How to re-use grid definitions from ResourceDictionary? - wpf

Question

I'm trying to re-use a Grid which is defined under ResourceDictionary(guiLayout.xaml)
guiLayout.xaml
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<Grid x:Key="guiLayout">
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="10"/>
<RowDefinition Height="*"/>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
</Grid>
and also I have 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">
<Grid>
<!-- I want to use ResourceDictionary definitions here-->
</Grid>
Is it possible to use the Grid definition from guiLayout.xml in Mainwindow.xaml?
Edit:
The project looks like this,

Answer 1

You can set the Content of the Window in XAML like this:
<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"
Content="{StaticResource guiLayout}">
</Window>
Or using element syntax:
<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">
<Window.Content>
<StaticResource ResourceKey="guiLayout"/>
</Window.Content>
</Window>
Note that without using x:Shared for the Grid saved as Resource, that Grid is usable only for 1 window. To use it for multiple windows, you have to add x:Shared="false" for the Grid like this:
<Grid x:Key="guiLayout" x:Shared="false">
<!-- ... -->
</Grid>
Update: Try this code to import the resources:
In App.xaml:
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Resources\guiLayout.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>