Troubles with creating custom theme based on existing

[Лена]

Hello! 

I'm trying to create custom theme based on Windows8 theme. I did everything as it said in the topic http://docs.telerik.com/devtools/silverlight/styling-and-appearance/stylemanager/creating-a-custom-theme/common-styling-apperance-themes-custom-theme-project.html

1. I've created Silverlight Class Library project with "Themes" folder

2. I've copied xaml files from "Themes" folder of Windows8 theme. I want to create a copy of Windows8 theme and modify it later, so I've copied all of files.

3. I've created "General.xaml" file with code like this

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">
    <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        <ResourceDictionary Source="/SomeDefaultTheme;component/Themes/Controls.Chart.xaml" />
        <ResourceDictionary Source="/SomeDefaultTheme;component/Themes/Controls.Data.xaml" />
        <!--and so on-->
    </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
</ResourceDictionary>

 4. I've created theme class

public class SomeDefaultTheme : Telerik.Windows.Controls.Theme
    {
        public SomeDefaultTheme()
        {
            this.Source = new Uri("/SomeDefaultTheme;component/Themes/Generic.xaml", UriKind.Relative);
        }
    }

5. I've attached my theme to my application using StyleManager

telerik:StyleManager.Theme="{Binding Path=CurrentTheme, Source={StaticResource userInterfaceStyles}}"

 But I have no effect. If I apply styles of standart theme, I see changes, but if I use my custom theme, nothing happends. 

 

Also, I have strange error in General.xaml. The root "ResourceDictionary" element is underlined and I see an error "Element is already the child of another element". 

I've tried to attach project code, but I can't attach an archive. 

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

        <ResourceDictionary Source="/ITPSDefaultTheme;component/Themes/Controls.Chart.xaml" />

        <!--and others-->

    </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

</ResourceDictionary>

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"

    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

        <ResourceDictionary Source="/ITPSDefaultTheme;component/Themes/Controls.Chart.xaml" />

        <!--and others-->

    </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

</ResourceDictionary>

[Masha]

Hi Lena,

We generally recommend utilizing an implicit styles(NoXaml binaries) approach for creating custom themes. If you include all default styles in your application, you can create custom styles based on them and only change those elements that don't fit in the overall look of your application. I've attached a sample project demonstrating this approach.

I hope this helps.

Regards,
Masha
Telerik

[Лена]

Hi Masha! 

Thank you, looks like it helped! 

I've done following:

1. To MergedDictionary block I've added links to windows8 resource dictionaries. Likt this:

<ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        <ResourceDictionary Source="/CustomWindows8Theme;component/Styles/Telerik.Windows.Controls.Navigation.xaml"/>
        <ResourceDictionary Source="/Telerik.Windows.Themes.Windows8;component/Themes/Telerik.Windows.Controls.Docking.xaml"/>
</ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

2. StyleManager example from my post doesn't work well. So I used such code

public App()
        {
            ...
            StyleManager.ApplicationTheme = new ITPSDefaultTheme();
            InitializeComponent();
        }

in App.xaml.cs

3. I've forgot BasedOn property in my styles. The right syntax is: 

<Style TargetType="telerikNavigation:RadToolBar" BasedOn="{StaticResource RadToolBarStyle}" >

 

And now it works! :)