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WatermarkedTextBox Class

[This topic is pre-release documentation and is subject to change in future releases. Blank topics are included as placeholders.]

A specialized TextBox that displays a customizable "watermark" whenever its contents are empty and it does not have the focus.

Namespace:  System.Windows.Controls
Assembly:  System.Windows.Controls.Extended (in System.Windows.Controls.Extended.dll)

C#
C++
JScript
VB
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[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "Focused State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "Normal Watermarked State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "Disabled State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "Disabled Watermarked State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "RootElement", Type = typeof(FrameworkElement))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "MouseOver Watermarked State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "WatermarkElement", Type = typeof(ContentControl))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "Normal State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
[TemplatePartAttribute(Name = "MouseOver State", Type = typeof(Storyboard))]
public class WatermarkedTextBox : TextBox

The watermark is typically text that indicates the purpose of the TextBox. For example, a text box might display the text "Search" until the user enters a search term.

A watermark does not have to be a String. Any object that derives from UIElement can be used. For example, an empty WatermarkedTextBox might display an image or a TextBlock with customized properties.

The following XAML creates a page with two WatermarkedTextBox controls. The first WatermarkedTextBox control uses a simple text watermark and the second uses a control as a watermark.

XAML
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<UserControl x:Class="WatermarkedTextBoxExample.Page"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/client/2007" 
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" 
        Width="400"
        Height="300"
        >

    <Canvas x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="White">
        <!-- Explanatory labels. -->
        <TextBlock Text="WatermarkedTextBox Demonstration" Margin="0,20,10,20"
            FontFamily="Verdana" FontSize="18" FontWeight="Bold"
            Foreground="#FF5C9AC9" Canvas.Left="20" Canvas.Top="0"/>

        <TextBlock Canvas.Top="60" Canvas.Left="20" Text="WatermarkedTextBox with a simple text watermark:" />
        <TextBlock Canvas.Top="140" Canvas.Left="20" Text="WatermarkedTextBox with a Button as a watermark:" />


        <!-- A TextBox with a simple text watermark. -->
        <WatermarkedTextBox Watermark="This is a watermark." 
                            Canvas.Top="90" Canvas.Left="20" 
                            Height="30" Width="200"/>

        <!-- A TextBox with a custom watermark. -->
        <!-- Any UIElement can serve as a watermark. -->
        <WatermarkedTextBox Canvas.Top="170" Canvas.Left="20" 
                            Height="75" Width="300">        
            <WatermarkedTextBox.Watermark>
                <Button Height="60" Width="260" Content="This button serves as a watermark, too!" />
            </WatermarkedTextBox.Watermark>
        </WatermarkedTextBox>
    </Canvas>
</UserControl>

Run this sample.

System.Object
  System.Windows.Controls.Control
    System.Windows.Controls.TextBox
      System.Windows.DependencyObject
        System.Windows.FrameworkElement
          System.Windows.UIElement
            System.Windows.Controls.WatermarkedTextBox
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.
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