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.NET Framework 4
InputBinding Class
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Microsoft Visual Studio 2010/.NET Framework 4

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
InputBinding Class

Represents a binding between an InputGesture and a command. The command is potentially a RoutedCommand.

Namespace:  System.Windows.Input
Assembly:  PresentationCore (in PresentationCore.dll)
XMLNS for XAML: http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation, http://schemas.microsoft.com/netfx/2007/xaml/presentation
Visual Basic (Declaration)
Public Class InputBinding _
    Inherits Freezable _
    Implements ICommandSource
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As InputBinding
C#
public class InputBinding : Freezable, 
    ICommandSource
Visual C++
public ref class InputBinding : public Freezable, 
    ICommandSource
F#
type InputBinding =  
    class
        inherit Freezable
        interface ICommandSource
    end
XAML Object Element Usage
<inputBindingDerivedClass…/>

XAML Values

inputBindingDerivedClass

A derived class of InputBinding that supports object element syntax, such as KeyBinding or MouseBinding. See Remarks.

You can specify that user input invokes a command by creating a InputBinding. When the user performs the specified input, the ICommand that is set to the Command property is executed.

You can specify that the InputBinding invokes a command that is defined on an object by creating a binding on the Command, CommandParameter, and CommandTarget properties. This enables you to define a custom command and associate it with user input. For more information, see the second example in the Examples section.

An InputBinding can be defined on a specific object or at the class level by registering a RegisterClassInputBinding with the CommandManager.

The InputBinding class itself does not support XAML usage because it does not expose a public default constructor (there is a default constructor, but it is protected). However, derived classes can expose a public constructor and therefore can set properties on the derived class that are inherited from InputBinding with a XAML usage. Two existing InputBinding-derived classes that can be instantiated in XAML and can set properties in XAML are KeyBinding and MouseBinding. The typical property in WPF programming that is set in XAML and takes one or more InputBinding objects as values is the UIElement..::.InputBindings property.

The following example shows how to use a KeyBinding to bind a KeyGesture to the Open command. When the key gesture is performed, the Open command is invoked.

XAML
<Window.InputBindings>
  <KeyBinding Key="B"
              Modifiers="Control" 
              Command="ApplicationCommands.Open" />
</Window.InputBindings>

The following examples show how to bind a custom command to InputBinding objects. These examples create an application that enables the user to change the background color by performing one of the following actions:

  • Clicking a button.

  • Pressing CTRL+C.

  • Right-clicking a StackPanel (outside the ListBox).

The first example creates a class named SimpleDelegateCommand. This class accepts a delegate so that the object creating the command can define the action that occurs when the command executes. SimpleDelegateCommand also defines properties that specify what key and mouse input invokes the command. GestureKey and GestureModifier specify the keyboard input; MouseGesture specifies the mouse input.

Visual Basic
' Create a class that implements ICommand and accepts a delegate. 
Public Class SimpleDelegateCommand
    Implements ICommand

    ' Specify the keys and mouse actions that invoke the command. 
    Private _GestureKey As Key
    Private _GestureModifier As ModifierKeys
    Private _MouseGesture As MouseAction

    Public Property GestureKey() As Key
        Get
            Return _GestureKey
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As Key)
            _GestureKey = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property GestureModifier() As ModifierKeys
        Get
            Return _GestureModifier
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As ModifierKeys)
            _GestureModifier = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Public Property MouseGesture() As MouseAction
        Get
            Return _MouseGesture
        End Get
        Set(ByVal value As MouseAction)
            _MouseGesture = value
        End Set
    End Property

    Private _executeDelegate As Action(Of Object)

    Public Sub New(ByVal executeDelegate As Action(Of Object))
        _executeDelegate = executeDelegate
    End Sub

    Public Sub Execute(ByVal parameter As Object) _
        Implements ICommand.Execute

        _executeDelegate(parameter)
    End Sub

    Public Function CanExecute(ByVal parameter As Object) As Boolean _
        Implements ICommand.CanExecute

        Return True
    End Function

    Public Event CanExecuteChanged As EventHandler _
        Implements ICommand.CanExecuteChanged
End Class
C#
 // Create a class that implements ICommand and accepts a delegate.
public class SimpleDelegateCommand : ICommand
{
    // Specify the keys and mouse actions that invoke the command. 
    public Key GestureKey { get; set; }
    public ModifierKeys GestureModifier { get; set; }
    public MouseAction MouseGesture { get; set; }

    Action<object> _executeDelegate;

    public SimpleDelegateCommand(Action<object> executeDelegate)
    {
        _executeDelegate = executeDelegate;
    }

    public void Execute(object parameter)
    {
        _executeDelegate(parameter);
    }

    public bool CanExecute(object parameter) { return true; }
    public event EventHandler CanExecuteChanged;
}

The following example creates and initializes the ColorChangeCommand, which is a SimpleDelegateCommand. The example also defines the method that executes when the command is invoked and sets the GestureKey, GestureModifier, and MouseGesture properties. An application would call the InitializeCommand method when the program begins, such as in the constructor of a Window.

