Can I specify a generic type in XAML (pre .NET 4 Framework)?

Question

In XAML I can declare a DataTemplate so that the template is used whenever a specific type is displayed. For example, this DataTemplate will use a TextBlock to display the name of a customer:

<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type my:Customer}">     <TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}" /> </DataTemplate> 

I'm wondering if it's possible to define a DataTemplate that will be used any time an IList<Customer> is displayed. So if a ContentControl's Content is, say, an ObservableCollection<Customer> it would use that template.

Is it possible to declare a generic type like IList in XAML using the {x:Type} Markup Extension?

Answer 1

Not directly in XAML, however you could reference a DataTemplateSelector from XAML to choose the correct template.

public class CustomerTemplateSelector : DataTemplateSelector {     public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item,                                                 DependencyObject container)     {         DataTemplate template = null;         if (item != null)         {             FrameworkElement element = container as FrameworkElement;             if (element != null)             {                 string templateName = item is ObservableCollection<MyCustomer> ?                     "MyCustomerTemplate" : "YourCustomerTemplate";                  template = element.FindResource(templateName) as DataTemplate;             }          }         return template;     } }  public class MyCustomer {     public string CustomerName { get; set; } }  public class YourCustomer {     public string CustomerName { get; set; } } 

The resource dictionary:

<ResourceDictionary      xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"     xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"     >     <DataTemplate x:Key="MyCustomerTemplate">         <Grid>             <Grid.RowDefinitions>                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>                 <RowDefinition Height="150"/>             </Grid.RowDefinitions>             <TextBlock Text="My Customer Template"/>             <ListBox ItemsSource="{Binding}"                      DisplayMemberPath="CustomerName"                      Grid.Row="1"/>         </Grid>     </DataTemplate>      <DataTemplate x:Key="YourCustomerTemplate">         <Grid>             <Grid.RowDefinitions>                 <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>                 <RowDefinition Height="150"/>             </Grid.RowDefinitions>             <TextBlock Text="Your Customer Template"/>             <ListBox ItemsSource="{Binding}"                      DisplayMemberPath="CustomerName"                      Grid.Row="1"/>         </Grid>     </DataTemplate> </ResourceDictionary> 

The window XAML:

<Window      x:Class="WpfApplication1.Window1"     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"     Title="Window1"      Height="300"      Width="300"     xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"     >     <Grid>         <Grid.Resources>             <local:CustomerTemplateSelector x:Key="templateSelector"/>         </Grid.Resources>         <ContentControl              Content="{Binding}"              ContentTemplateSelector="{StaticResource templateSelector}"              />     </Grid> </Window> 

The window code behind:

public partial class Window1 {     public Window1()     {         InitializeComponent();         ObservableCollection<MyCustomer> myCustomers             = new ObservableCollection<MyCustomer>()         {             new MyCustomer(){CustomerName="Paul"},             new MyCustomer(){CustomerName="John"},             new MyCustomer(){CustomerName="Mary"}         };          ObservableCollection<YourCustomer> yourCustomers             = new ObservableCollection<YourCustomer>()         {             new YourCustomer(){CustomerName="Peter"},             new YourCustomer(){CustomerName="Chris"},             new YourCustomer(){CustomerName="Jan"}         };         //DataContext = myCustomers;         DataContext = yourCustomers;     } }