c# - How to make a Template Window in WPF?

Question

So i am building an application that will have lots of windows, all with the same basic layout:

1. A main Window
2. A logo in the top corner
3. A title block
4. A status displayer down the bottom
5. An area for window specific controls.

At the moment i have to recreate this structure in every window. Ideally i want this layout to be coded in a single place, perhaps into a custom Window subclass for ease of use. Does anyone have any clues for how to get started, or previous experience with similar problems?

Answer 1

You can create a new ControlTemplate that targets a window to accomplish this as shown below.

<ControlTemplate x:Key="WindowControlTemplate1" TargetType="{x:Type Window}">
    <Border 
        Background="{TemplateBinding Background}" 
        BorderBrush="{TemplateBinding BorderBrush}" 
        BorderThickness="{TemplateBinding BorderThickness}"
        >
        <Grid>
            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                <RowDefinition Height="0.93*"/>
                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
            </Grid.RowDefinitions>

            <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
                <ColumnDefinition Width="0.21*"/>
                <ColumnDefinition Width="0.79*"/>
            </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>

            <ContentPresenter 
                Grid.ColumnSpan="2" 
                Grid.Row="1" 
                Content="{TemplateBinding Content}" 
                ContentTemplate="{TemplateBinding ContentTemplate}"
                />
            <ResizeGrip 
                HorizontalAlignment="Right" 
                x:Name="WindowResizeGrip" 
                VerticalAlignment="Bottom" 
                IsTabStop="False" 
                Visibility="Collapsed" 
                Grid.Column="1" 
                Grid.Row="2"
                />
            <TextBlock Text="My Logo" />
            <TextBlock Grid.Column="1" Text="My Title"/>
            <StatusBar Height="20" Grid.ColumnSpan="2" Grid.Row="2"/>
        </Grid>
    </Border>

    <ControlTemplate.Triggers>
        <MultiTrigger>
            <MultiTrigger.Conditions>
                <Condition Property="ResizeMode" Value="CanResizeWithGrip"/>
                <Condition Property="WindowState" Value="Normal"/>
            </MultiTrigger.Conditions>
            <Setter Property="Visibility" TargetName="WindowResizeGrip" Value="Visible"/>
        </MultiTrigger>
    </ControlTemplate.Triggers>
</ControlTemplate>