Attached Property with WaterMark Text Box

Question

I want a TextBox with the text WaterMark. I am using this solution that works great as intended.

Since I have a couple of TextBoxes in the control, I want to make it a bit dynamic. So I use (the first time) an attached property, but I cannot get it to work. There are no compilation errors, but the tag statement cannot be allowed in XAML ... Content={Binding Path=view:SomeClass.Tag, RelativeSource=...

What is wrong here?

I did it in XAML

  <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" TextBlock.FontSize="12"> <TextBox Style="{DynamicResource TextBoxWaterMark}" view:SomeClass.Tag="Search" /> </StackPanel> 

Style

 <RibbonWindow.Resources> <Style xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib" x:Key="TextBoxWaterMark" TargetType="{x:Type TextBox}"> <Style.Resources> <VisualBrush x:Key="CueBannerBrush" AlignmentX="Left" AlignmentY="Center" Stretch="None"> <VisualBrush.Visual> <Label Content="{Binding Path=view:SomeClass.Tag, RelativeSource={RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type view:SomeClass}}}" Foreground="LightGray" /> </VisualBrush.Visual> </VisualBrush> </Style.Resources> <Style.Triggers> <Trigger Property="Text" Value="{x:Static sys:String.Empty}"> <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource CueBannerBrush}" /> </Trigger> <Trigger Property="Text" Value="{x:Null}"> <Setter Property="Background" Value="{StaticResource CueBannerBrush}" /> </Trigger> <Trigger Property="IsMouseCaptured" Value="True"> <Setter Property="Background" Value="White" /> </Trigger> </Style.Triggers> </Style> </RibbonWindow.Resources> 

DependencyObject

 public static class SomeClass { public static readonly DependencyProperty TagProperty = DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached( "Tag", typeof(object), typeof(SomeClass), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(null)); public static object GetTag(DependencyObject dependencyObject) { return dependencyObject.GetValue(TagProperty); } public static void SetTag(DependencyObject dependencyObject, object value) { dependencyObject.SetValue(TagProperty, value); } } 

Answer 1

You can create a similar type property. here look how.

Basically, people who are looking for text fields for water masks, about combobo controls, etc., can cover all of this at once.

create AttachedProperty like.

