the right way for MVVM pattern implementation - c#

I'm trying to implement the MVVM, so i dont know the following is correct.
It seems that ViewModel is some kind of model of the view, so associations in view shall be shown in ViewModel, in that case there shall be some associations between ViewModels. so by creating some templates for ViewModel Types, it seems the application can work, here is some example code:
ViewModels:
public class SomeVm : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public SomeVm()
{
SomeOtherVm = new SomeOtherVm();
}
public INotifyPropertyChanged SomeOtherVm { set; get; }
private int _a;
public int A
{
set {
_a= value;
B = value;
}
get { return _a; }
}
private int _b;
public int B
{
set
{
_b = value;
OnPropertyChanged("B");
}
get { return _b; }
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
var handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null) handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
public class SomeOtherVm : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private int _c;
public int C
{
set
{
_c = value;
D = value;
}
get { return _c; }
}
private int _d;
public int D
{
set
{
_d = value;
OnPropertyChanged("D");
}
get { return _d; }
}
protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
var handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null) handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
And the View:
<Window
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:wpfApplication1="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="d"
x:Class="WpfApplication1.MainWindow"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Window.Resources>
<wpfApplication1:SomeVm x:Key="SomeVm"/>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type wpfApplication1:SomeVm}">
<StackPanel d:DesignWidth="339" d:DesignHeight="54">
<TextBox HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding A}" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
<TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding B}" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
<ContentPresenter Content="{Binding SomeOtherVm}"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type wpfApplication1:SomeOtherVm}">
<StackPanel d:DesignWidth="339" d:DesignHeight="54">
<TextBox HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding C}" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
<TextBlock HorizontalAlignment="Left" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding D}" VerticalAlignment="Stretch"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
<ContentPresenter Content="{DynamicResource SomeVm}" />
</Grid>
</Window>
in this way all the views can be created in some Resource Dictionaries, so the question is: is it right to use MVVM like this? And if it is, what is the drawbacks?

Usually ViewModel is supposed to be the DataContext for the whole view i.e it should be the entity incharge of providing Data to view to render itself and to listen to UI command, events and property change to interact with the Business Layer (model).
The way you implemented it is you have your VM as a resource and set it as content not DataContext for one contentpresented and for the scenerio you have mentioned it might work well. But you should set VM as the DataContext for the whole view so that all the elements in the view can bind to the properties in the VM to render their state.
In your scenerio, if you have to add one more UI element in you view apart from the ContentPresenter then again you will have to access your resource VM.
So if you set you VM instance as DataContext (like this.DataContext = new ViewModel()) and bind your contentpresenter Content to DataContext of view like Content={Binding} that will be more correct and will help you if you ever want to extend your view. Here is a nice msdn article regarding mvvm implementation http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/gg405484(v=pandp.40).aspx
Thanks

Speaking in terms of ViewModel nesting, this code looks correct at a glance. Bindings you set up in XAML are also correct.
Concerning drawbacks, I would refrain from creating wpfApplication1:SomeVm in window resources. Usually DataContext of the Window is set to an instance of a WindowViewModel, which would in turn hold a reference to SomeVm. Imagine a class like this:
public class WindowViewModel
{
public SomeVM SomeVM{get; set;}
public string Title {get; set;} //other data to bind by window
//...
}
Then, while the window is initialized, DataContext must be set to a ViewModel instance, e.g:
MainWindow.DataContext = new WindowViewModel();
In XAML you'd use bindings again:
<Grid>
<ContentPresenter Content="{Binding SomeVm}" />
</Grid>
I'd also recommend putting your implicit DataTemplates in generic.xaml dictionary, rather then within a window. This way you can reuse these templates in your whole app.
Moreover, it is far better to use a ViewModelBase class implementing common event handling, so that you don't need to reimplement INotifyPropertyChanged. Also try to avoid "magic strings" in property change notification. Be better off using lambda based approach or the new Caller Info Attributes. I'm aware of that your example code is probably simplified, but I'm commenting on it as it is.

