How to: Aid Usability of a TextBox Using a Background Image
The following example shows how to aid usability of a TextBox by displaying an explanatory background image inside of the TextBox until the user inputs text, at which point the image is removed. In addition, the background image is restored again if the user removes their input. See illustration below.
.png "A TextBox with a background image")
Note
The reason a background image is used in this example rather then simply manipulating the Text property of TextBox, is that a background image will not interfere with data binding.
Example
<Page
xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
x:Class="SDKSample.TextBoxBackgroundExample"
>
<StackPanel>
<TextBox Name="myTextBox" TextChanged="OnTextBoxTextChanged" Width="200">
<TextBox.Background>
<ImageBrush ImageSource="TextBoxBackground.gif" AlignmentX="Left" Stretch="None" />
</TextBox.Background>
</TextBox>
</StackPanel>
</Page>
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
namespace SDKSample
{
public partial class TextBoxBackgroundExample : Page
{
void OnTextBoxTextChanged(object sender, TextChangedEventArgs e)
{
if (myTextBox.Text == "")
{
// Create an ImageBrush.
ImageBrush textImageBrush = new ImageBrush();
textImageBrush.ImageSource =
new BitmapImage(
new Uri(@"TextBoxBackground.gif", UriKind.Relative)
);
textImageBrush.AlignmentX = AlignmentX.Left;
textImageBrush.Stretch = Stretch.None;
// Use the brush to paint the button's background.
myTextBox.Background = textImageBrush;
}
else
{
myTextBox.Background = null;
}
}
}
}