WPF Localization

Remarks#

Content of controls can be localized using Resource files, just as this is possible in classes. For XAML there is a specific syntax, that is different between a C# and a VB application.

The steps are:

For any WPF project: make the resource file public, the default is internal.
For C# WPF projects use the XAML provided in the example
For VB WPF projects use the XAML provided in the example and change the Custom Tool property to PublicVbMyResourcesResXFileCodeGenerator.
To select the Resources.resx file in a VB WPF project:
- Select the project in solution explorer
- Select “Show all files”
- Expand My Project

XAML for VB

<Window x:Class="MainWindow"
    xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:d="https://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="https://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
    xmlns:my="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1.My.Resources"
    mc:Ignorable="d"
    Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
    <StackPanel>
        <Label Content="{Binding Source={x:Static my:Resources.MainWindow_Label_Country}}" />
    </StackPanel>
</Grid>

Properties for the resource file in VB

By default the Custom Tool property for a VB resource file is VbMyResourcesResXFileCodeGenerator. However, with this code generator the view (XAML) will not be able to access the resources. To solve this problem add Public before the Custom Tool property value.

To select the Resources.resx file in a VB WPF project:

Select the project in solution explorer
Select “Show all files”
Expand “My Project”

XAML for C#

<Window x:Class="WpfApplication2.MainWindow"
    xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:d="https://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
    xmlns:mc="https://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
    xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication2"
    xmlns:resx="clr-namespace:WpfApplication2.Properties"
    mc:Ignorable="d"
    Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
    <StackPanel>
        <Label Content="{Binding Source={x:Static resx:Resources.MainWindow_Label_Country}}"/>
    </StackPanel>
</Grid>

Make the resources public

Open the resource file by double clicking it. Change the Access Modifier to “Public”.