Copy and paste commands with WPF buttons

Question

I have created a toolbar that has buttons.

Of the buttons 3 of them are cut copy and paste. I set the command of each of those buttons to cut copy and paste on the properties but when I go run the program none of the buttons are even clickable. Are they disabled I'm guessing? I'm trying to copy and paste from textbox to textbox in a tabcontrol. Any help is appreciated.

<Style TargetType="{x:Type Button}" x:Key="textBoxCommands">
  <Setter Property="Content" 
          Value="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}, 
                          Path=Command.Text}" />
  <Setter Property="CommandTarget" 
          Value="{Binding ElementName=textBox}" />
</Style>

<Button x:Name="btnCut" 
        Click="btnCut_Click">
  <Image Source="Icons/Cut.png" ToolTip="Cut" />
</Button>
<Button x:Name="btnCopy" 
        Click="btnCopy_Click" 
        Command="ApplicationCommands.Copy"
        Style="{StaticResource textBoxCommands}">
  <Image Source="Icons/Copy.png" ToolTip="Copy" />
</Button>
<Button x:Name="btnPaste" 
        Click="btnPaste_Click" 
        Command="ApplicationCommands.Paste"
        Style="{StaticResource textBoxCommands}" > 
  <Image Source="Icons/Paste.png" ToolTip="Paste" />
</Button>

Answer 1

You can’t use command this way! The Command (in the way you use it) should be inside a Menu or Toolbar.
By the way, you don’t need those click event handler since you are going to use Commands!
I recommend you to try add DelegateCommand to the ViewModel and let that delegate call ApplicationCommads.

I highly recommend you to read this http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd419663.aspx
But as a quick solution for you try the following (important: remember that you need to have some text selected in your TextBox then Copy and Cut will be enabled):

<StackPanel  HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top">

  <ToolBar>
    <Button Content="Cut" Command="ApplicationCommands.Cut" Height="23" Width="75"/>
    <Button Content="Copy" Command="ApplicationCommands.Copy" Height="23" Width="75"/>
    <Button Content="Paste" Command="ApplicationCommands.Paste" Height="23" Width="75"/>
  </ToolBar>

  <TextBox Height="23" Name="textBox1" Width="120"/>

</StackPanel>

Answer 2

For the purpose you are trying to achieve I would suggest using a togglebutton.

Also the button would be clickable as and when they are supposed to. For example

• Paste button gets clickable only when there is something to paste.
• Cut/Copy Button gets clickable when there something selected in RTB.

Have a look at all the ApplicationCommands at msdn. You can implement them as easily as:

<ToggleButton x:Name="PasteBtn" Command="ApplicationCommands.Paste"/>
<ToggleButton x:Name="CutBtn"   Command="ApplicationCommands.Cut"/>
<ToggleButton x:Name="CopyBtn"  Command="ApplicationCommands.Copy"/>