Creating a Silverlight DataTemplate in code

Question

How do I create a silverlight data template in code? I've seen plenty of examples for WPF, but nothing for Silverlight.

Edit: Here's the code I'm now using this for, based on the answer from Santiago below.

public DataTemplate Create(Type type)
{
  return (DataTemplate)XamlReader.Load(
          @"<DataTemplate
            xmlns=""http://schemas.microsoft.com/client/2007"">
            <" + type.Name + @" Text=""{Binding " + ShowColumn + @"}""/>
            </DataTemplate>"
   );
}

This works really nicely and allows me to change the binding on the fly.

I couldn't get this to work. Problems explained here

Caustix
– Caustix

2011-08-24 05:43:10 +00:00
Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 5:43 — Caustix
– Caustix, Commented Aug 24, 2011 at 5:43

Santiago Palladino · Accepted Answer · 2008-09-16 13:28:40Z

39

Although you cannot programatically create it, you can load it from a XAML string in code like this:

    public static DataTemplate Create(Type type)
    {
        return (DataTemplate) XamlReader.Load(
            @"<DataTemplate
                xmlns=""http://schemas.microsoft.com/client/2007"">
                <" + type.Name + @"/>
              </DataTemplate>"
          );
    }

The snippet above creates a data template containing a single control, which may be a user control with the contents you need.

answered Sep 16, 2008 at 13:28

Santiago Palladino

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1 Comment

Nick Randell Over a year ago

Great answer - no idea why I didn't think of it myself!

McGarnagle · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-16 16:58:26Z

11

I had a few problems with this code, getting element not foung exceptions. Just for reference, it was that I needed my namesspace included in the DataTemplate...

private DataTemplate Create(Type type)
        {
            string xaml = @"<DataTemplate 
                xmlns=""http://schemas.microsoft.com/client/2007""
                xmlns:controls=""clr-namespace:" + type.Namespace + @";assembly=" + type.Namespace + @""">
                <controls:" + type.Name + @"/></DataTemplate>";
            return (DataTemplate)XamlReader.Load(xaml);
        }

edited May 16, 2013 at 16:58

McGarnagle

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answered Dec 10, 2008 at 13:38

Mark

2 Comments

Phillip Ngan Over a year ago

You don't need the statement "DataTemplate dt = new DataTemplate();" because it is not used.

herzmeister Over a year ago

Assembly name != Namespace name though.

Davut Gürbüz · Accepted Answer · 2011-08-18 02:15:21Z

Yes, Silverligt 4 older than WPF's current versions. When you add a template as a resource i.e. as I did I added a userControl Template in Application.xaml MergedResources between ResourceDictionary. In XAML if tag implemented IDictionary you could user x:Key attribute. Like that

   <ResourceDictionary>
    <DataTemplate x:Key="TextBoxEditTemplate">
    <Some user control x:Name="myOwnControl" />
    </DataTemplate>
   </ResourceDictionary>

Ok! You may reach your template by coding that, Application.Current.resources["TextBoxEditTemplate"] on the other hand some methods for finding members of this template will not work. Beside this DataTemplate doesn't implement IDictionary so you cannot assign x:Key attribute for items in this dataTemplate. as myOwnControl in example.

Without xaml current silverlight has some restrictions about creation fully dynamic code-behind DataTemplates.Even it works on WPF.

Anyway the best solution by this point is creation of XAML script for datatemplate ,You may assing some values element in DataTemplate script. We created our own usercontrols has some properties with DependencyObjectProperty...

At last if your object has no inherits ,i.e. not a MyControl:UserControl you may inherit MyObject:DependencyObject by this way you can reach your object by calling like Application.Current.Resources.FirstChilderen...

FindName works only in WPF

McGarnagle · Accepted Answer · 2013-05-16 16:59:25Z

2

citation from MSDN:

The XAML usage that defines the content for creating a data template is not exposed as a settable property. It is special behavior built into the XAML processing of a DataTemplate object element.

edited May 16, 2013 at 16:59

McGarnagle

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answered Sep 15, 2008 at 13:28

jarda

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2 Comments

David Gray Wright Over a year ago

Where did you find that? Can you provide a URL?

jarda Over a year ago

msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/…

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