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Launch MouseEnter event Image from XAML dictionnary with MVVM

I have a template for a DataGrid located in a ResourceDictionary.
BlockStyles.xaml
<Style TargetType="DataGrid" x:Key="SearchExpGrid">
<Setter Property="AlternatingRowBackground" Value="#4C87C6ff"/>
<Setter Property="GridLinesVisibility" Value="None"/>
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="15"/>
<Setter Property="HeadersVisibility" Value="Column"/>
<Setter Property="CellStyle">
<Setter.Value ... />
</Setter>
<Setter Property="RowStyle">
<Setter.Value ... />
</Setter>
<Setter Property="ColumnHeaderStyle">
<Setter.Value>
<Style TargetType="DataGridColumnHeader">
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate>
<Border
x:Name="Border" Background="White" BorderBrush="#4C87C6" BorderThickness="1" >
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="5,5" HorizontalAlignment="Center">
<TextBlock
x:Name="TxtB" Text="{Binding}"
Foreground="#4C87C6" FontWeight="DemiBold" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
<Image Source="../Images/dropdown.png"
Width="10" Height="10" Margin="5,0,5,0"
MouseEnter="DropdownButton_MouseEnter"
MouseLeave="DropdownButton_MouseLeave"
MouseEnter="DropdownButton_Click"/>
</StackPanel>
</Border>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter TargetName="Border" Property="Background" Value="#4C87C6"/>
<Setter TargetName="TxtB" Property="Foreground" Value="White"/>
</Trigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
I always have an error because the function can't find it's definition.
I first implemented the function in the View file where the style is used but it doesn't work.
I tried this method from StackOverflow using a resource class inheriting ResourceDictionnary but got the same error.
I then tried to use ICommand and RelayCommand to execute the function from the ViewModel but didn't got any result.
I also didn't find where I could add an EventHandler ImgDropdownButton.MouseEnter += new MouseEventHandler(MouseEnter_DropdownButton); using MVVM.
Is there a better solution for this kind of behaviour or if adding an EventHandler is the best solution, where sould be the best place to add it ?
Thanks in advance
Edit :
I managed to handle the function using a code-behind file for my ResourceDictionary following this.
BlockStyles.xaml.cs
private void DropdownButton_MouseEnter(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseEventArgs e)
{
Mouse.OverrideCursor = Cursors.Hand;
}
private void DropdownButton_MouseLeave(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseEventArgs e)
{
Mouse.OverrideCursor = Cursors.Arrow;
}
private void DropdownButton_Click(object sender, System.Windows.Input.MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
//Function to show the popup
}
The MouseEnter and MouseLeave function are working, but I don't understand how to use the function to make my popup appear.
What I'm trying to do is that when I click on the Dropdown Image on the column header, I want to display a Popup, like an Excel one. This will allow the user to filter the columns values.
The file where my Grid and Popup are : (SearchExpView.xaml)
<Grid Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1">
<searchcomponents:ExpListView x:Name="ExpDatagrid"
DataContext="{Binding OExpListVM}"
Width="auto" Height="auto"/>
</Grid>
<Popup x:Name="PopupFiltre">
PopupFiltre content
</Popup>
Definition of my Datagrid : (ExpListView.xaml)
<Grid>
<DataGrid x:Name="ExpGrid" Style="{StaticResource SearchExpGrid}"
BorderThickness="0" BorderBrush="#4C87C6"
HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top"
MinHeight="200" Height="auto" Margin="10,10,0,0"
MinWidth="780" Width="auto"
ItemsSource="{Binding}" DataContext="{Binding tableExpertise.DefaultView}"
AutoGenerateColumns="True" CanUserAddRows="False" IsReadOnly="True">
<DataGrid.InputBindings>
<MouseBinding MouseAction="LeftDoubleClick"
Command="{Binding DataContext.OnRowDoubleClickedCommand, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=UserControl}}"
CommandParameter="{Binding ElementName=ExpGrid, Path=CurrentItem}"/>
</DataGrid.InputBindings>
<DataGrid.ContextMenu>
<ContextMenu Name="dgctxmenu">
<Separator></Separator>
</ContextMenu>
</DataGrid.ContextMenu>
</DataGrid>
</Grid>
I'm looking for a way to be able to implement this popup fonction but I can't find out how to link everything together.

