How to refer to current open window in WPF - c#

I have a window popping up, and a MainWindow is created if one doesn't exist already:
if (App.Current.MainWindow != null && App.Current.MainWindow.GetType() == typeof(MainWindow))
{
this.Close();
}
else
{
//main Window hasn't been created yet so create it!
MainWindow main = new MainWindow();
App.Current.MainWindow = main;
this.Close();
main.Show();
wndw = main;
}
How do I refer to the MainWindow so I can use it outside the if statement?
I want to be able to do main.txbox.Text = .... etc.
Here's what I've tried:
MainWindow main;
if
{...
}
else
{...
}
main= App.Current.MainWindow;
or MainWindow main = App.Current.MainWindow();
Neither of these approaches seem to work. I'm sure this is really simple, I just can't figure out the syntax. Help?
Edit: Similar to this question I asked earlier, but different because here I'm asking about syntax when referencing the currently opened window. The similar question is referring to how to detect which window is opened. They're similar, but I didn't want to go off topic.

Try this way
var window = Application.Current.Windows.OfType<Window>().SingleOrDefault(w => w.IsActive);

In some base class or App.xaml.cs create this:
public static Window ActivatedWindow {get;set;}
Then put in your base class deriving Window or all of your Window's Activate Event:
First Option - personal Window Base Class:
public class MetroToolWindowBase
{
public MetroToolWindowBase()
{
Activated += new EventHandler(MakeActive);
}
private void MakeActive(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
App.ActivatedWindow= this;
}
}
Second Option- In Activated Event of Windows:
private void XWindow_Activated(object sender,EventArgs e)
{
App.ActivatedWindow= this;
}

Related

WinForms - Disable drag over MenuStrip & other windows

I've made a Windows Forms solution. In the main shell, there is added a MenuStrip, and it's possible to add more Views onto it.
The problem is, that when I add/open a new View, it is opened behind the MenuStrip.
Somehow, I want the MenuStrip to have a border, so it is not possible to drag things behind it, but I have no idea how.
The same case should be with other Views.
You should set the Dock property for the control that you want to add.
OK, I have a solution - I don't totally like it but it works! You will need the usual MDI suspects in terms of flags, etc.
The main form that is the MDI container needs to have something like:
public partial class MainForm : Form
{
public MainForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
int BodyCount = 0;
private void fileToolStripMenuItem_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MDIChildForm child = new MDIChildForm();
child.TitleText = String.Format("Child window {0}", ++BodyCount);
child.MdiParent = this;
child.Show();
}
/*
** This could be fun - shouldn't recurse!
*/
public void ShifTheChild(MDIChildForm spoiltBrat)
{
var m = menuStrip1.Height;
if (spoiltBrat.Location.Y < m)
spoiltBrat.Location = new Point(spoiltBrat.Location.X, 0);
return;
}
}
The child forms need the location changed event hooking:
public partial class MDIChildForm : Form
{
public String TitleText
{
get { return this.Text; }
set { this.Text = value; }
}
MainForm parent = null;
public MDIChildForm()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.ShowIcon = false;
}
private void MDIChildForm_LocationChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
if (parent != null)
parent.ShifTheChild(this);
}
private void MDIChildForm_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
parent = this.MdiParent as MainForm;
}
}
When you move a child into the twilight zone under the menu it will be snapped back out - the method that moves it will cause the event to fire again but the second time nothing should happen (so no recursion).
I don't like this solution simply because I can't get my brain around whether there is a condition that would make it recurse, and I don't like uncertainty.
Good luck.