Visual Basic
Public ReadOnly Property ChangeColorCommand() As SimpleDelegateCommand
    Get
        Return _changeColorCommand
    End Get
End Property

Private _changeColorCommand As SimpleDelegateCommand
Private originalColor As Brush, alternateColor As Brush

Private Sub InitializeCommand()
    originalColor = Me.Background

    _changeColorCommand = New SimpleDelegateCommand(Function(x) Me.ChangeColor(x))

    DataContext = Me
    _changeColorCommand.GestureKey = Key.C
    _changeColorCommand.GestureModifier = ModifierKeys.Control
    _changeColorCommand.MouseGesture = MouseAction.RightClick
End Sub

' Switch the Background color between 
' the original and selected color. 
Private Function ChangeColor(ByVal colorString As Object) As Integer

    If colorString Is Nothing Then
        Return 0
    End If

    Dim newColor As Color = DirectCast(ColorConverter.ConvertFromString(DirectCast(colorString, [String])), Color)

    alternateColor = New SolidColorBrush(newColor)

    If Brush.Equals(Me.Background, originalColor) Then
        Me.Background = alternateColor
    Else
        Me.Background = originalColor
    End If

    Return 0
End Function
C#
public SimpleDelegateCommand ChangeColorCommand
{
    get { return changeColorCommand; }
}

private SimpleDelegateCommand changeColorCommand;

private void InitializeCommand()
{
    originalColor = this.Background;

    changeColorCommand = new SimpleDelegateCommand(x => this.ChangeColor(x));

    DataContext = this;
    changeColorCommand.GestureKey = Key.C;
    changeColorCommand.GestureModifier = ModifierKeys.Control;
    ChangeColorCommand.MouseGesture = MouseAction.RightClick;
}

private Brush originalColor, alternateColor;

// Switch the Background color between
// the original and selected color.
private void ChangeColor(object colorString)
{
    if (colorString == null)
    {
        return;
    }

    Color newColor = 
        (Color)ColorConverter.ConvertFromString((String)colorString);

    alternateColor = new SolidColorBrush(newColor);

    if (this.Background == originalColor)
    {
        this.Background = alternateColor;
    }
    else
    {
        this.Background = originalColor;
    }
}

Finally, the following example creates the user interface. The example adds a KeyBinding and a MouseBinding to a StackPanel that contains a Button and a ListBox. When the user selects an item in the ListBox, he or she can change the color of the background to the selected color. In each case, the CommandParameter property is bound to the selected item in the ListBox, and the Command property is bound to the ColorChangeCommand. The KeyBinding..::.Key, KeyBinding..::.Modifiers, and MouseBinding..::.MouseAction properties are bound to the corresponding properties on the SimpleDelegateCommand class.

XAML
<StackPanel Background="Transparent">
  <StackPanel.InputBindings>

    <KeyBinding Command="{Binding ChangeColorCommand}"
                CommandParameter="{Binding ElementName=colorPicker, Path=SelectedItem}"
                Key="{Binding ChangeColorCommand.GestureKey}"
                Modifiers="{Binding ChangeColorCommand.GestureModifier}"/>

    <MouseBinding Command="{Binding ChangeColorCommand}"
                  CommandParameter="{Binding ElementName=colorPicker, Path=SelectedItem}"
                  MouseAction="{Binding ChangeColorCommand.MouseGesture}"/>

  </StackPanel.InputBindings>

  <Button Content="Change Color" 
          Command="{Binding ChangeColorCommand}" 
          CommandParameter="{Binding ElementName=colorPicker, Path=SelectedItem}">
  </Button>

  <ListBox Name="colorPicker"
           Background="Transparent"
           xmlns:sys="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib">
    <sys:String>Red</sys:String>
    <sys:String>Green</sys:String>
    <sys:String>Blue</sys:String>
    <sys:String>Yellow</sys:String>
    <sys:String>Orange</sys:String>
    <sys:String>Purple</sys:String>
  </ListBox>
</StackPanel>
Any public static (Shared in Visual Basic) members of this type are thread safe. Any instance members are not guaranteed to be thread safe.

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 4, 3.5, 3.0

.NET Framework Client Profile

Supported in: 4
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