My Window is SearchExpView.xaml (with the Datagrid and the Popup). My Datagrid component is defined in ExpListView.xaml and styled in BlockStyles.xaml, which is not a window. I want to make the Popup (in SearchExpView.xaml) visible by clicking on the dropdown button (defined in BlockStyles.xaml)
Then you need to get a reference to the Popup in the window from the ResourceDictionary somehow.
You could for example use the static Application.Current.Windows property:
var window = Application.Current.Windows.OfType<SearchExpView>().FirstOrDefault();
if (window != null)
window.PopupFiltre.IsOpen = true;
Also make sure that you make the Popup accessible from outside the SearchExpView class:
<Popup x:Name="PopupFiltre" x:FieldModifier="internal">
...

Name cannot be found in the name scope of 'Xceed.Wpf.Toolkit.BusyIndicator'

I am trying to achieve Text scrolling in BusyIndicator, using the bellow XAML. I am getting exception related to accessing TargetName. Can someone assist?
Code behind
// Locate Storyboard resource
Storyboard s = (Storyboard)TryFindResource("animation");
s.Begin(bsi_Indicator);
XAML code:
<xctk:BusyIndicator IsBusy="True" x:Name="bsi_Indicator">
<xctk:BusyIndicator.BusyContentTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Margin="4">
<Canvas Name="canvas1" Height="32" ClipToBounds="True" VerticalAlignment="Top">
<TextBlock Name="ScrollText" FontFamily="Verdana" FontSize="12" Text="{Binding Path=DataContext.WaitText, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=Window}}" >
<TextBlock.Resources>
<Storyboard x:Key="animation" Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Canvas.Left)" RepeatBehavior="Forever" >
<DoubleAnimation Storyboard.TargetName="ScrollText" From="0" To="-50" Duration="0:0:10" />
</Storyboard>
</TextBlock.Resources>
</TextBlock>
</Canvas>
<ProgressBar Value="100" Height="20"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</xctk:BusyIndicator.BusyContentTemplate>
<xctk:BusyIndicator.ProgressBarStyle>
<Style TargetType="ProgressBar">
<Setter Property="Visibility" Value="Collapsed"/>
</Style>
</xctk:BusyIndicator.ProgressBarStyle>
<ContentControl />
</xctk:BusyIndicator>
Error:
Additional information: 'ScrollText' name cannot be found in the name scope of 'Xceed.Wpf.Toolkit.BusyIndicator'.

I assume that your Storyboard is defined in the Window resources for example if that's your main control.
It can't find ScrollText because it's not in the scope of the Parent control which again might be Window it can be anything. It is also loaded in a BusyContentTemplate which might be different on how DataTemplate works with Xceed it might be lazy loaded so a possibility is that it is not there.
private void ButtonBase_OnClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
var dp = bsi_Indicator.BusyContentTemplate.LoadContent() as StackPanel;
var canvas = dp.Children[0] as Canvas;
var textBlock = canvas.Children[0] as TextBlock;
var sb = textBlock.Resources["animation"] as Storyboard;
sb.Begin(textBlock); // you can just call sb.Begin() too
}