Related

INotifyPropertyChanged is implemented but not working

I have an app that uses MVVM pattern and implements INotifyPropertyChanged but it's not working. Basically when I choose a Wine from a list and click 'open', another usercontrol should load with all the details filled in.
I followed along with a pluralsight course and have tried to adapt it and create something of my own. I have gone through the source code of the pluralsight course and stack-overflow questions for many hours and just can't see what I'm missing. Going crazy here.. :(
After alot of searching, I know my databinding is working, because I can force an update to the target like so:
txtWijnNaam.GetBindingExpression(TextBox.TextProperty).UpdateTarget();
I also tried adding the INotifyPropertyChanged to my Wine model class as well as the viewmodel but this didn't work. And it's also not used like this in the working source code of the pluralsight course so shouldn't be necessary.
The viewmodel I'm using:
class WineDetailViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
private readonly string _baseUri = "https://localhost/api/wines";
private IEventAggregator _eventAggregator;
public WineDetailViewModel()
{
_eventAggregator = EventAggregatorSingleton.Instance;
_eventAggregator.GetEvent<OpenWineDetailViewEvent>().Subscribe(OnOpenWineDetailView);
}
private void OnOpenWineDetailView(int wineId)
{
_wine = ApiHelper.GetApiResult<Wine>($"{ _baseUri}/{wineId}");
}
private Wine _wine;
public Wine WineFull
{
get { return _wine; }
set
{
_wine = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
And the base class it inherits from, implementing the INotifyPropertyChanged interface:
class ViewModelBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName]string propertyName = null)
{
PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
Part of my Xaml file, I tried setting updateSourceTrigger like I saw on some answers here but this didn't help either:
<UserControl x:Class="WineGUI.View.WineDetailView"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
xmlns:d="http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WineGUI.View"
xmlns:ViewModels="clr-namespace:WineGUI.ViewModel"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="450" d:DesignWidth="800">
<UserControl.DataContext>
<ViewModels:WineDetailViewModel/>
</UserControl.DataContext>
<StackPanel>
<Grid Margin="5">
<TextBlock Text="Naam :" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
<TextBox Grid.Column="1" Name="txtWijnNaam" Margin="5" Text="{Binding WineFull.Name, Mode=TwoWay}"/>
<TextBlock Grid.Row="1" Text="Jaar :" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
<TextBox Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Name="txtWijnYear" Margin="5" Text="{Binding WineFull.Year, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}"/>
<TextBlock Grid.Row="2" Text="Prijs :" VerticalAlignment="Center"/>
I do notice the OnPropertyChanged() method of my WineFull property is never called but I don't get why. The pluralsight course has an identical set-up (except for some naming of course) and it works just fine..
Any help would be much appreciated. If I need to add any more info or code, please let me know.
You are setting the value of the backing field not the property so the OnPropertyChanged method is never called.
You can call OnPropertyChanged for the WineFull property in the OnOpenWineDetailView method:
private void OnOpenWineDetailView(int wineId)
{
_wine = ApiHelper.GetApiResult<Wine>($"{ _baseUri}/{wineId}");
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(WineFull));
}
Or you can use the property:
private void OnOpenWineDetailView(int wineId)
{
WineFull= ApiHelper.GetApiResult<Wine>($"{ _baseUri}/{wineId}");
}