Sharing data between child and parent windows (C# WPF)

Scenario:
Three forms: MainWindow, Positions, Calibration self-named (MainWindow : Window etc.)
MainWindow creates an instance of three objects:
Vars: Model Vars = new Model();
Positions: Positions PositionsWindow = new Positions();
Calibration: Calibration CalibrationWindow = new Calibration();
A button in MainWindow is used to Show and Hide the child windows. Form fields in MainWindow update fields in class Vars.
MainWindow code:
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
Model Vars = new Model();
Positions PositionsWindow = new Positions();
Calibration CalibrationWindow = new Calibration();
private void OpenButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
PositionsWindow.Show();
}
private void TextBoxUpdate_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
Vars.TestVar = TestBox.Text;
}
}
Question: How can form fields in the child windows update the parent form fields and/or fields in the class "Vars", i.e. passing data from child to parent and trigger an action in the parent form?
Attempts: A similar question suggested passing the main window this, example: Positions PositionsWindow = new Positions(); however, this only works when the object is created in a method. At this point, PositionsWindow.Show(); is no longer valid. i.e. it is only suitable for a child window created and closed in a single method.
I would not really recommend initializing the variables before the constructor. Don't get used to that.
I would change the constructor of each of the three Windows:
public partial class Model : Window{
MainWindow MW;
Model(MainWindow MW){
this.MW = MW;
// other constructor stuff
}
}
Do the same thing for Positions and Calibration.
Obviously, you cannot use this when you are INITIALIZING the Windows BEFORE the constructor is called, because there is still no this to pass.
Therefore, in your MainWindow:
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
Model Vars; // = new Model(this); <- the constructor was not yet called, there is no this
Positions PositionsWindow; // = new Positions();
Calibration CalibrationWindow; // = new Calibration();
MainWindow(){
Vars = new Model(this);
Positions = new Positions(this);
CalibrationWindow = new Calibration(this);
}
private void OpenButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
PositionsWindow.Show();
}
private void TextBoxUpdate_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
Vars.TestVar = TestBox.Text;
}
}
Edit: (to complete the answer to the question):
Now, if you want the Windows to change stuff to each other, just create functions in MainWindow that change stuff in each of the Windows. And with MW you can call these functions from any child Window
For me the best is using Subscribe/Publisher event-based way, here is the way to do it. (i recreate the code so that you can understand)
1) add an event publisher in your child windows.
public partial class ChildWindows : Window
{
// the is the event publisher
public event Action<string> ChildUpdated;
public ChildWindows()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void updateParentBtn_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
// pass the parameter.
ChildUpdated(updateTb.Text);
}
}
2) Subscribe the publisher in your parent windows.
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
Model Vars;
ChildWindows childWindows;
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
Vars = new Model();
childWindows = new ChildWindows();
//this is the event subscriber.
childWindows.ChildUpdated += ChildWindows_ChildUpdated;
}
//do whatever you want here.
void ChildWindows_ChildUpdated(string obj)
{
// Update your Vars and parent
Vars.TestVar = obj;
updateLbl.Content = Vars.TestVar;
}
private void openButton_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
childWindows.Show();
}
private void textBoxUpdate_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
}
}
3) In this case, when i type inside the textbox in my child windows, and press a button, it will appear on a label inside my parent windows.
P/S : i had changed the ParentUpdated to ChildUpdated. thanks to #Adrian for constructive feedback
example

Access parent window from User Control

I am trying to access parent window from user control.
userControl1 uc1 = new userControl1();
mainGrid.Children.Add(uc1);
through this code I load userControl1 to main grid.
But when I click on a button inside userControl1 then I want to load another userControl2 into mainGrid which is in main window?
Have you tried
Window yourParentWindow = Window.GetWindow(userControl1);
This gets the root level window:
Window parentWindow = Application.Current.MainWindow
or the immediate parent window
Window parentWindow = Window.GetWindow(this);
The only reason why the suggested
Window yourParentWindow = Window.GetWindow(userControl1);
didnt work for you is because you didn't cast it to the right type:
var win = Window.GetWindow(this) as MyCustomWindowType;
if (win != null) {
win.DoMyCustomWhatEver()
} else {
ReportError("Tough luck, this control works only in descendants of MyCustomWindowType");
}
Unless there has to be way more coupling between your type of windows and your control, I consider your approach bad design .
I'd suggest to pass the grid on which the control will operate as a constructor parameter, make it into a property or search for appropriate (root ?) grid inside any Window dynamically.
Modify the constructor of the UserControl to accept a parameter of MainWindow object. Then pass the MainWindow object to the UserControl when creating in the MainWindow.
MainWindow
public MainWindow(){
InitializeComponent();
userControl1 uc1 = new userControl1(this);
}
UserControl
MainWindow mw;
public userControl1(MainWindow recievedWindow){
mw = recievedWindow;
}
Example Event in the UserControl
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
mw.mainGrid.Children.Add(this);
}
Thanks for help me guys. i got another solution
((this.Parent) as Window).Content = new userControl2();
this is perfectly works
Make a static instance of main window ,you can simply call it in your user control:
See this example:
Window1.cs
public partial class Window1 : Window
{
public Window1()
{
InitializeComponent();
_Window1 = this;
}
public static Window1 _Window1 = new Window1();
}
UserControl1.CS
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void AddControl()
{
Window1._Window1.MainGrid.Children.Add(usercontrol2)
}
}