WPF Launch animation from code-behind in MVVM

I'm looking for the way to code-behind launch an animation on a control contained in an ControlTemplate.
In my app I have custom templated buttons (playing menu role) created from an ObservableCollection :
MainMenuViewModel :
/// <summary>
/// Menu items list
/// </summary>
private ObservableCollection<MenuItem> _items;
....
/// <summary>
/// Menu items list property
/// </summary>
public ObservableCollection<MenuItem> Items
{
get { return _items; }
set { _items = value; }
}
MainMenuView :
<UserControl x:Class="OfficeTourismeBrantome.Views.MainMenuView"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="800" d:DesignWidth="300">
<UserControl.Resources>
<Style x:Key="MenuItemButtonStyle" TargetType="Button">
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="60" />
<Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="Segoe" />
<Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="UltraLight" />
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#FFEBEDEA" />
<!--<Setter Property="Height" Value="{Binding MenuLayout.MenuItemSize.Height}" />-->
<Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Right" />
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Button.Click">
<EventTrigger.Actions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard Name="themeSelectionAnimation">
<DoubleAnimation
Storyboard.TargetName="coloredRectangle"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Width"
From="30.0"
To="250.0"
Duration="0:0:0.3" />
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</EventTrigger.Actions>
</EventTrigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Canvas HorizontalAlignment="Stretch" ClipToBounds="False" >
<ContentPresenter Canvas.Left="{Binding MenuLayout.MenuItemLeftMargin}" HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center" Canvas.ZIndex="1"/>
<TextBlock
Text="{Binding SecondaryText}"
Canvas.Top="50"
Canvas.Left="10"
FontSize="30"
FontWeight="ExtraLight"
FontStyle="Italic"
Canvas.ZIndex="1"
/>
<Rectangle
Canvas.Top="30"
Canvas.Left="10"
Name="coloredRectangle"
Width="30"
Height="10"
Canvas.ZIndex="0"
Fill="{Binding Color}"/>
</Canvas>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
<Storyboard x:Key="themeUnselectionAnimation">
<DoubleAnimation
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Width"
From="250.0"
To="30.0"
Duration="0:0:0.15" />
</Storyboard>
</UserControl.Resources>
<ItemsControl Name="menuButtonContainer" ItemsSource="{Binding Items}" Margin="{Binding MenuLayout.MenuMargin}">
<ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical" />
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Button
Style="{StaticResource ResourceKey=MenuItemButtonStyle}"
Margin="{Binding ElementName=menuButtonContainer,
Path=DataContext.MenuLayout.MenuItemMargin}"
Height="{Binding ElementName=menuButtonContainer,
Path=DataContext.MenuLayout.MenuItemSize.Height}"
Content="{Binding Text}"
Command="{Binding ElementName=menuButtonContainer,
Path=DataContext.ChangeThemeCommand}"
CommandParameter="{Binding Id}"
/>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
</UserControl>
As you can see in the code above, I got an animation automatically triggered on button click. I want to play it reverse when another button in the collection is clicked (another menu entry is selected). The animation to play is the one called themeUnselectionAnimation.
First question : is there a way to do it only in XAML? I'm not sure as another button need to be pressed to trigger it.
Below is what I thought :
In the Button (which is my menu item) command action, send a message to let subscribers that menu item is changing.
Register to it in MainMenuView code-behind.
Launch animation from there.
My problem so far is to set the target control for the animation. To do that, I need to find the Rectangle named coloredRectangle in ControlTemplate. How to do that ?
Here below is my code corresponding to above steps :
Step 1 : send message (I'm using MVVM Light framework)
/// <summary>
/// Delegates that handles theme change process and tasks
/// </summary>
/// <param name="themeId">the new active theme</param>
private void ChangeTheme(int themeId)
{
// Set current active theme as inactive, if one is selected.
// Exception use because of Single implementation that throw an InvalidOperationException if not item is found
try
{
MenuItem currentTheme = Items.Single(x => x.IsActive == true);
// Check if this is current theme. If it is, we do nothing.
if(currentTheme.Id == themeId)
return;
// If current theme is set and new theme id is not the same, disable the old one
currentTheme.IsActive = false;
// Set new theme as active
Items.Single(x => x.Id == themeId).IsActive = true;
// Finally, launch unselection animation
// Send message and register to it in view code behind
// Create inner message
ThemeChangeNotification innerMessage = new ThemeChangeNotification();
innerMessage.NewThemeId = themeId;
innerMessage.OldThemeId = currentTheme.Id;
NotificationMessage<ThemeChangeNotification> message =
new NotificationMessage<ThemeChangeNotification>(innerMessage, "");
// Send message
Messenger.Default.Send(message);
}
catch (InvalidOperationException exception)
{
// Set first theme selection as active
Items.Single(x => x.Id == themeId).IsActive = true;
}
}
Step 2 : Register to message
Messenger.Default.Register<NotificationMessage<ThemeChangeNotification>>(this, ChangeThemeAnimation);
Step 3 : reach Button from index/id and launch animation (not working)
/// <summary>
/// Theme change message delegate
/// </summary>
/// <param name="e">The ThemeChangeNotification message</param>
private void ChangeThemeAnimation(NotificationMessage<ThemeChangeNotification> message)
{
var buttonTheme = menuButtonContainer.ItemContainerGenerator.ContainerFromIndex(message.Content.OldThemeId) as FrameworkElement;
var rectangle = buttonTheme.FindName("coloredRectangle") as Rectangle;
Storyboard sb = this.FindResource("themeUnselectionAnimation") as Storyboard;
Storyboard.SetTarget(sb, rectangle);
sb.Begin();
}
Thank you very much for your answers !

