return to previous window on WPF

Question

I\'m new to WPF and couldn\'t find an answer to to this issue:

I have 3 windows I want to navigate between- MainWindow -> Window1 -> Window2

Answer 1

Change the way you show your windows like this:

private void Window1_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    Hide();
    new Window1().ShowDialog();
    ShowDialog();
}

And use the DialogResult property to hide your windows (except the main window):

private void btn_Cancel_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
    DialogResult = false;
}

Answer 2

Here is an example of a navigation service class that holds a stack of navigated windows.

public static class NavigationService
{
    static NavigationService()
    {
        NavigationStack.Push(Application.Current.MainWindow);
    } 

    private static readonly Stack<Window> NavigationStack = new Stack<Window>();

    public static void NavigateTo(Window win)
    {
        if(NavigationStack.Count > 0)
            NavigationStack.Peek().Hide();

        NavigationStack.Push(win);
        win.Show();
    }

    public static bool NavigateBack()
    {
        if (NavigationStack.Count <= 1)
            return false;

        NavigationStack.Pop().Hide();
        NavigationStack.Peek().Show();
        return true;
    }

    public static bool CanNavigateBack()
    {
        return NavigationStack.Count > 1;
    }
}

You can use it from your views' code behind :

    public void OnNextClicked(object sender, EventArgs args)
    {
        NavigationService.NavigateTo(new Window2());
    }

    public void OnPreviousClicked(object sender, EventArgs args)
    {
        NavigationService.NavigateBack();
    }

The static constructor adds the main view started from your App.xaml StartupUri to the navigation stack as the initial view.

If your application has a growing complexity you may also have a look at tools such as prism navigation system.