How to: Use a ResourceDictionary to Manage Localizable String Resources

This example shows how to use a ResourceDictionary to package localizable string resources for Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) applications.

To use a ResourceDictionary to manage localizable string resources

1. Create a ResourceDictionary file in the root of your project named StringResources.xaml that contains the strings you would like to localize. The following code shows an example.

   <ResourceDictionary 
     xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
     xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
     xmlns:system="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">
     
     <!-- String resource that can be localized -->
     <system:String x:Key="localizedMessage">en-US Message</system:String>
     
   </ResourceDictionary>
   

   This code defines a string resource, localizedMessage, of type String, from the System namespace in mscorlib.dll.

2. Add the ResourceDictionary to your application, using the following code.

   <Application.Resources>
     <ResourceDictionary>
       <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
         <ResourceDictionary Source="StringResources.xaml" />
       </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
     </ResourceDictionary>
   </Application.Resources>
   

3. Use the string resource from markup, using Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) like the following.

   <!-- Declarative use of string resource from StringResources.xaml resource dictionary -->
   <TextBox DockPanel.Dock="Top" Text="{StaticResource localizedMessage}" />
   

4. Use the string resource from code-behind, using code like the following.

   // Programmatic use of string resource from StringResources.xaml resource dictionary
   string localizedMessage = (string)Application.Current.FindResource("localizedMessage");
   MessageBox.Show(localizedMessage);
   

   ' Programmatic use of string resource from StringResources.xaml resource dictionary
   Dim localizedMessage As String = CStr(Application.Current.FindResource("localizedMessage"))
   MessageBox.Show(localizedMessage)
   

5. Localize the application. For more information, see Localize an Application.