Create and Use Custom Control in WPF

Introduction: In this article we will discuss how to create and use a custom control in an WPF application. WPF is the abbreviated form of Windows Presentation Foundation in which we can build the better application which have great look and feel. WPF application are used to make better presentation of the project which is being made by you. Here we will create a WPF custom control which have better presentation. In WPF we can build the application in 3D and can build the animated application. It makes the window application graphically strong and provide better user interface for window applications. Let's see how it will use to make the custom control and later use controls in it's own application.

There are some steps which you may follow to build the custom control in WPF.

Step 1: Firstly I would like to open the WpfCustomControlLibrary.

• Go to Visual Studio and open the project.

• Select the WpfCustomControlLibrary.

• Click OK.

Step 2: Further you have to open the CustomControl1.cs file and write the code given below.

Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
namespace WpfCustomControlLibrary1
{
[TemplatePart(Name = "Main", Type = typeof(Border))]
[TemplatePart(Name = "body", Type = typeof(ContentControl))]
public class CustomControl1 : Control
{
static CustomControl1()
{
DefaultStyleKeyProperty.OverrideMetadata(typeof(CustomControl1), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(typeof(CustomControl1)));
CommandManager.RegisterClassCommandBinding(typeof(CustomControl1), new CommandBinding(CustomControl1.CustomCommand, C_Command));
EventManager.RegisterClassHandler(typeof(CustomControl1), Mouse.MouseDownEvent, new MouseButtonEventHandler(M_Down));
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty C_prt = DependencyProperty.Register("Color", typeof(Color), typeof(CustomControl1),new PropertyMetadata(Colors.AliceBlue));
public Color Color
{
get
{
return (Color)this.GetValue(C_prt);
}
set
{
this.SetValue(C_prt, value);
}
}
Border MB;
ContentControl Body;
public override void OnApplyTemplate()
{
base.OnApplyTemplate();
if (this.Template != null)
{
Border mainBorder = this.Template.FindName("Main", this) as Border;
if (mainBorder != MB)
{
//Firstly you have to unhook existing handler
if (MB != null)
{
MB.MouseEnter -= new MouseEventHandler(MB_MEnter);
MB.MouseLeave -= new MouseEventHandler(MB_MLeave);
}
MB = mainBorder;
if (MB != null)
{
// Now we have to Add a default basecolor
MB.Background = new LinearGradientBrush(this.Color,this.Color,.5);
MB.MouseEnter += new MouseEventHandler(MB_MEnter);
MB.MouseLeave += new MouseEventHandler(MB_MLeave);
}
}
Body = this.Template.FindName("body", this) as ContentControl;
}
}
void MB_MLeave(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Border thisBorder = sender as Border;
if (thisBorder != null)
{
thisBorder.Background = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.HotPink);
if (Body != null)
{
Run r = new Run("Mouse Has Been Left!");
r.Foreground = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Yellow);
Body.Content = r;
}
}
}
void MB_MEnter(object sender, MouseEventArgs e)
{
Border thisBorder = sender as Border;
if (thisBorder != null)
{
thisBorder.Background = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Tomato);
if (Body != null)
{
Run r = new Run("Mouse Has Entered!");
r.Foreground = new SolidColorBrush(Colors.Silver);
Body.Content = r;
}
}
}
static void M_Down(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e)
{
CustomControl1 invoker = sender as CustomControl1;
//Do handle event
//Raise your event
invoker.OnInvertCall();
//Do Rest
}
public static readonly RoutedEvent InvertCallEvent = EventManager.RegisterRoutedEvent("InvertCall", RoutingStrategy.Bubble, typeof (RoutedEventHandler), typeof(CustomControl1));
public event RoutedEventHandler InvertCall
{
add { AddHandler(InvertCallEvent, value); }
remove { RemoveHandler(InvertCallEvent, value); }
}
private void OnInvertCall()
{
RoutedEventArgs args = new RoutedEventArgs(InvertCallEvent);
RaiseEvent(args);
}
static void C_Command(object sender, ExecutedRoutedEventArgs e)
{
//Need to first retrieve the control
CustomControl1 invoker = sender as CustomControl1;
//Do whatever you need
}
public static readonly ICommand CustomCommand = new RoutedUICommand("CustomCommand", "CustomCommand" typeof(CustomControl1), new InputGestureCollection(new InputGesture[] { new KeyGesture(Key.Enter), new MouseGesture(MouseAction.LeftClick) }));
}
}