在WPF库上应用Aero风格

Question

I want to force the Aero style on my forms. I created a "WPF Class Library" and added a form and controls to this form. As the library will be called by 3rd party C# applications running on different OS, I want to force to always apply the Aero style.

But as it is a WPF class library I have no App.xaml file where I could put my Resource Dictionary. I placed it in a dedicated custom Styles.xaml therefore and in my form I reference it like

<Window.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary Source="Styles.xaml">
    </ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>

where Styles.xaml looks like

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:MyLib">
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
    <ResourceDictionary Source="/PresentationFramework.Aero;V4.0.0.0;component/themes/Aero.NormalColor.xaml"></ResourceDictionary>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

and is set to " Build action: Embedded resource " and is stored in the main project folder. I also added a reference to PresentationFramework.Aero in my project.

When I call my library form from the C# application, I get an error saying

Set property 'System.Windows.ResourceDictionary.Source' threw an exception.' Line number 'x' and line position 'y'

What did I do wrong?

Answer 1

This should work for you.

<ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/PresentationFramework.Aero;component/themes/Aero.NormalColor.xaml" />

Refere this MSDN article for more details.

UPDATE

Include ResourceDictionary in PCL

Create a ResourceDictionary

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

  <ResourceDictionary>
    <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
      <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/PresentationFramework.Aero;component/themes/Aero.NormalColor.xaml" />
    </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
  </ResourceDictionary>

  <!-- store here your styles -->

</ResourceDictionary>

You can use it from Your PCL in WPF App

<Window x:Class="Test.Window"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="Window"
        Height="300"
        Width="300">

  <Window.Resources>
    <ResourceDictionary Source="pack://application:,,,/Your.Base.AssemblyName;component/YourResDictionaryFolder/Dictionary1.xaml" />
  </Window.Resources>

  <Grid>

  </Grid>
</Window>

Your.Base.AssemblyName = Dll name

YourResDictionaryFolder = Folder where you created your ResourceDictionary

Dictionary1.xaml = File name which you created above