Defining a control template for a rectangle in XAML - wpf

Question

In my current project, I have this XAML file where I define the visual style that must be applied to different types of custom widgets.
For example, the style for a 'DirectLineButton' (a custom class that inherits from WPF's Button) is as follows:
<Style x:Key="DirectLineButtonTemplate" TargetType="{x:Type View:DirectLineButton}">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="23"/>
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="75"/>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<Border x:Name="MyBorder"
CornerRadius="2"
BorderThickness="2"
Background="Gold"
BorderBrush="Gray">
<ContentPresenter Margin="2"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
RecognizesAccessKey="True"/>
</Border>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineAvailable">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Gold"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineIdle">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Silver"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineBusy">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Green"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineCalled">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="LightBlue"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
Now, I need to replicate this idea by defining the style for a Rectangle. Unfortunately, WPF flags an error message when I try to define a ControlTemplate for a rectangle, can you suggest a workaround for this? See the code below of what I'm trying to attempt:
<Style x:Key="MyRectangleTemplate" TargetType="{x:Type Rectangle}">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="23"/>
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="75"/>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Rectangle}">
<Border x:Name="MyBorder"
CornerRadius="2"
BorderThickness="2"
Background="Gold"
BorderBrush="Gray">
<ContentPresenter Margin="2"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
RecognizesAccessKey="True"/>
</Border>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineAvailable">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Gold"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineIdle">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Silver"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineBusy">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="Green"/>
</Trigger>
<Trigger Property="View:DirectLineButton.State" Value="DirectLineCalled">
<Setter TargetName="MyBorder" Property="Background" Value="LightBlue"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

Hi you will have to do it with Border only.Controls that inherits FrameworkElement only can have Template . But Rectangle , Line etc are lighter versions they inherits only UIElement not FrameworkElement.I hope this will help. Conclusion: Rectange do not have Template property

Answer 2

You can't define a control template for a Rectangle, since it's not a control, but a Shape. You can only define a control template for classes derived from Control.

Answer 3

You should
1) use a Style (not a ControlTemplate) to have rounded borders.
2) Use a Trigger inside your style.
The following Xaml should get you closer from your goal :
<Style x:Key="MyRectangleStyle" TargetType="{x:Type Rectangle}">
<Setter Property="SnapsToDevicePixels" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="OverridesDefaultStyle" Value="true"/>
<Setter Property="MinHeight" Value="23"/>
<Setter Property="MinWidth" Value="75"/>
<Setter Property="Fill" Value="Blue"/>
<Setter Property="RadiusX" Value="2" />
<Setter Property="RadiusY" Value="2" />
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding DirectLineState}"
Value="{x:Static l:DLS.Available}">
<Setter Property="Fill" Value="Gold"/>
</DataTrigger>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding DirectLineState}"
Value="{x:Static l:DLS.Idle}" >
<Setter Property="Fill" Value="Silver"/>
</DataTrigger >
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding DirectLineState}"
Value="{x:Static l:DLS.Available}">
<Setter Property="Fill" Value="Green"/>
</DataTrigger >
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding DirectLineState}"
Value="{x:Static l:DLS.Called}">
<Setter Property="Fill" Value="LightBlue"/>
</DataTrigger >
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
(notice that :
1) i changed the key for "MyRectangleStyle".
2) If you want this Style to be the default Style, do not give it a Key, but just a TargetType...
3) ...OR set the Key to "{x:Type Rectangle}". msdn seems to prefer that way.
btw : shouldn't you be using DataTriggers on public properties instead of Triggers ? but i don't know the whole architecture of your application. )
Rq : for the code above to work, you need :
1) a public proprety called DirectLineState raising NotifyPropertyChanged on change.
2) an enum called DLS defined in a separate file (like a class) in your project
3) you need "l" to be your project NameSpace.
<xmlns:l="clr-namespace:MyProjectNameSpace" >
4) Assign Style and set proper DataContext for the Rectangle