Localize strings in XAML UI in UWP

Question

I have a resource entry named info_278 in the Resources.resw file on my UWP app. I have 3 scenarios where I need to use this resource but looks like I need to duplicate this to cater to different scenarios. Scenarios are as follows.

1. Error message content from code

   var displayErrorOnPopup = ResourceHandler.Get("info_278");

2. TextBlock Text property from XAML (Looks like a new entry needed as info_278.Text )

   <TextBlock x:Uid="info_278" Margin="10,0,0,0" />

3. Button Content property from XAML (Looks like a new entry needed as info_278.Content )

   <Button x:Uid="info_278" Margin="10,0,0,0" />

How do I proceed without duplicating this resource in the .resw file?

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Answer 1

The only way to avoid duplication is to set the string value in code-behind using ResourceLoader . Because you could direct access to the specific property of the target control. Like this:

var resourceLoader = Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader.GetForCurrentView();
this.TextBlock.Text = resourceLoader.GetString("info_278");

If you are not going to do it in the code behind, then I have to say there is no way to avoid the duplication of the resource string. You should add info_278.Text and info_278.Content for different XAML scenarios.

Answer 2

You could create a markup extension. I've used this in WinUI 3, but should work in UWP too.

using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Markup;
using Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources;

namespace MyApp;

[MarkupExtensionReturnType(ReturnType = typeof(string))]
public class StringResourceExtension : MarkupExtension
{
    private static readonly ResourceLoader _resourceLoader = new();

    public StringResourceExtension() { }

    public string Key { get; set; } = "";

    protected override object ProvideValue()
    {
        return _resourceLoader.GetString(Key);
    }
}

Then in the XAML:

...
local="using:MyApp"
...

<TextBlock Text="{local:StringResource Key=info_278}" />
<Button Content="{local:StringResource Key=info_278}" />

Answer 3

The Content of Button can be a TextBlock :

<Button>
  <TextBlock x:Uid="MyTextId" Style="{StaticResource MyTextBlockStyle}" />
</Button>