Correct use of WPF view model

I'm teaching myself WPF. My window has two combo boxes: one for Categories and one for Subcategories. When the category selection changes, I want the list of subcategories to update to just those that are in the selected category.
I've created a simple view class for both of the combo boxes. My SubcategoryView class' constructor takes a reference to my CategoryView class and attaches an event handler for when the category selection changes.
public class SubcategoryView : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
protected CategoryView CategoryView;
public SubcategoryView(CategoryView categoryView)
{
CategoryView = categoryView;
CategoryView.PropertyChanged += CategoryView_PropertyChanged;
}
private void CategoryView_PropertyChanged(object sender, PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
if (e.PropertyName == "SelectedItem")
{
_itemsSource = null;
}
}
private ObservableCollection<TextValuePair> _itemsSource;
public ObservableCollection<TextValuePair> ItemsSource
{
get
{
if (_itemsSource == null)
{
// Populate _itemsSource
}
return _itemsSource;
}
}
}
I assign my DataContexts like this.
cboCategory.DataContext = new CategoryView();
cboSubcategory.DataContext = new SubcategoryView(cboCategory.DataContext as CategoryView);
The problem is that selecting a new item in my category combo box does not cause the subcategories to repopulate (even though I confirmed my PropertyChanged handler is being called).
What is the correct way to cause the list to repopulate?
Also, I welcome any other comments about this approach. Instead of passing my CategoryView to the constructor, is it better to indicate this declaratively somehow in the XAML?
Here's how we do it in production code.
Each category knows what its subcategories are. If they're coming from a database or a disk file, the database/webservice method/file reader/whatever would return classes just like that, and you'd create the viewmodels to match. The viewmodel understands the structure of the information but knows and cares nothing about the actual content; somebody else is in charge of that.
Note that this is all very declarative: The only loop is the one that fakes up the demo objects. No event handlers, nothing in codebehind except creating the viewmodel and telling it to populate itself with fake data. In real life you do often end up writing event handlers for special cases (drag and drop, for example). There's nothing non-MVVMish about putting view-specific logic in the codebehind; that's what it's there for. But this case is much too trivial for that to be necessary. We have a number of .xaml.cs files that have sat in TFS for years on end exactly as the wizard created them.
The viewmodel properties are a lot of boilerplate. I have snippets (steal them here) to generate those, with the #regions and everything. Other people copy and paste.
Usually you'd put each viewmodel class in a separate file, but this is example code.
It's written for C#6. If you're on an earlier version we can change it to suit, let me know.
Finally, there are cases where it makes more sense to think in terms of having one combobox (or whatever) filtering another large collection of items, rather than navigating a tree. It can make very little sense to do that in this hierarchical format, particularly if the "category":"subcategory" relationship isn't one-to-many.
In that case, we'd have a collection of "categories" and a collection of all "subcategories", both as properties of the main viewmodel. We would then use the "category" selection to filter the "subcategory" collection, usually via a CollectionViewSource. But you could also give the viewmodel a private full list of all "subcategories" paired with a public ReadOnlyObservableCollection called something like FilteredSubCategories, which you'd bind to the second combobox. When the "category" selection changes, you repopulate FilteredSubCategories based on SelectedCategory.
The bottom line is to write viewmodels which reflect the semantics of your data, and then write views that let the user see what he needs to see and do what he needs to do. Viewmodels shouldn't be aware that views exist; they just expose information and commands. It's often handy to be able to write multiple views that display the same viewmodel in different ways or at different levels of detail, so think of the viewmodel as just neutrally exposing any information about itself that anybody might want to use. Usual factoring rules apply: Couple as loosely as possible (but no more loosely), etc.
ComboDemoViewModels.cs
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Linq;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace ComboDemo.ViewModels
{
public class ViewModelBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
#region INotifyPropertyChanged
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] String propName = null)
{
PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propName));
}
#endregion INotifyPropertyChanged
}
public class ComboDemoViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
// In practice this would probably have a public (or maybe protected) setter
// that raised PropertyChanged just like the other properties below.
public ObservableCollection<CategoryViewModel> Categories { get; }
= new ObservableCollection<CategoryViewModel>();
#region SelectedCategory Property
private CategoryViewModel _selectedCategory = default(CategoryViewModel);
public CategoryViewModel SelectedCategory
{
get { return _selectedCategory; }
set
{
if (value != _selectedCategory)
{
_selectedCategory = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
#endregion SelectedCategory Property
public void Populate()
{
#region Fake Data
foreach (var x in Enumerable.Range(0, 5))
{
var ctg = new ViewModels.CategoryViewModel($"Category {x}");
Categories.Add(ctg);
foreach (var y in Enumerable.Range(0, 5))
{
ctg.SubCategories.Add(new ViewModels.SubCategoryViewModel($"Sub-Category {x}/{y}"));
}
}
#endregion Fake Data
}
}
public class CategoryViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
public CategoryViewModel(String name)
{
Name = name;
}
public ObservableCollection<SubCategoryViewModel> SubCategories { get; }
= new ObservableCollection<SubCategoryViewModel>();
#region Name Property
private String _name = default(String);
public String Name
{
get { return _name; }
set
{
if (value != _name)
{
_name = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
#endregion Name Property
