/ClassLibrary1;component/Styles.xaml">
</ResourceDictionary>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
</Grid>
</Window>

The ResourceDictionary (defined in a file named Styles.xaml) in a class library:

<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

<Style x:Key="TestStyle" TargetType="Window">
    <Setter Property="Background">
        <Setter.Value>
            <SolidColorBrush Color="Green"></SolidColorBrush>
        </Setter.Value>
    </Setter>
</Style>

</ResourceDictionary>

This is the correct solution, if you don't want the style to be globally available in your application. +1 — Doguhan Uluca, Aug 29 '11 at 14:40

score 1 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:11

You can use a pack URL to get a resource dictionary from another assembly. Check this thread.

Here is an example of a resource dictionary read from a Common assembly:

<Application.Resources> 
    <ResourceDictionary> 
        <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries> 
            <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/Common;component/styles.xaml"/> 
        </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries> 
    </ResourceDictionary> 
</Application.Resources>

Set resource or style to a window from different class library

2 Answers2