Surely, you can just create another Style based on the first one that uses the other Storyboard instead... then you could just apply the reverse Style on whichever Button(s) that you want to start that Storyboard:
<Style x:Key="ReverseMenuItemButtonStyle" TargetType="Button">
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="60" />
<Setter Property="FontFamily" Value="Segoe" />
<Setter Property="FontWeight" Value="UltraLight" />
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="#FFEBEDEA" />
<Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Right" />
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Button.Click">
<EventTrigger.Actions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard Name="themeUnselectionAnimation">
<DoubleAnimation
Storyboard.TargetName="coloredRectangle"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Width"
From="30.0"
To="250.0"
Duration="0:0:0.3" />
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</EventTrigger.Actions>
</EventTrigger>
</ControlTemplate.Triggers>
...
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
I've got to be fully honest... I didn't totally understand your question, so if that didn't answer it, it seems as though you also want to know how to start a Storyboard from a view model. In this case, you just need a bool property which will start the animation when set to true in the view model. You can do that using the DataTrigger.EnterActions:
<Style>
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding SomeBooleanPropertyInViewModel}" Value="True">
<DataTrigger.EnterActions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard ... />
</BeginStoryboard>
</DataTrigger.EnterActions>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
UPDATE >>>
Again... I still don't really know what you're after... I'd suggest working on your question asking skills before posting another one. However, this much I could work out:
You're getting an TargetName cannot be used on Style Setter error and you want to target your coloredRectangle element.
The usual fix for this error is simply to move your Trigger to the element that you are trying to target. So try this instead:
<Rectangle Canvas.Top="30" Canvas.Left="10" Name="coloredRectangle" ... >
<Rectangle.Style>
<Style>
<Style.Triggers>
<DataTrigger Binding="{Binding SomeBooleanProperty}" Value="True">
<DataTrigger.EnterActions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard ... />
</BeginStoryboard>
</DataTrigger.EnterActions>
</DataTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</Rectangle.Style>
</Rectangle>

how to make background color animate to new color and back without losing track of original color?