// You could put this on the main viewmodel instead if you wanted to, but this way,
// when the user returns to a category, his last selection is still there.
#region SelectedSubCategory Property
private SubCategoryViewModel _selectedSubCategory = default(SubCategoryViewModel);
public SubCategoryViewModel SelectedSubCategory
{
get { return _selectedSubCategory; }
set
{
if (value != _selectedSubCategory)
{
_selectedSubCategory = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
#endregion SelectedSubCategory Property
}
public class SubCategoryViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
public SubCategoryViewModel(String name)
{
Name = name;
}
#region Name Property
private String _name = default(String);
public String Name
{
get { return _name; }
set
{
if (value != _name)
{
_name = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
#endregion Name Property
}
}
MainWindow.xaml
<Window
x:Class="ComboDemo.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:ComboDemo"
mc:Ignorable="d"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical" Margin="4">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<Label>Categories</Label>
<ComboBox
x:Name="CategorySelector"
ItemsSource="{Binding Categories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory}"
DisplayMemberPath="Name"
MinWidth="200"
/>
</StackPanel>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="20,4,4,4">
<Label>Sub-Categories</Label>
<ComboBox
ItemsSource="{Binding SelectedCategory.SubCategories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory.SelectedSubCategory}"
DisplayMemberPath="Name"
MinWidth="200"
/>
</StackPanel>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</Window>
MainWindow.xaml.cs
using System.Windows;
namespace ComboDemo
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
var vm = new ViewModels.ComboDemoViewModel();
vm.Populate();
DataContext = vm;
}
}
}
Extra Credit
Here's a different version of MainWindow.xaml, which demonstrates how you can show the same viewmodel in two different ways. Notice that when you select a category in one list, that updates SelectedCategory which is then reflected in the other list, and the same is true of SelectedCategory.SelectedSubCategory.
<Window
x:Class="ComboDemo.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:ComboDemo"
xmlns:vm="clr-namespace:ComboDemo.ViewModels"
mc:Ignorable="d"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
>
<Window.Resources>
<DataTemplate x:Key="DataTemplateExample" DataType="{x:Type vm:ComboDemoViewModel}">
<ListBox
ItemsSource="{Binding Categories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory}"
>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type vm:CategoryViewModel}">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="2">
<Label Width="120" Content="{Binding Name}" />
<ComboBox
ItemsSource="{Binding SubCategories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedSubCategory}"
DisplayMemberPath="Name"
MinWidth="120"
/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
</DataTemplate>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical" Margin="4">
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<Label>Categories</Label>
<ComboBox
x:Name="CategorySelector"
ItemsSource="{Binding Categories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory}"
DisplayMemberPath="Name"
MinWidth="200"
/>
</StackPanel>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal" Margin="20,4,4,4">
<Label>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding SelectedCategory.Name, StringFormat='Sub-Categories in {0}:', FallbackValue='Sub-Categories:'}"/>
</Label>
<ComboBox
ItemsSource="{Binding SelectedCategory.SubCategories}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory.SelectedSubCategory}"
DisplayMemberPath="Name"
MinWidth="200"
/>
</StackPanel>
<GroupBox Header="Another View of the Same Thing" Margin="4">
<!--
Plain {Binding} just passes along the DataContext, so the
Content of this ContentControl will be the main viewmodel.
-->
<ContentControl
ContentTemplate="{StaticResource DataTemplateExample}"
Content="{Binding}"
/>
</GroupBox>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</Window>
Using single view-model in that case is really simpler, as mentioned in comments. For example, I'll use just strings for combo box items.
To demonstrate correct using of view model, we'll track changes of category through binding rather than UI event. So, besides ObservableCollections you'll need SelectedCategory property.
View-model:
public class CommonViewModel : BindableBase
{
private string selectedCategory;
public string SelectedCategory
{
get { return this.selectedCategory; }
set
{
if (this.SetProperty(ref this.selectedCategory, value))
{
if (value.Equals("Category1"))
{
this.SubCategories.Clear();
this.SubCategories.Add("Category1 Sub1");
this.SubCategories.Add("Category1 Sub2");
}
if (value.Equals("Category2"))
{
this.SubCategories.Clear();
this.SubCategories.Add("Category2 Sub1");
this.SubCategories.Add("Category2 Sub2");
}
}
}
}
public ObservableCollection<string> Categories { get; set; } = new ObservableCollection<string> { "Category1", "Category2" };
public ObservableCollection<string> SubCategories { get; set; } = new ObservableCollection<string>();
}
Where SetProperty is implementation of INotifyPropertyChanged.
When you select category, the setter of SelectedCategory property triggers and you can fill subcatagory items depending on selected category value. Do not replace collection object itself! You should clear existing items and then add new ones.
In xaml, besides ItemsSource for both combo boxes, you'll need bind SelectedItem for category combo box.
XAML:
<StackPanel x:Name="Wrapper">
<ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding Categories}" SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedCategory, Mode=OneWayToSource}" />
<ComboBox ItemsSource="{Binding SubCategories}" />
</StackPanel>
Then just assign view-model to wrapper's data context:
Wrapper.DataContext = new CommonViewModel();
And code for BindableBase:
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
public abstract class BindableBase : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected bool SetProperty<T>(ref T storage, T value, [CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
if (Equals(storage, value))
{
return false;
}
storage = value;
this.OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);
return true;
}
protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
this.PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}