  using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Controls; using System.Windows.Controls.Primitives; using System.Windows.Documents; /// <summary> /// Class that provides the Watermark attached property /// </summary> public static class WatermarkService { /// <summary> /// Watermark Attached Dependency Property /// </summary> public static readonly DependencyProperty WatermarkProperty = DependencyProperty.RegisterAttached( "Watermark", typeof(object), typeof(WatermarkService), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata((object)null, new PropertyChangedCallback(OnWatermarkChanged))); #region Private Fields /// <summary> /// Dictionary of ItemsControls /// </summary> private static readonly Dictionary<object, ItemsControl> itemsControls = new Dictionary<object, ItemsControl>(); #endregion /// <summary> /// Gets the Watermark property. This dependency property indicates the watermark for the control. /// </summary> /// <param name="d"><see cref="DependencyObject"/> to get the property from</param> /// <returns>The value of the Watermark property</returns> public static object GetWatermark(DependencyObject d) { return (object)d.GetValue(WatermarkProperty); } /// <summary> /// Sets the Watermark property. This dependency property indicates the watermark for the control. /// </summary> /// <param name="d"><see cref="DependencyObject"/> to set the property on</param> /// <param name="value">value of the property</param> public static void SetWatermark(DependencyObject d, object value) { d.SetValue(WatermarkProperty, value); } /// <summary> /// Handles changes to the Watermark property. /// </summary> /// <param name="d"><see cref="DependencyObject"/> that fired the event</param> /// <param name="e">A <see cref="DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs"/> that contains the event data.</param> private static void OnWatermarkChanged(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e) { Control control = (Control)d; control.Loaded += Control_Loaded; if (d is ComboBox || d is TextBox) { control.GotKeyboardFocus += Control_GotKeyboardFocus; control.LostKeyboardFocus += Control_Loaded; } if (d is ItemsControl && !(d is ComboBox)) { ItemsControl i = (ItemsControl)d; // for Items property i.ItemContainerGenerator.ItemsChanged += ItemsChanged; itemsControls.Add(i.ItemContainerGenerator, i); // for ItemsSource property DependencyPropertyDescriptor prop = DependencyPropertyDescriptor.FromProperty(ItemsControl.ItemsSourceProperty, i.GetType()); prop.AddValueChanged(i, ItemsSourceChanged); } } #region Event Handlers /// <summary> /// Handle the GotFocus event on the control /// </summary> /// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param> /// <param name="e">A <see cref="RoutedEventArgs"/> that contains the event data.</param> private static void Control_GotKeyboardFocus(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { Control c = (Control)sender; if (ShouldShowWatermark(c)) { RemoveWatermark(c); } } /// <summary> /// Handle the Loaded and LostFocus event on the control /// </summary> /// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param> /// <param name="e">A <see cref="RoutedEventArgs"/> that contains the event data.</param> private static void Control_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) { Control control = (Control)sender; if (ShouldShowWatermark(control)) { ShowWatermark(control); } } /// <summary> /// Event handler for the items source changed event /// </summary> /// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param> /// <param name="e">A <see cref="EventArgs"/> that contains the event data.</param> private static void ItemsSourceChanged(object sender, EventArgs e) { ItemsControl c = (ItemsControl)sender; if (c.ItemsSource != null) { if (ShouldShowWatermark(c)) { ShowWatermark(c); } else { RemoveWatermark(c); } } else { ShowWatermark(c); } } /// <summary> /// Event handler for the items changed event /// </summary> /// <param name="sender">The source of the event.</param> /// <param name="e">A <see cref="ItemsChangedEventArgs"/> that contains the event data.</param> private static void ItemsChanged(object sender, ItemsChangedEventArgs e) { ItemsControl control; if (itemsControls.TryGetValue(sender, out control)) { if (ShouldShowWatermark(control)) { ShowWatermark(control); } else { RemoveWatermark(control); } } } #endregion #region Helper Methods /// <summary> /// Remove the watermark from the specified element /// </summary> /// <param name="control">Element to remove the watermark from</param> private static void RemoveWatermark(UIElement control) { AdornerLayer layer = AdornerLayer.GetAdornerLayer(control); // layer could be null if control is no longer in the visual tree if (layer != null) { Adorner[] adorners = layer.GetAdorners(control); if (adorners == null) { return; } foreach (Adorner adorner in adorners) { if (adorner is WatermarkAdorner) { adorner.Visibility = Visibility.Hidden; layer.Remove(adorner); } } } } /// <summary> /// Show the watermark on the specified control /// </summary> /// <param name="control">Control to show the watermark on</param> private static void ShowWatermark(Control control) { AdornerLayer layer = AdornerLayer.GetAdornerLayer(control); // layer could