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UWP: application wide TextBlock foreground crashes app when set from static resource

I went through a lot of similar questions on SO, in regards to setting the foreground of a TextBlock through a static resource, but for whatever reason my UWP application keeps crashing on me.
I am starting to believe this is a limitation of UWP? Also, no stacktrace is generated from this.
I am using Microsoft Visual Studio Community 2022 v.17.2.6
ThemeColors.xaml
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="MyOffWhiteBrush" Color="#eeeeee" />
</ResourceDictionary>
TextBlockStyle.xaml
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource MyOffWhiteBrush}" />
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>
App.xaml
<Application
x:Class="TestTextBlock.App"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="using:TestTextBlock">
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="ThemeColors.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary Source="TextBlockStyle.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
</Application>
MainPage.xaml
<Page
x:Class="TestTextBlock.MainPage"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="using:TestTextBlock"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="d">
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="helloworld" />
</Grid>
</Page>
UPDATE #1:
If I change TextBlockStyle.xaml to this it works.
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="_" />
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource MyOffWhiteBrush}" />
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>
I don't understand why I need to declare an empty brush?

The reason for this behavior may be related to the Lookup behavior for XAML resource references and Forward references within a ResourceDictionary. You need to make sure the referenced resource must appear lexically before the resource reference when you use the resource.
I agree with #Mark W, the possible workaround is that you could define the basic resource on top of other resources.
In your scenario, it should be like this:
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="ThemeColors.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<Style TargetType="TextBlock">
<Setter Property="Foreground" Value="{StaticResource MyOffWhiteBrush}" />
</Style>

I don't have the answer for why... In my application, I have a number of styles - separated out into color/brushes, sizes and layouts, and then default styles... for each dictionary that references other dictionaries, I include them at the top.
ColorsAndBrushes does not have any references.
SizesAndLayout does not have any references.
DefaultStyles references the two above.
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="ColorsAndBrushes.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary Source="SizesAndLayout.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
so for my next layer, "NamedStyles", I have have the following to the top:
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="ColorsAndBrushes.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary Source="SizesAndLayout.xaml" />
<ResourceDictionary Source="DefaultStyles.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
I don't know if this will work better for you, but maybe feels a little better than the random empty brush. And my app.xaml references all of them. This was build on a older (AnniversaryEdition) UWP SDK, so your mileage may vary.
Good luck!
-Mark

Unable to resolve resources using separate files

I feel like this is a common sense and trivial, but i don't understand what i'm doing to begin with. I don't have any other resource I can use for help either. Sometimes i wonder if I'm even googling the question right.
I have some custom styles & templates I've made, but now the file is rather large and difficult to work with. I want to put each style or template in there own XAML files (sorta like headers/implementation files) so that a friend could work on one and then we add it to the project. (Such as Dictionary1.xaml ... ). I started a blank project to keep it simple.
Dictionary1.XAML
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<ResourceDictionary x:Key="SomeKey">
<Color x:Key="detailMark">Black</Color>
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="detailMarkBrush" Color="{StaticResource ResourceKey=detailMark}" />
<Style x:Key="flatTextBox" TargetType="{x:Type TextBox}">
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type TextBox}">
<Grid>
<Rectangle Stroke="{StaticResource ResourceKey=detailMarkBrush}" StrokeThickness="1"/>
<TextBox Margin="1" Text="{TemplateBinding Text}" BorderThickness="0"/>
</Grid>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>
App.XAML
<Application x:Class="WpfApplication1.App"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
<Application.Resources>
<local:MainWindow x:Key="SomeKey"/>
</Application.Resources>
</Application>
And MainWindow.XAML
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.MainWindow"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" Title="MainWindow"
Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
<TextBox Style="{DynamicResource flatTextBox}"> <!-- doesn't autocomplete/work -->
</TextBox>
</Grid>
</Window>
Edit:
<TextBox Style="{Binding Mode=OneWay, Source={StaticResource SomeKey}}">
<!-- Throws System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException -->
</TextBox>

As Alex mentioned, the right way to do this is using Merged Dictionaries.
Therefore, you should structure your project correctly, otherwise it will end up in a mess.
Keeping your "blank project", it should look like this:
YourProject
App.xaml (.cs)
MainWindow.xaml (.cs)
SomeOtherWindow.xaml (.cs)
Resources folder
Dictionary1.xaml
Dictionary2.xaml
...
Then you have to decide:
Do you want the resources to be available application wide?
Or do you want the resources to vary between certain windows / user controls?
If you want #1, you have to merge the dictionaries in the App.xaml file:
<Application x:Class=...
...>
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Dictionary1.xaml"/>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Dictionary2.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
</Application>
If you want #2, you have to merge the dictionaries in the specific window / user control file:
<Window x:Class=...
...>
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Resources/Dictionary1.xaml"/>
<ResourceDictionary>
<!-- Window specific resources -->
</ResourceDictionary>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Window.Resources>
<!-- Content -->
</Window>