how to close window form which is hosting WPF user control from within a WPF user control

I want to close a window form that is hosting a WPF user control. Something like this as used while closing a current form in window application. But for WPF application I am not able to get reference to user controls parent
How to get Form which is hosting this control so that I can close my form
this.Close()
Add to your WpfControl property
public Form FormsWindow { get; set; }
In your WinForm add event handler for ElementHost's event ChildChanged:
using System.Windows.Forms.Integration;
public MyForm() {
InitializeComponent();
elementHost.ChildChanged += ElementHost_ChildChanged;
}
void ElementHost_ChildChanged(object sender, ChildChangedEventArgs e) {
var ctr = (elementHost.Child as UserControl1);
if (ctr != null)
ctr.FormsWindow = this;
}
After that you can use the FormsWindow property of your WpfControl to manipulate window. Example:
this.FormsWindow.Close();
An alternative solution could be,
Window parent = Window.GetWindow(this);
parent.Close();
Just want to add to #The_Smallest's otherwise very clear answer.
If you just copy and past the event handler code, you will still need to set your Forms's ChildChanged event to ElementHost_ChildChanged. I missed that step and spent 30 minutes trying to figure out why FormsWindow was null.
In order to call the Form object of the MyControl class already. We have in it a Form field to which we pass an instance object open Form. Having an assigned object we can freely manipulate it (including also call the function form.Close ();
WPF Control (with XAML):
public class MyControl : UserControl
{
public Form form = null;
public MyControl()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.PreviewKeyDown += new KeyEventHandler(HandleEsc);
}
private void HandleEsc(object sender, KeyEventArgs e)
{
if (e.Key == Key.Escape)
{
form.Close();
}
}
}
Form:
public class MainForm
{
//...
public Form form = null;
public MainForm(MyControl myControl)
{
InitializeComponent();
//...
myControl.form = (Form)this;
}
}