So I am trying to create a simple animation that takes the background from the initial color to the new color and back.
The original issue I had is that I created a trigger on the MouseDownEvent that triggered the animation, but the user could trigger another animation before the first one finished. This new animation would animate from the current shade it was at to the new color and back. By progressively restarting the animation while the animation is going, the original color is lost.
The easiest way to solve this is probably if i use the completed event for the animation. However, I don't like this solution because I want my animations to be in a custom style in resource dictionary and not part of the control itself. If the animation is in a custom style in a resource dictionary, then it won't have access to the code behind of the control itself. Is there a good way to get an animation working while maintaining separation between the style and the control?
I then had a different idea. The error is caused because I was animating from the border.background.color to a new color and back, thus if i started a new animation while the old one was going, the new animation started from whatever color value the prior animation was in. But if I set the animation to go back to some saved property value of the original background color then I won't have the issue even if the user restarts the animation.
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:Components="clr-namespace:DaedalusGraphViewer.Components"
xmlns:Converters="clr-namespace:DaedalusGraphViewer.Components.Converters"
>
<Converters:ThicknessToLeftThicknessConverter x:Key="ThicknessToLeftThicknessConverter" />
<Style x:Key="SearchBoxListViewItemStyle" TargetType="ListViewItem">
<Setter Property="HorizontalContentAlignment" Value="Left"/>
<Style.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter Property="Background" Value="LightBlue" />
</Trigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
<Style x:Key="{x:Type Components:SearchBox}" TargetType="{x:Type Components:SearchBox}">
<Style.Resources>
</Style.Resources>
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Components:SearchBox}">
<Border x:Name="Border"
Background="{TemplateBinding Background}"
BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}">
<Grid x:Name="LayoutGrid">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto" />
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ScrollViewer
x:Name="PART_ContentHost"
Grid.Column="0"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
/>
<Label
x:Name="DefaultTextLabel"
Grid.Column="0"
Foreground="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=TextColor}"
Content="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=LabelText}"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
FontStyle="Italic"
/>
<Popup x:Name="RecentSearchesPopup"
IsOpen="False"
>
<ListView
x:Name="PreviousSearchesListView"
ListView.ItemContainerStyle="{StaticResource SearchBoxListViewItemStyle}"
>
</ListView>
</Popup>
<Border
x:Name="PreviousSearchesBorder"
Grid.Column="2"
HorizontalAlignment="Stretch"
VerticalAlignment="Stretch"
Background="LightGray"
BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}"
BorderThickness="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}, Path=BorderThickness,
Converter={StaticResource ThicknessToLeftThicknessConverter}}"
>
<Image
x:Name="PreviousSearchesIcon"
ToolTip="Previous Searches"
Width="15"
Height="15"
Stretch="Uniform"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
Source="pack://application:,,,/DaedalusGraphViewer;component/Images/Previous.png"
/>
</Border>
</Grid>
</Border>
<ControlTemplate.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="HasText" Value="True">
<Setter Property="Visibility" TargetName="DefaultTextLabel" Value="Hidden" />
</Trigger>
<Trigger
SourceName="DefaultTextLabel"
Property="IsMouseOver"
Value="True"
>
<Setter Property="Cursor" Value="IBeam" />
</Trigger>
<!--<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Mouse.MouseDown" SourceName="PreviousSearchesBorder">
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard>
<ColorAnimation
AutoReverse="True"
Duration="0:0:0.2"
Storyboard.TargetName="PreviousSearchesBorder"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Border.Background).Color"
To="Black"
/>
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</EventTrigger>-->
<Trigger Property="IsPopupOpening" Value="True">
<Trigger.EnterActions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard>
<ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames
Storyboard.TargetName="PreviousSearchesBorder"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Border.Background).Color"
>
<LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0.0" Value="{x:Static Components:SearchBox.DefaultRecentSearchesButtonColor}" />
<LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0.2" Value="Black" />
<LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0.4" Value="{x:Static Components:SearchBox.DefaultRecentSearchesButtonColor}" />
</ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
<!--<ColorAnimation
AutoReverse="True"
Duration="0:0:0.2"
Storyboard.TargetName="PreviousSearchesBorder"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Border.Background).Color"
To="Black"
/>-->
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</Trigger.EnterActions>
</Trigger>
However, in order to do this I need to store the original background property and I have yet to get that working. I cannot using binding because properties in Animations must be freezeable, so I tried creating a static property on the control that gets set to the original value on the control's loaded event.
I set the color to the background color in the code behind, but the style does not reflect that property.
Is my static reference in the xaml correct? if so, then isn't onapplytemplate when the style should load the color from the static reference?

