DependencyProperty issues with respect to a UserControl and WPF Dialog - wpf

I've dumbed down the code as much as I could to try and get a working piece of code yet I'm still coming up short. Some advice would be appreciated.
I'm trying to get a DependencyProperty working, it's that simple and yet the data I'm setting on the main window isn't showing up in the user control.
In the MainWindow I'm setting the TextValue to "hi" in the xaml. TextValue is showing in the xaml up and compiling just fine so I'm pretty sure I have the DependencyProperty set right. Once the dialog is fully open I take a look in the debugger and my property TextValue is still null.
Am I missing setting the data context? Maybe I'm off base in what I'm looking to do.
Thanks for taking the time to figure out what I'm doing wrong.
My User Control is: UserControl1
Xaml:
<UserControl x:Class="WpfApplication1.UserControl1"
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"
Loaded="UserControl_Loaded"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid>
</Grid>
</UserControl>
UserControl1.xaml.cs is:
namespace WpfApplication1
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for UserControl1.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty TextProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("TextValue", typeof(string), typeof(UserControl1));
private string _tv;
public string TextValue
{
get
{
return _tv;
}
set
{
_tv = value;
}
}
private void UserControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
}
}
}
My calling window xaml is:
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:usercontrols="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
Loaded='Window_Loaded'>
<Grid>
<usercontrols:UserControl1 x:Name="usercontroltest1" TextValue="hi"/>
</Grid>
</Window>
My calling window .cs is:
namespace WpfApplication1
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Window_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
}
}
}

The getter and setter of the "property wrapper" must call the GetValue and SetValue methods of the DependencyObject base class like shown below. Besides that, there is a naming convention that mandates that a dependency property's identifier field is named like the property plus a Property suffix. See Custom Dependency Properties for all the details.
public static readonly DependencyProperty TextValueProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register(
nameof(TextValue), typeof(string), typeof(UserControl1));
public string TextValue
{
get { return (string)GetValue(TextValueProperty); }
set { SetValue(TextValueProperty, value); }
}
In order to access a UserControl's dependency property in its own XAML, you would typically use a RelativeSource Binding like this:
<UserControl x:Class="WpfApplication1.UserControl1" ...>
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding TextValue,
RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncstorType=UserControl}}" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>