be null if control is no longer in the visual tree if (layer != null) { layer.Add(new WatermarkAdorner(control, GetWatermark(control))); } } /// <summary> /// Indicates whether or not the watermark should be shown on the specified control /// </summary> /// <param name="c"><see cref="Control"/> to test</param> /// <returns>true if the watermark should be shown; false otherwise</returns> private static bool ShouldShowWatermark(Control c) { if (c is ComboBox) { return (c as ComboBox).Text == string.Empty; } else if (c is TextBoxBase) { return (c as TextBox).Text == string.Empty; } else if (c is ItemsControl) { return (c as ItemsControl).Items.Count == 0; } else { return false; } } #endregion } using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Controls; using System.Windows.Data; using System.Windows.Documents; using System.Windows.Media; /// <summary> /// Adorner for the watermark /// </summary> internal class WatermarkAdorner : Adorner { #region Private Fields /// <summary> /// <see cref="ContentPresenter"/> that holds the watermark /// </summary> private readonly ContentPresenter contentPresenter; #endregion #region Constructor /// <summary> /// Initializes a new instance of the <see cref="WatermarkAdorner"/> class /// </summary> /// <param name="adornedElement"><see cref="UIElement"/> to be adorned</param> /// <param name="watermark">The watermark</param> public WatermarkAdorner(UIElement adornedElement, object watermark) : base(adornedElement) { this.IsHitTestVisible = false; this.contentPresenter = new ContentPresenter(); this.contentPresenter.Content = watermark; this.contentPresenter.Opacity = 0.5; this.contentPresenter.Margin = new Thickness(Control.Margin.Left + Control.Padding.Left, Control.Margin.Top + Control.Padding.Top, 0, 0); if (this.Control is ItemsControl && !(this.Control is ComboBox)) { this.contentPresenter.VerticalAlignment = VerticalAlignment.Center; this.contentPresenter.HorizontalAlignment = HorizontalAlignment.Center; } // Hide the control adorner when the adorned element is hidden Binding binding = new Binding("IsVisible"); binding.Source = adornedElement; binding.Converter = new BooleanToVisibilityConverter(); this.SetBinding(VisibilityProperty, binding); } #endregion #region Protected Properties /// <summary> /// Gets the number of children for the <see cref="ContainerVisual"/>. /// </summary> protected override int VisualChildrenCount { get { return 1; } } #endregion #region Private Properties /// <summary> /// Gets the control that is being adorned /// </summary> private Control Control { get { return (Control)this.AdornedElement; } } #endregion #region Protected Overrides /// <summary> /// Returns a specified child <see cref="Visual"/> for the parent <see cref="ContainerVisual"/>. /// </summary> /// <param name="index">A 32-bit signed integer that represents the index value of the child <see cref="Visual"/>. The value of index must be between 0 and <see cref="VisualChildrenCount"/> - 1.</param> /// <returns>The child <see cref="Visual"/>.</returns> protected override Visual GetVisualChild(int index) { return this.contentPresenter; } /// <summary> /// Implements any custom measuring behavior for the adorner. /// </summary> /// <param name="constraint">A size to constrain the adorner to.</param> /// <returns>A <see cref="Size"/> object representing the amount of layout space needed by the adorner.</returns> protected override Size MeasureOverride(Size constraint) { // Here the secret to getting the adorner to cover the whole control this.contentPresenter.Measure(Control.RenderSize); return Control.RenderSize; } /// <summary> /// When overridden in a derived class, positions child elements and determines a size for a <see cref="FrameworkElement"/> derived class. /// </summary> /// <param name="finalSize">The final area within the parent that this element should use to arrange itself and its children.</param> /// <returns>The actual size used.</returns> protected override Size ArrangeOverride(Size finalSize) { this.contentPresenter.Arrange(new Rect(finalSize)); return finalSize; } #endregion } 

An example of using this attached property.

 <Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.Window1" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1" Height="403" Width="346" Title="Window1"> <Grid> <Grid.RowDefinitions> <RowDefinition /> <RowDefinition /> </Grid.RowDefinitions> <AdornerDecorator Grid.Row="0"> <TextBox VerticalAlignment="Center" > <local:WatermarkService.Watermark> <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center" FontSize="12">TextBox Water Mask </TextBlock> </local:WatermarkService.Watermark> </TextBox> </AdornerDecorator> <AdornerDecorator Grid.Row="1"> <ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"> <local:WatermarkService.Watermark> <TextBlock VerticalAlignment="Center" HorizontalAlignment="Center" FontSize="12">Combo Box WaterMask</TextBlock> </local:WatermarkService.Watermark> </ComboBox> </AdornerDecorator> </Grid> </Window> 

Answer 2

For attached properties, you need to use parentheses in your binding path:

 <Label Content="{Binding Path=(view:SomeClass.Tag)}" /> 

It is written here, as well as explanations of how to bind to other types, such as indexes and collection views.