Well, you can't use a DynamicResource without getting a Freeze error.
What if you loaded the Xaml file at runtime and added the StaticResource to the Xaml file?
Here is an example. (I use some quick and dirty parsing of the Xaml file, but it works for the proof of concept.)
Change the properties of the StoryBoardResourceDictionary.xaml to Content and Copy if newer and remove the MSBuild:Compile setting.
StoryBoardResourceDictionary.xaml
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<Style x:Key="WindowWithTrigger" TargetType="Window">
<Style.Triggers>
<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Mouse.MouseDown">
<EventTrigger.Actions>
<BeginStoryboard>
<Storyboard>
<ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Panel.Background).(SolidColorBrush.Color)" >
<EasingColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:2" Value="White"/>
<!-- OriginalBackground is added at runtime -->
<EasingColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:4" Value="{StaticResource OriginalBackground}"/> <!-- Load at runtime -->
</ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</EventTrigger.Actions>
</EventTrigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>
MainWindow.xaml
<Window
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
x:Class="BackgroundAnimationBlend.MainWindow"
x:Name="Window"
Title="MainWindow"
Width="640" Height="480"
Style="{DynamicResource WindowWithTrigger}"
Background="DarkBlue"> <!--Change background to whatever color you want -->
</Window>
MainWindow.xaml.cs
using System.IO;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Markup;
namespace BackgroundAnimationBlend
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
var rd2 = LoadFromFile();
this.Resources.MergedDictionaries.Add(rd2);
}
public ResourceDictionary LoadFromFile()
{
const string file = "Styles/StoryBoardResourceDictionary.xaml";
if (!File.Exists(file))
return null;
using (var fs = new StreamReader(file))
{
string xaml = string.Empty;
string line;
bool replaced = false;
while ((line = fs.ReadLine()) != null)
{
if (!replaced)
{
if (line.Contains("OriginalBackground"))
{
xaml += string.Format("<Color x:Key=\"OriginalBackground\">{0}</Color>", Background);
replaced = true;
continue;
}
}
xaml += line;
}
// Read in an EnhancedResourceDictionary File or preferably an GlobalizationResourceDictionary file
return XamlReader.Load(new MemoryStream(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(xaml))) as ResourceDictionary;
}
}
}
}
I have no idea how to scale this right now. So maybe it is a crazy idea. But loading the style at runtime and injecting the current background as a xaml string into the style before loading it is the only idea I had that worked.

I have made a small example to illustrate how you can solve your problem (by what i have understood).
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.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.Resources>
<Color x:Key="background">yellow</Color>
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="backgroundBrush" Color="{StaticResource background}"/>
<Storyboard x:Key="Storyboard1">
<ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Panel.Background).(SolidColorBrush.Color)" Storyboard.TargetName="grid">
<SplineColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0.3" Value="Black"/>
<SplineColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0.6" Value="{StaticResource background}"/>
</ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid x:Name="grid" Background="{StaticResource backgroundBrush}">
<Button x:Name="button" Content="Button" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="75" RenderTransformOrigin="0.5,0.5">
<Button.Triggers>
<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Button.Click">
<BeginStoryboard Storyboard="{StaticResource Storyboard1}" Name="Storyboard1"/>
</EventTrigger>
</Button.Triggers>
</Button>
</Grid>
I have defined a Color background as StaticResource to use it as Background-Color for the Grid and as Value for the Animation.
In the example above the Grid has a yellow background, that gets animated to black and then back to yellow when the button is clicked.

So all I ended up doing was using FillBehavior = Stop. I was new to animations so I didn't know how to prevent the reactivation of the animation easily without access to the completed event (which would have to be attached in the control, thus defeating the purpose of having a style with animations in a separate resource file). Regardless, I'm giving the bounty to rhyous because his answer actually does solve my problem as well, though in a more difficult manner. I knew that what i wanted to do had to be simple because there was no way that no one had wanted to animate a color and back from a style, yet I couldn't find any Stack Overflow questions on the issue

Simple way to change appearance of a TextBlock on hover?

