How to define a DataTemplate in code?

Question

How can I create a DataTemplate in code (using C#) and then add a control to that DataTemplate?

Answer 1

You can add a control like a TextBlock using a FrameworkElementFactory. Then you can add the TextBlockto the VisualTree of the DataTemplate. Like so:

//Create binding object and set as mode=oneway
Binding binding = new Binding();
binding.Path = new PropertyPath("SomePropertyPathName");
binding.Mode = BindingMode.OneWay;

//get textblock object from factory and set binding
FrameworkElementFactory textElement = new FrameworkElementFactory(typeof(TextBlock));
textElement.SetBinding(TextBlock.TextProperty, binding);

//apply textblock to datatemplate
dataTemplate.VisualTree = textElement;

Answer 2

As far as I know, the only way to create a DataTemplate in Silverlight is to use XamlReader. Basically you would just pass it the XAML as a string and it will give you back a DataTemplate. Byron's solution would apply to WPF but Silverlight (to the best of my knowledge) does not support FrameworkElementFactory.

Scott Morrison: Defining Silverlight DataGrid Columns at Runtime

Take note of option #2 for DataGridTemplateColumn.

Answer 3

Microsoft has a good article over at MSDN: "Data Templating Overview." I would start there.

Update: Eh, scratch that. I read over your requirement for "in code." I'll just leave the link here for whoever might stumble upon this post.