How can I use an ElementName binding within a ControlTemplate?

Question

I have multiple TextBlocks which reference different elements in my application. My code works fine when used directly in the page. However, I want to create a ControlTemplate

Answer 1

This seems like a funny way to template something, but it can be done, you just have to get a bit fancy with your bindings.

The below will work, but I still dont think this is a good way to template a control

Bind the TextBlock Tag to the actual Element, then in the ControlTemplate bind Tag to Tag and use the values from there as Tag is the Element, you can use any element from it.

<Page.Resources>
    <ControlTemplate x:Key="MyTemplate" TargetType="{x:Type ContentControl}">
        <TextBlock Name="_this" Tag="{TemplateBinding Tag}" Margin="{Binding ElementName=_this, Path=Tag.Margin}" Text="{TemplateBinding Content}" TextAlignment="{Binding ElementName=_this, Path=Tag.TextAlignment}" Width="{Binding ElementName=_this, Path=Tag.Width}" />
    </ControlTemplate>
</Page.Resources>
<StackPanel>
    <TextBlock x:Name="AnotherElement" Margin="10" Text="Main TextBlock" TextAlignment="Center" Width="100" />
    <TextBlock x:Name="AnotherElement2" Margin="20" Text="Second TextBlock" TextAlignment="Left" Width="250" />
    <TextBlock Margin="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement, Path=Margin}" Text="Here is my TextBlock!" TextAlignment="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement, Path=TextAlignment}" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis" Width="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement, Path=Width}" />
    <TextBlock Margin="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement2, Path=Margin}" Text="Here is my Second TextBlock!" TextAlignment="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement2, Path=TextAlignment}" TextTrimming="CharacterEllipsis" Width="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement2, Path=Width}" />
    <ContentControl Content="Hello!" Tag="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement}" Template="{StaticResource MyTemplate}" />
    <ContentControl Content="Hello Again!" Tag="{Binding ElementName=AnotherElement2}" Template="{StaticResource MyTemplate}" />
</StackPanel>