C# WPF how to enforce single instances of windows

I'd like to know what's the best way (read most elegant) to have a single instance of a given Window per application in WPF.
I'm a newcomer to .NET and WPF and what I came up with looks pretty lame.
private static readonly Object MUTEX = new Object();
private static AboutWindow INSTANCE;
public static AboutWindow GetOrCreate() {
lock (MUTEX) {
if (INSTANCE == null) {
INSTANCE = new AboutWindow();
}
INSTANCE.Show();
return INSTANCE;
}
}
private AboutWindow() {
InitializeComponent();
}
private void AboutWindow_Closed(object sender, EventArgs e) {
// the Closed events are handy for me to update values across
// different windows.
lock (MUTEX) {
INSTANCE = null;
}
}
Thing is... this looks like utter crap. There must be some way to achieve the same goal in a much more elegant way, right?
PS: I'm often using the Closed event to change values in other open windows. For instance I have the SettingsWindow with the "Account" button. When I push that button, the AccountWindow pops up. When I close AcountWindow, I want something in the SettingsWindow to change (a label). Hence the constant creation of windows.
Besides, Close is something you always have to deal with because of the X button on the window frame...
there are probably better ways to do this, but here is a relatively simple way....
put a static bool on your window class to flag if its open or not. then, in the load() event set it to true, and on the close event set it to false. Then, in the code that opens the window, check the flag.
here is some pseudo-code to give you an idea...
public class AboutWindow
{
public static bool IsOpen {get;private set;}
onLoadEvent(....)
{
IsOpen = true;
}
onUnloadEvent(...)
{
IsOpen = false;
}
}
public void OpenAbout()
{
if ( AboutWindow.IsOpen ) return;
AboutWindow win = new AboutWindow();
win.Show();
}
If you truly need to enforce a single instance of a window, then a static instance (some flavor of what you have) with a factory creation method is certainly a viable option, much like a single DataContext instance when working with a database.
You could also write your own WindowManager class, although that seems like overkill, and will essentially be the same thing (except the Factory methods would be in a single class).
However, re-reading your post, I wonder if this is a case of missing the forest for the trees. Your mentioning of your SettingsWindow, which in turn calls AccountWindow, makes me think that you should simply be using ShowDialog(). This opens a window modally, meaning that there can be no interaction with the calling window (or any other window in your application). You simply set a property in that dialog, set the DialogResult to true when the OK button is pressed, and read that property in the parent window.
Basically, you just use the ShowDialog like this. I am leaving out a lot of the implementation details, as far as binding vs. hard-coding to controls. Those details aren't as important as just seeing how ShowDialog works.
For simplicity, assume that you have a class called MyAppOptions that, well, reflect the options of your application. I will leave off most of the implementation details of this for simplicity, but it would likely implement INotifyPropertyChanged, have methods and fields and properties, etc.
public class MyAppOptions
{
public MyAppOptions()
{
}
public Boolean MyBooleanOption
{
get;
set;
}
public String MyStringOption
{
get;
set;
}
}
Then, let's make this simple, and assume that you want to show an Options dialog when you press a button on some window. Furthermore, I will assume that there are variables that have been set with your options, which were loaded at startup.
void btnOptions_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
MyAppOptions options = new MyAppOptions();
options.MyBooleanOption = mSomeBoolean;
options.MyStringOption = mSomeString;
OptionsDialog optionsDialog = new optionsDialog(options);
if (optionsDialog.ShowDialog() == true)
{
// Assume this function saves the options to storage
// and updates the application (binding) appropriately
SetAndSaveOptions(optionsDialog.AppOptions);
}
}
Now assume that the OptionsDialog is a window you've created in your project, and it has a CheckBox on it related to MyBooleanOption and a TextBox for MyStringOption. It also has an Ok button and a Cancel button. The code-behind will likely use Binding, but for now we'll hard code the values.
public class OptionsDialog : Window
{
public OptionsDialog(MyAppOptions options)
{
chkBooleanOption.IsChecked = options.SomeBooleanOption;
txtStringOption.Text = options.SomeStringOption;
btnOK.Click += new RoutedEventHandler(btnOK_Click);
btnCancel.Click += new RoutedEventHandler(btnCancel_Click);
}
public MyAppOptions AppOptions
{
get;
set;
}
void btnOK_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
this.AppOptions.SomeBooleanOption = (Boolean) chkBooleanOption.IsChecked;
this.AppOptions.SomeStringOption = txtStringOption.Text;
// this is the key step - it will close the dialog and return
// true to ShowDialog
this.DialogResult = true;
}
void btnClose_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
// this will close the dialog and return false to ShowDialog
// Note that pressing the X button will also return false to ShowDialog
this.DialogResult = false;
}
}