Load control style from separate file in wpf

I have the following style added to my Windows.Resources
<Window.Resources>
...
<!--A Style that extends the previous TextBlock Style-->
<!--This is a "named style" with an x:Key of TitleText-->
<Style BasedOn="{StaticResource {x:Type TextBlock}}"
TargetType="TextBlock"
x:Key="TitleText">
<Setter Property="FontSize" Value="26"/>
<Setter Property="Foreground">
<Setter.Value>
<LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="0.5,0" EndPoint="0.5,1">
<LinearGradientBrush.GradientStops>
<GradientStop Offset="0.0" Color="#90DDDD" />
<GradientStop Offset="1.0" Color="#5BFFFF" />
</LinearGradientBrush.GradientStops>
</LinearGradientBrush>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
...
</Window.Resources>
I have a lot of those styles in my xaml code and I would like to save each component style to an extra file (not an external file).. for example all the styles related to TextBlocks should be in a file called TextBlockStyles.xaml
How would I do this in wpf?
How do I link the style in my project ?
Thanks in advance

You use merged resource dictionaries
In you app.xaml you would use
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary
Source="/Your.Assembly.Name;component/TextBlockStyles.xaml"/>
... other dictionaries here
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
or directly into a UserControl would be
<UserControl.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary
Source="/Your.Assembly.Name;component/TextBlockStyles.xaml"/>
... other dictionaries here
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>
You can shorten Source="..." to just Source="TextBlockStyles.xaml" if the file is in the same assembly and in the root of the project, or alternatively Source="Styles\TextBlockStyles.xaml" if you put the resource dictionary into the folder Styles.

Use case: you have a user control called MyView.xaml with a button. You want to style the button with an external XAML file.
In MyView.xaml:
<User Control ...namespaces...>
<UserControl.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
...converters...
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="MyButton.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>
...the rest of the control...
</UserControl>
In MyButton.xaml:
<ResourceDictionary
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="using:MSDNSample">
<Style x:Key="FooButton" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<Setter Property="Background" Value="Pink" />
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>
Back to MyView.xaml ("the rest of the control"):
<Button Style="{StaticResource FooButton}">
Hello World
</Button>

In Solution Explorer Right Click on your Project Select Add After that click on Resource Dictionary...
Choose name and add to your project.
Open App.xaml
Add This Code in Application Tag
<Application.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="YourStyle.xaml" />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
In YourStyle.xaml :
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:APPNAME">
<Style x:Key="ButtonStyle" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
<Setter Property="Background" Value="Pink" />
</Style>
</ResourceDictionary>

you are looking for the dynamic resources. well the best way is to load and marge the dictionary in the resources. application or either on control page.
here is a good sample for it.
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/wpfsdk/archive/2007/06/08/defining-and-using-shared-resources-in-a-custom-control-library.aspx
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary1.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
this.Resources.MergedDictionaries.Add(Smyresourcedictionary);

Simply, go to your Window (example: MaindWindow.xaml) where you want to include the resource from the outer file and use MergedDictionaries principle to refer to that file:
<Window x:Class="UseMergedResource.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="d"
Title="MainWindow"
Height="600"
Width="600">
<Window.Resources>
<!-- DECLARING MERGED DICTIONARY -->
<ResourceDictionary>
<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
<ResourceDictionary Source='Merged/BrushResources.xaml' />
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>
<!---------------------------------->
</Window.Resources>
<StackPanel>
<Rectangle Width='200'
Height='100'
Fill='{StaticResource PrimaryBrush}' /> <!-- USAGE HERE -->
</StackPanel>
</Window>
From above Merged/BrushResources.xaml is the location of the resource file, which is located under the folder called Merged.
Now if you are wondering what should be the declaration syntax in the outer file, check this:
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
<!-- Location for application brushes -->
<SolidColorBrush x:Key='BorderBrush'
Color='Orange' />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key='HighLightBrush'
Color='LightBlue' />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key='PrimaryBrush'
Color='Pink' />
<SolidColorBrush x:Key='AccentBrush'
Color='Yellow' />
</ResourceDictionary>
If you want to make the resource available through all application (visible in all your windows) then declare in the App.xaml resources section.

