Program crashes on startup with ImageBrush

Question

I'm trying to create a very simple window with an ImageBrush background in Visual Studio 2013 as a test for a more complex project. The image shows up in the designer, but the program crashes when I start it up. Here's the XAML:

<Window x:Class="BackgroundTest.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">
    <Grid Name="grid1">
        <Grid.Background>
            <ImageBrush ImageSource="/Images\Koala.jpg" Stretch="Fill"/>
        </Grid.Background>
    </Grid>
</Window>

And the basically empty C# (like I said, just a test):

using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;

namespace BackgroundTest
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class MainWindow : Window
    {
        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
    }
}

I'm positive it has something to do with the ImageBrush, if I delete that part of the XAML the program will run a blank window as expected. Can anyone help me get this running?

Here's the debug output: A first chance exception of type 'System.Windows.Markup.XamlParseException' occurred in PresentationFramework.dll

Additional information: 'Provide value on 'System.Windows.Baml2006.TypeConverterMarkupExtension' threw an exception.' Line number '7' and line position '14'.

Answer 1

Got it! I added the image to the program's resources by right-clicking the solution name in the solution explorer -> Properties -> Resources -> Add Resource -> Add Existing file and selecting the picture of the Koala. I changed the code in the XAML to:

ImageSource="Resources/Koala.jpg"

Taking Eric's advice I clicked on Resources in the Solution explorer, and sure enough the picture was there and I was able to change the build action to Resource. After that it worked perfectly, thanks Eric! I'll check your answer as soon as I have enough reputation. I'm fairly new to stack overflow.

Answer 2

The build action of your image may be set to Content. Change it to be a Resource instead.

Answer 3

You have a backslash in your image source...

Assuming that Images is a folder in your solution your image source should be:

Source="../Images/Koala.jpg"

Or even better:

Source="pack://application:,,,/Images/Koala.jpg"

Answer 4

Had the same problem. Right click on the image and select properties change the Build Action to Resource and save your project.