WPF C# / VB.NET Additional (fourth) button on window titlebar (Aero only!)

• Download binary only - 81.2 KB
• Download source in C#.NET (VS2008) + binary - 213.4 KB
• Download source in VB.NET (VS2008) + binary - 237.4 KB

Introduction

This code demonstrates how you can easily add an additional button (such as Help "?" button) to WPF Window titlebar.

Attention: this code works properly in Windows Vista, 7, 8, 8.1 only, and if Aero theme (or its equivalent theme, so as standart theme in Windows 8 or in Window 7 Home Basic) is enabled.

Prepaire your Project

Add reference to Microsoft.Windows.Shell.dll to your WPF Project.

Window XAML code

<Window x:Class="!!!PLEASE_PASTE_YOUR_NAMESPACE!!!.Window1"
    xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
    xmlns:shell="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Windows.Shell;assembly=Microsoft.Windows.Shell"
    Title="Window1" Height="300" Width="300">

    <Window.Style>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type Window}">
            <Setter Property="shell:WindowChrome.WindowChrome">
                <Setter.Value>
                    <shell:WindowChrome />
                </Setter.Value>
            </Setter>
            <Setter Property="Template">
                <Setter.Value>
                    <ControlTemplate TargetType="{x:Type Window}">
                        <Grid>
                            <!-- window background (covers black) -->
                            <Border Background="White" Margin="{Binding Source={x:Static shell:SystemParameters2.Current}, Path=WindowNonClientFrameThickness}">
                                <ContentPresenter Content="{TemplateBinding Content}" />
                            </Border>
                            <!-- fouth button! -->
                            <Button Name="btnHelp" Focusable="False" Height="25" HorizontalAlignment="Right" Margin="0,0,120,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="40" shell:WindowChrome.IsHitTestVisibleInChrome="True">?</Button>
                        </Grid>
                    </ControlTemplate>
                </Setter.Value>
            </Setter>
        </Style>
    </Window.Style>

    <Grid>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Window code-behind code in C#.NET

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;

namespace CSHARP_Additional__fourth__button_on_window_frame
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for Window1.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class Window1 : Window
    {
        public Window1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        public override void OnApplyTemplate()
        {
            var oDep = GetTemplateChild("btnHelp");
            if (oDep != null)
            {
                ((Button)oDep).Click += this.btnHelp_Click;
            }

            base.OnApplyTemplate();
        }

        private void btnHelp_Click(System.Object sender, System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            MessageBox.Show("Help", "", MessageBoxButton.OK, MessageBoxImage.Information);
        }

        //=======================================================
        //Service provided by Telerik (www.telerik.com)
        //Conversion powered by NRefactory.
        //Twitter: @telerik
        //Facebook: facebook.com/telerik
        //=======================================================
    }
}

Window code-behind code in VB.NET

Class Window1 

    Public Overrides Sub OnApplyTemplate()
        Dim oDep = GetTemplateChild("btnHelp")
        If oDep IsNot Nothing Then
            AddHandler CType(oDep, Button).Click, AddressOf Me.btnHelp_Click
        End If

        MyBase.OnApplyTemplate()
    End Sub

    Private Sub btnHelp_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.Windows.RoutedEventArgs)
        MessageBox.Show("Help", _
                        "", _
                        MessageBoxButton.OK, _
                        MessageBoxImage.Information)
    End Sub

End Class