I've search high and low and can't find an answer to this. I have two questions

1. How do you create an array or collection in XAML. I've got an array I want to stick in there and bind to a combo box. My first idea was to put an ItemsControl in a resource dictionary, but the ItemsSource of a combo box expects IEnumerable so that didn't work.

Here's what I've tried in my resource dictionary and neither works

<ItemsControl x:Key="stateList">
    <sys:String>AL</sys:String>
    <sys:String>CA</sys:String>
    <sys:String>CN</sys:String>
</ItemsControl>
<ItemsControl x:Key="stateList2">
    <ComboBoxItem>AL</ComboBoxItem>
    <ComboBoxItem>CA</ComboBoxItem>
    <ComboBoxItem>CN</ComboBoxItem>
</ItemsControl>

and here's how I bind to it

<ComboBox SelectedValue="{Binding Path=State}" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource stateList2}}"  >

                    </ComboBox>

EDIT: UPDATED

I got this first part to work this way

 <col:ArrayList x:Key="stateList3">
    <sys:String>AL</sys:String>
    <sys:String>CA</sys:String>
    <sys:String>CN</sys:String>
</col:ArrayList>

However, I'd rather not use an array list, I'd like to use a generic list so if anyone knows how please let me know.

EDIT UPDATE: I guess XAML has very limited support for generics so maybe an array list is the best I can do for now, but I would still like help on the second question if anyone has an anser

2nd. I've tried referencing a merged resource dictionary in my XAML and had problems because under Window.resources I had more than just the dictionary so it required me to add x:Key. Once I add the key, the system can no longer find the items in my resource dictionary. I had to move the merged dictionary to Grid.Resources instead. Ideally I'd like to reference the merged dictionary in the app.xaml but I have the same problem

Here's some sample code. This first part required an x:key to compile because I have converter and it complained that every item must have a key if there is more than one

<UserControl.Resources>
    <win:BooleanToVisibilityConverter x:Key="VisibilityConverter" />
    <ResourceDictionary>
        <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
            <ResourceDictionary Source="/ResourcesD.xaml" />
        </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
    </ResourceDictionary>
</UserControl.Resources>

I had to change it to this

<UI:BaseStep.Resources>
    <win:BooleanToVisibilityConverter x:Key="VisibilityConverter" />             
</UI:BaseStep.Resources>
<Grid>
    <Grid.Resources>
        <ResourceDictionary>
            <ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
                <ResourceDictionary Source="/ResourcesD.xaml" />
            </ResourceDictionary.MergedDictionaries>
        </ResourceDictionary>
    </Grid.Resources>
</Grid>

Thank you