I'm making a zoom control (Slider) with a TextBlock indicator that tells you want the current scale factor is (kinda like in the bottom-right corner of Word).
I'm a couple days into learning WPF, and I've been able to figure out how to do most of it, but I get the sense there's a much simpler way (one which, perhaps, only involves XAML-side code rather than a bunch of mouse events being captures.
I'd like for a the text to be underlined when hovered over (to imply clickability) and for a click to reset the slider element to 1.0.
Here's what I have:
<StatusBarItem Grid.Column="1" HorizontalAlignment="Right">
<Slider x:Name="mapCanvasScaleSlider" Width="150" Value="1" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Left"
IsSnapToTickEnabled="True" Minimum="0.25" Maximum="4" TickPlacement="BottomRight"
Ticks="0.25, 0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 1.75, 2, 2.5, 3, 4"/>
</StatusBarItem>
<StatusBarItem Grid.Column="2">
<TextBlock Name="zoomIndicator" Text="{Binding ElementName=mapCanvasScaleSlider,Path=Value,StringFormat=0%}"
MouseDown="ResetZoomWindow" MouseEnter="zoomIndicator_MouseEnter" MouseLeave="zoomIndicator_MouseLeave"
ToolTip="Zoom level; click to reset"/>
</StatusBarItem>
private void ResetZoomWindow(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs args)
{
mapCanvasScaleSlider.Value = 1.0;
}
private void zoomIndicator_MouseLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
zoomIndicator.TextDecorations = TextDecorations.Underline;
}
private void zoomIndicator_MouseLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
zoomIndicator.TextDecorations = null;
}
I feel as though there's a better way to do this through XAML rather than to have three separate .cs-side functions.

You could use a style trigger for the text block, like described in this other post How to set MouseOver event/trigger for border in XAML?
Working solution:
<StatusBarItem Grid.Column="2">
<TextBlock Name="zoomIndicator" Text="{Binding ElementName=mapCanvasScaleSlider,Path=Value,StringFormat=0%}"
MouseDown="ResetZoomWindow" ToolTip="Zoom level; click to reset">
<TextBlock.Style>
<Style>
<Setter Property="TextBlock.TextDecorations" Value="" />
<Style.Triggers>
<Trigger Property="TextBlock.IsMouseOver" Value="True">
<Setter Property="TextBlock.TextDecorations" Value="Underline" />
</Trigger>
</Style.Triggers>
</Style>
</TextBlock.Style>
</TextBlock>
</StatusBarItem>
Still have to reset the zoom level manually (I think), though.

You can use VisualState (if you're using Blend its easy to edit).
Personally I prefer style triggers, unless I have to add StoryBoard animation - then I offen use VisualState
about VisualState

Typically, you wouldn't want to use a TextBlock as a button (although of course you can). You may want to consider using a more appropriate control like Button or HyperlinkButton, which have the basic mouse event handling already wired up. You can then apply whatever styles you like. A Button control, for example, can be easily styled re-templated as a TextBlock with underline on mouse-over:
<Style TargetType="Button" x:Key="LinkButtonStyle">
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="Button">
<Grid>
<VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<VisualStateGroup x:Name="CommonStates">
<VisualState x:Name="Normal" />
<VisualState x:Name="MouseOver">
<Storyboard Duration="0:0:0.1">
<ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetName="content" Storyboard.TargetProperty="TextDecorations">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
<DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
<TextDecorationCollection>Underline</TextDecorationCollection>
</DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
</DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
</ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
</VisualState>
</VisualStateGroup>
</VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
<TextBlock x:Name="content" Text="{TemplateBinding Content}" />
</Grid>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
Use it by referencing the style key:
<Button Content="click" Style="{StaticResource LinkButtonStyle}" />
Using this approach (rather than the alternative of adding triggers to a TextBlock) brings some advantages, which are built in to the Button control.
You can apply styles to compound states like Pressed
You can use the Click event, and its related Command property