This is a pretty basic example as far as implementation details. Search online for ShowDialog for more details. The important keys to remember are:
ShowDialog opens a window modally,
meaning it is the only window in your
application that can be interacted
with.
Setting DialogResult to true
will close the dialog, which can be
checked for from the calling parent.
Setting DialogResult to false will
also close the dialog, in which case
you skip updating the values in the
calling window.
Pressing the X button
on the window automatically sets the
DialogResult to false
You can have public properties in the dialog window that can be set before doing the ShowDialog, and can get values from after the dialog disappears. It will be available while the dialog is still in scope.
The following extends on the above solution to reshow the window if it is already open. In this case it is a help window.
///<summary>
/// Show help from the resources for a particular control by contextGUID
///</summary>
///<param name="contextGUID"></param>
private void ShowApplicationHelp(string contextGUID = "1")
{
if (HelpWin != null)
{
if (HelpWin.IsOpen)
{
HelpWin.BringToFront();
return;
}
}
HelpWin = new MigratorHelpWindow();
HelpWin.Owner = Application.Current.MainWindow;
HelpWin.ResizeMode = ResizeMode.CanResizeWithGrip;
HelpWin.Icon = new Image()
{
Source =
new BitmapImage(
new Uri(
"pack://application:,,,/ResourceLibrary;component/Resources/Images/Menu/Help.png",
UriKind.RelativeOrAbsolute))
};
HelpWin.Show();
HelpWin.BringToFront();
}
This code is all in a viewmodel (MVVM) associated with the window. It is called by an ICommand hooked to a button on the window (naturally, it shows a question mark!!)
The following property is involved (in this case it is a Telerik RadWindow but it can be any window object, and you can probably also just store the window handle but using this property permits manipulation of the object more smoothly e.g. HelpWin.BringToFront() as in the above example...
...
...
private Telerik.Windows.Controls.RadWindow **HelpWin**
{
get;
set;
}
...
...
In the window itself (WPF window)
///<summary>
/// Flag to indicate the window is open - use to prevent opening this particular help window multiple times...
///</summary>
public static bool IsOpen { get; private set; }
...
...
...
private void HelpWindowLoaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
IsOpen = true;
}
private void HelpWindowUnloaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
IsOpen = false;
}
and in the view Xaml
...
...
DataContext="{Binding Path=OnlineHelpViewModelStatic,Source={StaticResource Locator}}"
RestoreMinimizedLocation="True"
**Loaded="HelpWindowLoaded" Unloaded="HelpWindowUnloaded"** >
Here's an alternative approach that doesn't require a static property to set and update in each of your window:
public static bool IsWindowInstantiated<T>() where T : Window
{
var windows = Application.Current.Windows.Cast<Window>();
var any = windows.Any(s => s is T);
return any;
}
Usage:
private void ButtonBase_OnClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
if (IsWindowInstantiated<SettingsWindow>())
return;
var window = new SettingsWindow();
window.Show();
}
How about using a Singleton?
public class MyWindow : Window {
private static MyWindow instance;
public static MyWindow Instance
{
get
{
if (instance == null)
{
instance = new MyWindow();
}
return instance;
}
}
}
Then just use
MyWindow.Instance.Show() and MyWindow.Instance.Hide()
I found this because I am trying to ensure my users do not open multiple instances of an rtsp stream window. I like Aybe's answer, it works well and is easy to understand.
I have built on it a bit as I wanted to bring the window into focus if it is open.
Here is my code:
public static void OpenWindow<T>() where T: Window
{
var windows = System.Windows.Application.Current.Windows.Cast<Window>();
var any = windows.Any(s => s is T);
if (any)
{
var win = windows.Where(s => s is T).ToList()[0];
if (win.WindowState == WindowState.Minimized)
win.WindowState = WindowState.Normal;
win.Focus();
}
else
{
var win = (Window)Activator.CreateInstance(typeof(T));
win.Show();
}
}
I am also quite new to C# and WPF so I am sure this can be improved even more.
Call it using
OpenWindow<SettingsWindow>();
public static void ShowWindow<T>() where T : Window, new()
{
var existingWindow = Application.Current.Windows.OfType<T>()
.SingleOrDefault();
if (existingWindow == null)
{
new T().Show();
return;
}
existingWindow.WindowState = WindowState.Normal;
existingWindow.Activate();
}
Usage:
ShowWindow<AboutWindow>();
When windows is created then Window.IsLoaded == true. My implementation of singleton windows is:
public partial class MySingletonWindow : Window
{
private static MySingletonWindow _instance = null;
private MySingletonWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public static MySingletonWindow Show(System.Windows.Window owner = null)
{
// On First call _instance will be null, on subsequent calls _instance will not be null but IsLoaded is false if windows was closed.
if (_instance == null || !_instance.IsLoaded)
_instance = new MySingletonWindow();
_instance.Owner = owner; // Optional owner
_instance.Show(); // Display the window
_instance.Focus(); // Bring it to front
return _instance; // Return instance if user needs it
}
}
Simply show windows using this call:
MySingletonWindow.Show(ParentWindow);
OR
MySingletonWindow.Show();

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