WPF Merged ResourceDictionary with resource that binds to resource in another Dictionary not working

Question

I have created a simple project that demonstrates the issue I am having where I get the error: 'Provide value on 'System.Windows.Markup.StaticResourceHolder' threw an exception.' Line number '6' and line position '9'.

The project layout is very simple and I have uploaded it to dropbox: https://www.dropbox.com/s/451b5zkw8oqgcld/StyleTest1.zip?dl=0

MainWindow.xaml

<Window x:Class="StyleTest1.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
    <Window.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary1.xaml" />
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary2.xaml" />
            </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
            <Style x:Key="ButtonStyle1" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
                <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource Button.Static.Background}"/>
            </Style>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Window.Resources>
    <Grid>
        <Button x:Name="button" Content="Button" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="75" Style="{DynamicResource ButtonStyle1}">

        </Button>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Dictionary1.xaml

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:po="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation/options"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <GradientStopCollection po:Freeze="true" x:Key="ButtonBackgroundStops">
        <GradientStop Color="#2d2d2f"/>
        <GradientStop Color="#2d2d2f" Offset="1"/>
    </GradientStopCollection>

    <LinearGradientBrush
        po:Freeze="true"    
        x:Key="ButtonBackgroundBrush"           
        GradientStops="{StaticResource ButtonBackgroundStops}"  
        StartPoint="0.5,-0.05"  
        EndPoint="0.5,0.66" />

</ResourceDictionary>

Dictionary2.xaml

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <LinearGradientBrush 
        x:Key="Button.Static.Background" 
        GradientStops="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=GradientStops}" 
        StartPoint="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=StartPoint}" 
        EndPoint="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=EndPoint}"/>

</ResourceDictionary>

And that's it... if I run that program I get the error: 'Provide value on 'System.Windows.Markup.StaticResourceHolder' threw an exception.' Line number '6' and line position '9'.

However, if I alter MainWindow.xaml to the following I no longer get the issue: Here is the dropbox link for the modified version: https://www.dropbox.com/s/ceikh5b8cfecdkw/StyleTest2.zip?dl=0

MainWindow.xaml

<Window x:Class="StyleTest2.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:StyleTest2"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
    <Window.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary1.xaml" />
                <ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary2.xaml" />
            </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
            <LinearGradientBrush 
                x:Key="Button.Static.Background" 
                GradientStops="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=GradientStops}" 
                StartPoint="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=StartPoint}" />
            <Style x:Key="ButtonStyle1" TargetType="{x:Type Button}">
                <Setter Property="Background" Value="{DynamicResource Button.Static.Background}"/>
            </Style>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Window.Resources>
    <Grid>
        <Button x:Name="button" Content="Button" HorizontalAlignment="Left" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="75" Style="{DynamicResource ButtonStyle1}">

        </Button>
    </Grid>
</Window>

Which would suggest it is a problem with the LinearGradientBrush in Dictionary2.xaml binding to the ButtonBackgroundBrush resource that is located in Dictionary1.xaml.

Can anyone tell me what I am doing wrong here and what is the correct way to have a resource in one dictionary reference a resource in another dictionary?

Thanks for your time,

codeOwl

Answer 1

1. Use DynamicResource in-place of StaticResource in Dictionary2,

   or

2. Merge Dictionary 1 in Dictionary2, then there won't be any issues.

Dictionary2 will look like :

<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
                    xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml">

    <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        <ResourceDictionary Source="Dictionary1.xaml"/>
    </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>

    <LinearGradientBrush 
        x:Key="Button.Static.Background" 
        GradientStops="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=GradientStops}" 
        StartPoint="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=StartPoint}" 
        EndPoint="{Binding Source={StaticResource ButtonBackgroundBrush}, Path=EndPoint}"/>

</ResourceDictionary>