Question

How can I customize the menu to the situation in WPF?
I have a main window with a basic menu. In this window, I can load different UserControls and then I want the menu to be expanded with different menu options depending on which User Control is used.

Example:

Main menu:
File
   Open
   -
   MRU
   -
   Exit


For viewing of UserControl 1:
File
   Open
   Edit
   -
   MRU
   -
   Exit

For viewing of UserControl 2:
File
   Open
   Edit
   -
   MRU
   -
   Exit
View
   Show codes
   Show capital letters

In Editing
File
   Open
   Save
   Save as...
   -
   MRU
   -
   Exit
Edit
   Add
   Remove
   Move
   -
   Cancle Edit

Answer 1

I would bind the menu to a Collection, and have the different UserControls alter the Collection when loaded.

EDIT – Here’s an example

Your main View would contain something like this

<Menu ItemsSource="{Binding Path=CurrentUserControl.MenuItems}">
    <Menu.Resources>
        <Style TargetType="{x:Type MenuItem}">
            <Setter Property="Header" Value="{Binding MenuItemText}" />
            <Setter Property="Command" Value="{Binding MenuItemCommand}" />
            <Setter Property="CommandParameter" Value="{Binding MenuItemCommandParameter}" />
        </Style>
    </Menu.Resources>
</Menu>

While each UserControl would contain a Collection property of the MenuItems you would like to display

public class MenuItem
{
    public string MenuItemText {get; set;}
    public ICommand MenuItemCommand {get; set;}
    public object MenuItemCommandParameter {get; set;}
}

…

public ObservableCollection<MenuItem> MenuItems;