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Dynamically load a Xaml file from a C++ app

March 25th, 2006 · 6 Comments

While it’s an absolute tragedy that C++ does not directly support compiled Xaml, you can use Xaml dynamically from a C++ Avalon app using XamlReader::Load. Let me show you how to do that, using a simple example. You can create your Xaml file, either using a text editor or using a temporary dummy C# or VB project.

Now here’s the C++ code that will load this Xaml, show the window, and also hook events to the member controls. The code is mostly self-explanatory if you understand basic .NET event handling.


ref struct EventHelper
{
    static void OnBtnClick(Object^ sender, RoutedEventArgs^ e)
    {
        Window^ mainwnd = Application::Current->MainWindow;
        TextBox^ txtbox = (TextBox^)mainwnd->FindName("mTextBox");
        mainwnd->Title = txtbox->Text;
    }
};

[STAThread]
int main(array<System::String^>^args)
{
    Stream^ st = File::OpenRead(
        "C:\\SomePath\\Window1.xaml");
    Window^ mainwnd = (Window^)XamlReader::Load(st);
    mainwnd->Height = 400;
    mainwnd->Width = 600;
    mainwnd->Title = "Dynamically load Xaml";
    //FindName will find the element with the specified identifier
    Button^ btn = (Button^)mainwnd->FindName("mButton");
    btn->Click += gcnew RoutedEventHandler(&EventHelper::OnBtnClick);
    st->Close();
    return (gcnew Application())->Run(mainwnd);
}


This Avalon stuff is pretty powerful I can tell you. Expect more entries as I figure out more stuff :nerd:

Tags: VC++ 2005 · WPF (Avalon)

6 responses so far ↓

  • 1 bitbonk // Mar 27, 2006 at 10:03 am

    Well, the real tragedy is that c++/CLI is not (really) supported by msbuild. As a result of that we cannot use C++/CLI for codebehind XAML :(

  • 2 william // Mar 27, 2006 at 7:32 pm

    XAML and C++ won’t be fully supported until the next version of VS.
    At least that is my understanding. That is a tradegy. I am trying to
    avoid C# completely on our development effort.

  • 3 Dean // May 12, 2006 at 4:32 pm

    This might be a newbee question, but I was attempting to create the dynamic load of xaml
    with VC 2005 Express. I have all the Winfx SDK loaded – but seems like the RoutedEventArgs
    are not being found via the System namespace in a blank CLR app. What blank app should one
    start with? How do you resolve errors I get above?

    This (xaml loading C++) could be a powerful tool in future development. Thanks for your expertise.

  • 4 Dean // May 12, 2006 at 10:23 pm

    Nish,

    I was able to get your demo loaded and working after putting in the correct references from
    the WinFx assemblies.

    I was also able to load one of the Expression (Fabrikam) demo’s and control some of the
    controls on it after some mods to the xaml.

    Is there a reference at to what xaml will load without parsing errors?

    Also, is there a mapping somewhere to what you can control via “FindName”?

    Thanks.

  • 5 Xaria // Jun 16, 2008 at 10:34 am

    Hey Nish,
    I cam across your post, while looking up for solution to use the Xaml code with VC++. I managed to run a simple avalon application following ur previous post, but I am unable to put this one to action. Could you please throw some more light on this..
    Hoping you would read this.

  • 6 Joel // Sep 3, 2010 at 7:27 am

    This doesnt work to me :(

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