Change The Binding Source To Another CLR Object

This is a mostly out of curiosity question and to hopefully help me better understand binding, XAML, and extension syntax.
So I simply want to change the binding source from the MainWindow to an object I have instantiated in MainWindow.
Here is my C# code:
public partial class MainWindow : Window, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public MainWindow()
{
favclass myfavclass = new favclass();
InitializeComponent();
this.DataContext = this;
}
string _myString = "hello";
public string MyString
{
get { return _myString; }
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
void OnPropertyChanged(string propName)
{
if (this.PropertyChanged != null)
this.PropertyChanged(
this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propName));
}
}
public class favclass : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
int _myint = 34;
public int MyInt
{
get { return _myint; }
set { _myint = value; }
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
void OnPropertyChanged(string propName)
{
if (this.PropertyChanged != null)
this.PropertyChanged(
this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propName));
}
}
}
and my XAML
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.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>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="50" Text="{Binding MyString}"/>
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="48" Margin="200,100,100,100"
Text="{Binding Source=myfavclass, Path=MyInt}"/>
</Grid>
</Window>
So as you can see I want first display the MyString property from main window.
Then I want to display the MyInt from the myfavclass object. But of course MyInt doesn't appear. I've tried every variation I can think of.
What XAML am I missing? Why doesn't the XAML I have work?
Thanks
Source=myfavclass this is wrong. Source can be only assigned directly using element syntax like this:
<Binding>
<Binding.Source>
<!-- value here -->
</Binding.Source>
</Binding>
Or you can use StaticResource or DynamicResoure or some custom MarkupExtension like this:
Text="{Binding Source={StaticResource someKey}, Path=MyInt}"
Or use the new feature {x:Reference} to get reference directly to some named element inside XAML:
Text="{Binding Source={x:Reference someName}, Path=MyInt}"
Moreover the myfavclass is declared as local variable inside your code behind. There is no way it can be used (referenced) inside XAML code.
You're doing something called multiple viewmodels. If so you should provide multiple DataContext for your controls. I prefer to using nested viewmodels. To implement this, you can try modifying the MainWindow like this:
public partial class MainWindow : Window, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public MainWindow()
{
_myfavclass = new favclass();
InitializeComponent();
this.DataContext = this;
}
private readonly favclass _myfavclass;
//we will use this property inside XAML code
public favclass MyFavClass {
get {
return _myfavclass;
}
}
}
Now in XAML code, you can bind the Text to the MyFavClass.MyInt, note that the DataContext is implicitly the source for the Binding, so you just need to specify the Path:
<TextBlock Height="50" Width="48" Margin="200,100,100,100"
Text="{Binding Path=MyFavClass.MyInt}"/>
Your MyInt is not properly implemented using INotifyPropertyChanged (but I hope you already know that).
favclass myfavclass = new favclass(); should be declared out of the init method,or you won't get this.myfavclass instance