mysterious runtime error in applying a template to wpf window

i have a hard problem dealing with template. please help me.
App.xaml
<Application x:Class="WpfApplication1.App"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
//Note i didn't set a StartupURI in Application tag please.
<Application.Resources>
<Style TargetType="Window" x:Key="myWindowStyle">
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<ControlTemplate>
<Grid>
<Rectangle Fill="gray" RadiusX="30" RadiusY="30"/>
<ContentPresenter/>
</Grid>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</Application.Resources>
</Application>
App.xaml.cs
using System;
using System.Windows;
namespace WpfApplication1
{
public partial class App : Application
{
CMainWindow winMain;
protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
{
base.OnStartup(e);
winMain = new CMainWindow();
winMain.ShowDialog();
}
}
}
CMainWindow.xaml
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication2.CMainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525" Style="{StaticResource myWindowStyle}" Background="Red">
</Window>
=====================
question #1
when run this program, ide occure a runtime error : XmlParseException.
so i add a line in app.xaml, it runs properly. that line is : StartupUri="CMainWindow.xaml".
what is this? what relationship between template and startupuri? please tell me about this.
question #2
when i add control to CMainWindow, it didn't apeear even i set a in window's template.
how can i add control properly in this situation?
thanks.

question #1
A WPF application is always centered around a window. You're override of OnStartup is unnecessary. By setting the StartupURI the application will automatically start by displaying the window.
There is no actual relationship between template and startupuri. You just happen to be using App.xaml to store global styles.
question #2
The magic field to add is "TargetType" on the control template. You have to explicitly say its for the window type.
<Application x:Class="SimpleWPF.App"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
<Application.Resources>
<Style TargetType="Window" x:Key="myWindowStyle">
<Setter Property="Template">
<Setter.Value>
<!-- Explicitly setting TargetType to Window -->
<ControlTemplate TargetType="Window">
<Grid>
<Rectangle Fill="gray" RadiusX="30" RadiusY="30"/>
<ContentPresenter/>
</Grid>
</ControlTemplate>
</Setter.Value>
</Setter>
</Style>
</Application.Resources>
</Application>

Dynamic resource access fails in storyboard

Dear all, I've got the following problem with WPF 3.5. When accessing a dynamic resource in a storyboard, the value is wrong (seemingly the reference is not resolved) when the resource is defined in the window which contains the target control.
What am I doing wrong, and is there a right way (or at least a workaround)? Basically I want the storyboard to use the colors from dynamic resource, and I can only put those resources locally at the window level.
Example code:
<Window
x:Class="Test.Window1"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="Window1" Height="300" Width="300"
MouseDoubleClick="Window_MouseDoubleClick">
<Window.Resources>
<Color x:Key="MyColor">Blue</Color>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid x:Name="outer">
<Grid.Resources>
<Storyboard x:Key="MyBoard">
<ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames
Storyboard.TargetProperty="(Panel.Background).(SolidColorBrush.Color)">
<LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:0" Value="Red"/>
<LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:1" Value="{DynamicResource MyColor}"/>
</ColorAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
</Storyboard>
<SolidColorBrush x:Key="MyBrush" Color="{DynamicResource MyColor}"/>
</Grid.Resources>
<Grid x:Name="inner" Background="Green"/>
</Grid>
</Window>
Code-behind:
public partial class Window1 : Window
{
public Window1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Window_MouseDoubleClick(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
Storyboard s = (Storyboard)outer.FindResource("MyBoard");
inner.BeginStoryboard(s);
//SolidColorBrush b = (SolidColorBrush)outer.FindResource("MyBrush");
//inner.Background = b;
}
}
The problem is that the reference Value="{DynamicResource MyColor}" is not working, the value is transparent.
I tried the following:
If I move the definition of MyColor from the window resources to application resources, the code works as expected.
If I replace the storyboard start with assigning of another resource (comment out first two lines in Window_MouseDoubleClick, and uncomment the rest), the dynamic resource access works.
The behaviour in .NET 4/WPF 4 is the same.
I tried creating the storyboard from the code behind (just for test), but cannot convert the line <LinearColorKeyFrame KeyTime="0:0:1" Value="{DynamicResource MyColor}"/> into procedural code, because LinearColorKeyFrame is not FrameworkElement. Maybe this is root of the problem?

I don't know if there's a way to do it with XAML and binding, I couldn't get a similar thing working in Silverlight, but as a workaround you can create the StoryBoard and animations in code:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc189069(VS.95).aspx#procedural_code