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c#wpfxamlgenerics

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

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?

Solution

  • Not out of the box, no; but there are enterprising developers out there who have done so.

    Mike Hillberg at Microsoft played with it in this post, for example. Google has others of course.