Databind text to a string property

I'm new to Silverlight and the concept of data-binding and I still fail on resolving my problem. I haven't manage to find a solution after few days of research.
Here is my problem :
I correctly bind a String property to the text of my TextBlock as you can see below :
MainPage.xaml
<Grid Background="Blue" DataContext="{StaticResource WP8Displayable}">
<TextBlock x:Name="tbCanvasTitle" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding titleDisplayable}" FontWeight="Bold" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
</Grid>
WP8Displayable.cs
public class WP8Displayable : IDisplayable, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public String title { get; set; }
#region INotifyPropertyChanged Members
public string titleDisplayable
{
get
{
return title;
}
set
{
if (title != value)
{
title = value;
NotifyPropertyChanged("titleDisplayable");
}
}
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
// Used to notify the page that a data context property changed
private void NotifyPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
#endregion
public void setTitle(String s)
{
this.title = s;
NotifyPropertyChanged("titleDisplayable");
}
}
I have a thread in my MainPage.xaml.cs that can instantiate one or more instance of WP8Displayable class. When one of the instance call setTitle(String s) the text in my TextBlock does not update, it seems that my DataContext is not set up properly.
EDIT :
My thread is launched in the MainPage.xaml.cs in the MainPage_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) method and does something like this :
var instanceWP8Displayable = new WP8Displayable();
//tbCanvasTitle.DataContext = instanceWP8Displayable; HERE IS WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO ON XAML
instanceWP8Displayable.setTitle("my Title");
EDIT 2 : App.xaml
<Application
x:Class="AMS.App"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:phone="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Phone.Controls;assembly=Microsoft.Phone"
xmlns:shell="clr-namespace:Microsoft.Phone.Shell;assembly=Microsoft.Phone"
xmlns:windows="clr-namespace:System.Windows;assembly=System.Windows"
xmlns:ioC="clr-namespace:AMS.Controller">
<!--Application Resources-->
<Application.Resources>
<windows:ResourceDictionary>
<local:LocalizedStrings xmlns:local="clr-namespace:AMS" x:Key="LocalizedStrings"/>
<ioC:Locator x:Key="Locator" x:Name="Locator" />
</windows:ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
MainPage.xaml
<Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="White">
<Grid Background="Blue" DataContext="{Binding Source={StaticResource Locator}, Path=WP8Displayable}">
<TextBlock x:Name="tbCanvasTitle" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding titleDisplayable}" FontWeight="Bold" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
</Grid>
<Grid.DataContext>
<local:WP8Displayable />
</Grid.DataContext>
</Grid>
How can I dynamically set up the DataContext in that case ? And Is it possible to link more than one instance to the same object ?
If anyone as a clue or feels that my question is not clear enough don't hesitate to tell me.
Thank you.
I would recommend you check out MVVMLight which will help you eliminate a lot of boiler plate code you have to write e.g. INotifyPropertyChanged. Further it provides you with an IoC Container (Inversion of Control) that is most commonly used for the task you are trying to perform. You can implement a simple version of one on your own (see bellow).
You can set the DataContext in XAML but you will need a class that provides the Object, so for instance you could write a class like this (I'm assuming you add it directly to the project and not in a subfolder):
public class Locator
{
public WP8Displayable WP8Displayable
{
get { return new WP8Displayable(); }
}
}
Next you will have to register the Locator class in the App.xaml so you can reference it from within your view:
<Application
...
xmlns:windows="clr-namespace:System.Windows;assembly=System.Windows"
xmlns:ioC="clr-namespace:YOURAPPNAME">
<!--Application Resources-->
<Application.Resources>
<windows:ResourceDictionary>
<local:LocalizedStrings xmlns:local="clr-namespace:AMS" x:Key="LocalizedStrings"/>
<ioC:Locator x:Key="Locator" x:Name="Locator" />
</windows:ResourceDictionary>
</Application.Resources>
...
</Application>
Now we can set the DataContext in XAML:
<Grid Background="Blue" DataContext="{Binding Source={StaticResource Locator}, Path=WP8Displayable}">
<TextBlock x:Name="tbCanvasTitle" TextWrapping="Wrap" Text="{Binding titleDisplayable}" FontWeight="Bold" HorizontalAlignment="Center"/>
</Grid>
HTH
Your way for declaration property is wrong.
Plz Declare property as below;
#region INotifyPropertyChanged Members
public string _titleDisplayable;
public string titleDisplayable
{
get
{
return _titleDisplayable;
}
set
{
if (_titleDisplayable != value)
{
_titleDisplayable = value;
NotifyPropertyChanged("titleDisplayable");
}
}
}
and In class methods plz write below code:
public void setTitle(string s)
{
this.titleDisplayable = s;
}
Plz changes ur code as per above code.
Thanks ,
Hitesh.

