Manually instantiate a DataTemplate?

Question

Is it possible to use a data template for a single item with no ListBox or other items control?

I have a datatemplate that I want to instantiate in xaml, not in a list, just within a border, and set its datacontext.

Something like (pseudo):

<Window DataContext="{StaticResource Contact}">
    <!--
        Here I want to show a ContactTemplate for a single Contact
        as it would appear in an ItemsControl (ListBox etc.)
    -->
    <src:ContactTemplate Source="{Binding}"/>
</Window>

Dangerfield

Answer 1

You can set the ContentTemplate of a ContentControl to a DataTemplate. Is that what you're looking for?

Kilpatrick

To spell it out more explicitly: <ContentControl Content="{Binding}" ContentTemplate="{StaticResource ContactTemplate}" />. – Christianly

Thank you for the respelling, it was indeed necessary. – Dangerfield

Is ContentConrol->ContentTempate the thinnest type to which I can apply DataTemplate? – Lundberg

Actually, a ContentPresenter is. And if your DataTemplate is specified solely with a DataType and not a key, you don't even have to specify the template on the ContentPresenter. It's implicit. This is actually how ItemsControld already work. They use a ContentPresenter as part of their ContainerItem's ControlTemplate. It's the ContentPresenter that's actually doing the template-related work. – Inflation