Wpf – Binding a datacontext string property to a StaticResource key

bindingdata-bindingstatic-resourcewpf

I have an List values with a ResourceKey and a Caption, these values are both strings. The Resource is the name of an actual resource defined in a resource dictionary. Each of these ResourceKey Icons are Canvas's.

<Data ResourceKey="IconCalendar" Caption="Calendar"/>
<Data ResourceKey="IconEmail" Caption="Email"/>

I then have a list view which has a datatemplate with a button and a text caption below the button. What I want to do is display Resource static resource as the content for the button.

<ListView.ItemTemplate>
    <DataTemplate>
        <Grid>
            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                <RowDefinition Height="*" />
                <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
            </Grid.RowDefinitions>

            <Button Content="{Binding ResourceKey}" Template="{StaticResource  RoundButtonControlTemplate}"/>
            <TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Margin="0,10,0,0" Text="{Binding Caption}" HorizontalAlignment="Center" FontSize="20" FontWeight="Bold" />
        </Grid>
    </DataTemplate>
</ListView.ItemTemplate>

I think I have tried every permutation with binding staticresource etc.

I am open to alternatives, I know it may be easier to just have an image and set the source property.

Thanks

Best Answer

After having a little think I ending up using a ValueConvertor like so:

class StaticResourceConverter : IValueConverter
{
    public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        var resourceKey = (string)value;

        return Application.Current.Resources[resourceKey];
    }

    public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, CultureInfo culture)
    {
        throw new Exception("The method or operation is not implemented.");
    }
}

and the binding on the button becomes

<Button Content="{Binding ResourceKey, Converter={StaticResource resourceConverter}}" />
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