Two views referring same view model

I'm using two views which refers same view model. Both of my views contain a text box that binds to a value in the view model. My problem is that, if I change the value of textbox in one GUI, its not reflecting in another. What should I do to achieve this?
This is my view model
public class ProductViewModel:INotifyPropertyChanged
{
private int machineheight;
#region INotifyPropertyChanged Members
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private void RaisePropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
#endregion
public int MachineHeight
{
get
{
return this.machineheight;
}
set
{
this.machineheight = value;
RaisePropertyChanged("MachineHeight");
}
}
public ProductViewModel()
{
}
private ICommand mUpdater;
public ICommand UpdateCommand
{
get
{
if (mUpdater == null)
mUpdater = new Updater();
return mUpdater;
}
set
{
mUpdater = value;
}
}
private class Updater : ICommand
{
#region ICommand Members
public bool CanExecute(object parameter)
{
return true;
}
public event EventHandler CanExecuteChanged;
public void Execute(object parameter)
{
SecondWindow w = new SecondWindow();
w.Show();
}
#endregion
}
}
}
The second window is another GUI. Once I click update button, second window opened. But the value that I have changed in first UI is not updated in the new window.
My Xaml is similar for both UI..
<Window x:Class="WPFDemo.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WPFDemo"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Window.DataContext>
<local:ProductViewModel/>
</Window.DataContext>
<Grid Height="307" Width="480" Initialized="Grid_Initialized">
<Button Content="Update" Height="32" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="165,158,0,0" Name="button1" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="114" Command="{Binding Path=UpdateCommand}"/>
<TextBox Height="42" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="125,82,0,0" Name="textBox1" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="169" Text= "{Binding Path= MachineHeight, Mode=TwoWay}" />
</Grid>
</Window>
I actually don't know what is the problem.. thanks
<Window.DataContext>
<local:ProductViewModel/>
</Window.DataContext>
hi, if you put this in your 2 views, then each one has its own viewmodel. so you will never see any changes. you have to set the datacontext from your first view to your second view. Btw for your ICommand implementation look at some mvvm frameworks for easier implementations, eg RelayCommand, DelegateCommand.
For your actual implementation you can add the following to your xaml and ViewModel(CommandParameter) then it works.
<Button Content="Update" Height="32" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="165,158,0,0" Name="button1" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="114" Command="{Binding Path=UpdateCommand}"
CommandParameter="{Binding .}"/>
public void Execute(object parameter)
{
SecondWindow w = new SecondWindow();
w.DataContext = parameter;
w.Show();
}
There are a hundred things that can go wrong in this scenario, and one of my long-standing gripes with XAML-based databinding is that the MS tools give you precious little help figuring out which of those hundred things it is. This is especially the case if you're new to databinding, but even folks who've been doing it for years can spend obnoxious hours tracking down databinding issues.
Some things to check:
(1) Confirm that your databindings are two-way.
(2) Look in your debug output window to see if there are any error messages there.
(3) Set an IValueConverter in your databinding, and set a breakpoint in the converter to see what data is being passed where and when.
(4) Confirm that the data in the ViewModel is actually being updated.
(5) Confirm that the ViewModel implements INotifyPropertyChanged, and that the PropertyChanged event is firing.
(6) Post your actual code here so folks can look at it.
And so forth.
Hope this helps.
It must work if the ViewModel implements INotifyPropertyChanged.

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