R – Fire a template child event in current context

I think what you're asking is you want a code-behind file for a ResourceDictionary. You can totally do this! In fact, you do it the same way as for a Window:

Say you have a ResourceDictionary called MyResourceDictionary. In your MyResourceDictionary.xaml file, put the x:Class attribute in the root element, like so:

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
                    x:Class="MyCompany.MyProject.MyResourceDictionary"
                    x:ClassModifier="public">

Then, create a code behind file called MyResourceDictionary.xaml.cs with the following declaration:

namespace MyCompany.MyProject
{
    partial class MyResourceDictionary : ResourceDictionary
    { 
       public MyResourceDictionary()
       {
          InitializeComponent();
       }     
       ... // event handlers ahead..
    }
}

And you're done. You can put whatever you wish in the code behind: methods, properties and event handlers.

== Update for Windows 10 apps ==

And just in case you are playing with UWP there is one more thing to be aware of:

<Application x:Class="SampleProject.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             xmlns:rd="using:MyCompany.MyProject">
<!-- no need in x:ClassModifier="public" in the header above -->

    <Application.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

                <!-- This will NOT work -->
                <!-- <ResourceDictionary Source="/MyResourceDictionary.xaml" />-->

                <!-- Create instance of your custom dictionary instead of the above source reference -->
                <rd:MyResourceDictionary />

            </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Application.Resources>

</Application>

Please, code behind is not a bad thing at all. Unfortunately, quite a lot people in the WPF community got this wrong.

MVVM is not a pattern to eliminate the code behind. It is to separate the view part (appearance, animations, etc.) from the logic part (workflow). Furthermore, you are able to unit test the logic part.

I know enough scenarios where you have to write code behind because data binding is not a solution to everything. In your scenario I would handle the DoubleClick event in the code behind file and delegate this call to the ViewModel.

Sample applications that use code behind and still fulfill the MVVM separation can be found here:

Win Application Framework (WAF) - https://github.com/jbe2277/waf