Add an image in a WPF button

Question

I tried this solution:

<Button>
    <StackPanel>
        <Image Source="Pictures/img.jpg" />
        <TextBlock>Blablabla</TextBlock>
    </StackPanel>
</Button>

But I can see the image only in the project window, and when I launch the program it disappears.

If I try this:

  Image img = new Image();
  img.Source = new BitmapImage(new Uri("foo.png"));

  StackPanel stackPnl = new StackPanel();
  stackPnl.Orientation = Orientation.Horizontal;
  stackPnl.Margin = new Thickness(10);
  stackPnl.Children.Add(img);

  Button btn = new Button();
  btn.Content = stackPnl;

I get a "'System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException' in PresentationFramework.dll" exception.

What is the solution?

Answer 1

Please try the below XAML snippet:

<Button Width="300" Height="50">
  <StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
    <Image Source="Pictures/img.jpg" Width="20" Height="20"/>
    <TextBlock Text="Blablabla" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
  </StackPanel>
</Button>

In XAML elements are in a tree structure. So you have to add the child control to its parent control. The below code snippet also works fine. Give a name for your XAML root grid as 'MainGrid'.

Image img = new Image();
img.Source = new BitmapImage(new Uri(@"foo.png"));

StackPanel stackPnl = new StackPanel();
stackPnl.Orientation = Orientation.Horizontal;
stackPnl.Margin = new Thickness(10);
stackPnl.Children.Add(img);

Button btn = new Button();
btn.Content = stackPnl;
MainGrid.Children.Add(btn);

Answer 2

Try ContentTemplate:

<Button Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="0" Width="20" Height="20"
        Template="{StaticResource SomeTemplate}">
    <Button.ContentTemplate>
        <DataTemplate>
            <Image Source="../Folder1/Img1.png" Width="20" />
        </DataTemplate>
    </Button.ContentTemplate>
</Button>

Answer 3

In the case of a 'missing' image there are several things to consider:

1. When XAML can't locate a resource it might ignore it (when it won't throw a XamlParseException)

2. The resource must be properly added and defined:

   • Make sure it exists in your project where expected.

   • Make sure it is built with your project as a resource.

     (Right click → Properties → BuildAction='Resource')

Another thing to try in similar cases, which is also useful for reusing of the image (or any other resource):

Define your image as a resource in your XAML:

<UserControl.Resources>
     <Image x:Key="MyImage" Source.../>
</UserControl.Resources>

And later use it in your desired control(s):

<Button Content="{StaticResource MyImage}" />

Answer 4

I found that I also had to set the Access Modifier in the Resources tab to 'Public' - by default it was set to Internal and my icon only appeared in design mode but not when I ran the application.

Answer 5

Use:

<Button Height="100" Width="100">
  <StackPanel>
    <Image Source="img.jpg" />
    <TextBlock Text="Blabla" />
  </StackPanel>
</Button>

It should work. But remember that you must have an image added to the resource on your project!

Answer 6

You can set the button's background to the image if you then want to overlay text.

<Button>
   <Button.Background>
     <ImageBrush ImageSource="/AssemblyName;component/Pictures/img.jpg"/>
   </Button.Background>
   <TextBlock>Blablabla</TextBlock>
</Button>

Watch out for the image source syntax. See this question for help.