#75 – Sometimes You Must Use Property Element Syntax

In many cases, you can set a property value in XAML using a string value, even though the property being set is a more complex object.  (E.g. Setting Background property to new instance of SolidColorBrush just by indicating color of brush as a string).

But there are cases when the property that you want to set cannot be set using a simple string.  In these cases, you must use the property element syntax.

As an example, you can have a context menu pop up when a button is right-clicked by setting the button’s ContextMenu property.  A context menu can not be described using only a string value, so you must use property element syntax:

<Button Name="btnClick" Content="Click Me" Height="23" Width="75">
    <Button.ContextMenu>
        <ContextMenu>
            <MenuItem Header="Open"/>
            <MenuItem Header="Save"/>
        </ContextMenu>
    </Button.ContextMenu>
</Button>