Using an Array declared in a XAML resource

Question

My goal is to retrieve an ObservableCollection<Color> out of a XAML resource file, but I'm using .NET 3.5 so I can't directly declare the generic type in XAML. My current solutions is to declare a Color array in XAML:

<x:Array Type="Color" x:Key="ColourPickerStandardColours">
    <Color>#974806</Color>
    <Color>#FF0000</Color>
    <Color>#FFC000</Color>
    ...
    <Color>#7030A0</Color>
</x:Array>

and retrieve it in code:

var standardColours = new ObservableCollection<Color>(
    (Color[])TryFindResource("ColourPickerStandardColours"));

When I try to run this though, I get this exception:

InvalidCastException
Unable to cast object of type 'System.Windows.Markup.ArrayExtension' to type
    'System.Windows.Media.Color[]'.

ArrayExtension has IList Items, but I need the generic IEnumerable<T> to construct an ObservableCollection<T>. I think I could use ProvideValue(IServiceProvider), but I'm not sure what I should pass to it.

Am I doing something wrong, or just missing something obvious?

...And I feel like an idiot now. Thanks. If you want to post it as an answer I'll accept it. — TheEvilPenguin
– TheEvilPenguin, Commented Dec 13, 2012 at 21:45

Anton Tykhyy · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-14 00:08:38Z

4

WPF uses an untyped collection there. Just use Items.Cast<Color> ().

answered Dec 14, 2012 at 0:08

Anton Tykhyy

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Comments

James L · Accepted Answer · 2012-12-13 21:49:18Z

-1

Cast to ArrayExtension, and your values are in the Items property

answered Dec 13, 2012 at 21:49

James L

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3 Comments

TheEvilPenguin Over a year ago

Unfortunately I need a generic collection to construct the ObservableCollection, and Items is just IList. Anton Tykhyy was correct with .Cast<Color>().

James L Over a year ago

@TheEvilPenguin why do you need a generic collection? You don't even need to load into an ObservableCollection. You can bind to the IList directly - it isn't going to change.

TheEvilPenguin Over a year ago

The control I'm using takes an ObservableCollection<ColorItem> (ColorItem is easy to construct from Color). I included notes about why I couldn't use .Items in the question, but didn't think I would need to go into massive detail describing the reasons behind my requirements.

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