custom layout in WPF that works with Blend? - wpf

in my project we have a reoccurring dialog layout that i'm hoping to consistently replicate between each of the similar dialogs.
In the template dialog, we have a grid that contains a logo and in the center of the dialog has controls specific to that particular instance of the dialog
my hope is to somehow consistently replicate the look, like a template, across each of the dialogs.
I think I want a layout control, where content can be added to the center of the grid
I want to use Blend, such that our designers can manipulate the controls specific to the individual dialog while looking at the template
is there a way to do this? I'm I looking in the wrong direction by thinking of a custom layout control? would I be better off with some type of grid template?

Here is a great way to do this - How to create a WPF UserControl with NAMED content
my preferred is not the answer to the above question, rather the comment
"The answer is to not use a UserControl to do it.
Create a class that extends ContentControl"

Related

Navigation with hierarchy feature for proper user understanding of the overall structure of the program

I am trying to achieve this kind of navigation with hierarchy in WPF.
https://github.com/microsoft/microsoft-ui-xaml/issues/79
*Apparently, the link above is a proposal for UWP navigation control i've been trying to create.
I have tried using listbox view with groupstyle for items with hierarchy and for others that does not have submenu. However I am not able to achieve it properly.
Is there a similar control or toolkit where I can achieve this?
you can use toolkits!
https://github.com/MaterialDesignInXAML/MaterialDesignInXamlToolkit
https://github.com/MahApps/MahApps.Metro
use MaterialDesign expander, treeview, hamburgmenu etc..

Edit WPF styles for a "designer"

We have a designer that did a whole concept of GUI for our next WPF application.
If we are able to provide him a "user friendly" way to edit styles, he would have done it by itself.
He only has to edit colors, and small things like Margin, default fonts, ...
Naturally, I tought that Blend would be the solution, but I admit I'm struggling:
Blend allow us to edit the template, but we don't really want to change the whole template, just some color around. We made a small dummy app that has all the controls required to be themed, we edit template in a dedicated theme file, but I can't find how to have the same template applied to every control(e.g. button) in our application
We use DevExpress as library, and it appears that most of their component are composed of a lot of subcomponent(for which I cannot just right-click then edit template). Plus it seems that the devExpress theme have the priority over the templates changes(tested by changing background colors by example)
As a pure developer I would create a "style" that would be applied on all controls of a specific type in our application, but I can't see how to create and edit them in blend?
What approach would you take?
You want to use DevExpress Theme Editor. It will allow you to edit all used DevExpress themes in your application. It has a friendly UI which should be usable by your designer.
Another approach is probably not so friendly for your designer but you can also manually override DevExpress themes with your extended ones (require XAML). I am not sure about the controls but that way you can for sure modify brushes.

WPF & MVVM: Visual Studio like interface

I would like to create an application using WPF and MVVM Light but i don't know how to organize my application layout for a MVVM application. The idea is to have something similar to Visual Studio:
A main Window with tabs, toolbox and menu that can be docked and moved to different locations. I had been able to easily create this layout using Telerik WPF controls and their sample but all in a simple XAML file with it's code behind, I have no idea how to transform it into a MVVM application.
I would like each pane/window/toolbox to be a different view with its own View Model. I checked tutorials but I didn't find how to have one single application displaying simultaneously multiple views/viewmodels in the same "main window".
Have I do define each view in a specific user control? Have I to use ContentControl to organize my layout? Should I use data template? How to handle binding on multiple view/viewmodels within the same window ?
Thanks a lot for your help!
Doots
look at using http://avalondock.codeplex.com to get a layout like visual studio. Then you could put usercontrols in the LayoutPanes for your views, and have those binded to your viewmodels.
Thanks for your replies! Now i understand, I think I was searching way too far and made it more complex than it should...
Avalon seems a very nice solution, but I have a Telerik licence then I will go for it. If anybody is having the same issue, just take a look at this answer from Laurent Bugnon: http://mvvmlight.codeplex.com/discussions/252035
Thx

Image Control disapear after it's dragged in Design

I'm a WPF newbie and, unlike WinForms, I have a hard time to setup things in the design window.
My first obstacle is the Image control. After I drag it in the Design window it disappears and there's no way for me to edit its properties (like with the button control for example). The only way to make changes is via the XAML code which isn't very visual and intuitive.
Is there a way to keep editing the Image control in design mode? (example, move it around, select it to view its property panel, etc.)
All you should need to do is give the image control a fixed height and width and it should stay in the designer.
The best thing about the XAML is which separated from code for better re usability like asp.net. It's best you to learn different layouts such as grid, wrappanel, stackpanel etc. Then, you will feel the power of xaml. Else, you can choose the XAML building tools.
Link to refer

WPF design-time context menu

I am trying to create a custom wpf control, I'm wondering how I can add some design-time features. I've googled and can't seem to get to my goal.
So here's my simple question, how can I add an entry to the design-time context menu for my WPF usercontrol? The context menu by default has entries View Code,View XAML, etc.
You probably want to check out the WPF Designer Extensibility documentation. Specifically it sounds like you want to create a custom MenuAction.
This will help you get the context menu you require, although this applies to datagrid's still applicable;
WPF DataGrid Design-time Walkthrough

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