Related

Binding UserControl Dependency Property and MVVM

I have a MainWindow containing a UserControl, both implemented in MVVM-pattern.
The MainWindowVM has properties that I want to bind to properties in the UserControl1VM. But this doesn't work.
Here's some code (the viewmodels use some kind of mvvm-framework that implement the INotifyPropertyChanged in a ViewModelBase-class but that's hopefully no problem):
MainWindow.xaml:
<Window x:Class="DPandMVVM.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:DPandMVVM"
Title="MainWindow" Height="300" Width="300">
<Grid>
<local:UserControl1 TextInControl="{Binding Text}" />
</Grid>
</Window>
CodeBehind MainWindow.xaml.cs:
using System.Windows;
namespace DPandMVVM
{
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = new MainWindowVM();
}
}
}
MainWindow-ViewModel MainWindowVM.cs:
namespace DPandMVVM
{
public class MainWindowVM : ViewModelBase
{
private string _text;
public string Text { get { return _text; } }
public MainWindowVM()
{
_text = "Text from MainWindowVM";
}
}
}
And here the UserControl1.xaml:
<UserControl x:Class="DPandMVVM.UserControl1"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding TextInTextBlock}" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>
The Codebehind UserControl1.xaml.cs:
using System.Windows.Controls;
namespace DPandMVVM
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for UserControl1.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = new UserControl1VM();
}
}
}
And the Viewmodel UserControl1VM.cs:
using System.Windows;
namespace DPandMVVM
{
public class UserControl1VM : DependencyObject
{
public UserControl1VM()
{
TextInControl = "TextfromUserControl1VM";
}
public string TextInControl
{
get { return (string)GetValue(TextInControlProperty); }
set { SetValue(TextInControlProperty, value); }
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty TextInControlProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("TextInControl", typeof(string), typeof(UserControl1VM));
}
}
With this constellation the DP cannot be found in MainWindow.xaml.
What am I doing wrong?
First of all you want DependencyProperty TextInControl to be declared inside UserControl1 if you want to bind it from outside.
Move the declaration of DP inside of UserControl1.
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public string TextInControl
{
get { return (string)GetValue(TextInControlProperty); }
set { SetValue(TextInControlProperty, value); }
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty TextInControlProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("TextInControl", typeof(string),
typeof(UserControl1));
}
Second you have externally set DataContext of UserControl to UserControl1VM,
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = new UserControl1VM(); <-- HERE (Remove this)
}
So WPF binding engine looking for property Text in UserControl1VM instead of MainWindowVM. Remove setting DataContext and update XAML of UserControl1 to this:
<UserControl x:Class="DPandMVVM.UserControl1"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300"
x:Name="userControl1">
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding TextInTextBlock, ElementName=userControl1}" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>
Bind DP using ElementName by setting x:Name on UserControl.
UPDATE
In case you want to have ViewModel intact for UserControl, you have to update binding in MainWindow. Explicitly tell WPF binding engine to look for property in MainWindow's DataContext using ElementName in binding like this:
<local:UserControl1 TextInControl="{Binding DataContext.Text,
ElementName=mainWindow}" />
For this you need to set x:Name="mainWindow" on window root level.
The XAML of your control right now reference the property TextInTextBlock via the DataContext which in turn "Points" to your main window's view model. Reference the data of the control and you are done (btw do not set the DataContext for that reason - the binding won't work any more):
<UserControl x:Class="DPandMVVM.UserControl1"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300"
x:Name="self">
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding TextInTextBlock, ElementName=self}" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>
This is how I do UserControls with MVVM and DP binding. It's similar to Rohit's answer but with some slight changes. Basically you need to set the Control's internal view model to be the DataContext of the root container within the UserControl rather than the UserControl itself, that way it will not interfere with DP bindings.
E.g.
UserControl XAML
<UserControl x:Class="DPandMVVM.UserControl1"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300"
x:Name="userControl1">
<Grid x:Name="Root">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding TextFromVM}" />
</Grid>
UserControl Code-behind
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.ViewModel = new UserControlVM();
}
public UserControlVM ViewModel
{
get { return this.Root.DataContext as UserControlVM ; }
set { this.Root.DataContext = value; }
}
public string TextFromBinding
{
get { return (string)GetValue(TextFromBindingProperty); }
set { SetValue(TextFromBindingProperty, value); }
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty TextFromBindingProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("TextFromBinding", typeof(string), typeof(UserControl1), new FrameworkPropertyMetadata(null, OnTextBindingChanged));
private static void OnTextBindingChanged(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
var uc = d as UserControl1;
uc.ViewModel.TextFromVM = e.NewValue as string;
}
}
This means that the control derives it's values from the Root element DataContext which is our ViewModel but the ViewModel can be updated via a DP binding from outside the control (in your case a binding to the parent Window's ViewModel, see below)
Window XAML
<Window x:Class="DPandMVVM.Window1"
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:DPandMVVM"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300"
x:Name="window1">
<Grid x:Name="Root">
<local:userControl1 TextFromBinding="{Binding TextFromWindowVM}" />
</Grid>
I have a method that I believe is a lot simpler, and probably more true to MVVM.
In the main window XAML:
<myNameSpace:myUserControl DataContext="{Binding Status}"/>
In your main view model (the data context of the main window:
public myUserControlViewModel Status { set; get; }
now you can in the constructor (or whenever you want to instantiate it):
Status = new myUserControlViewModel();
then if you want to set the text property:
Status.Text = "foo";
and make sure you have the binding setup to a property named Text inside your myUserControlViewModel class:
<TextBox Text="{Binding Text}"/>
and make sure the property fires PropertyChanged, of-course.
Plus, if you use Resharper. You can create a Design instance of the UserControl in your XAML so that it can link the bindings and not tell you that the property is never used by doing this:
<UserControl x:Class="myNameSpace.myUserControl"
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:myNameSpace="clr-namespace:myNameSpace"
d:DataContext="{d:DesignInstance myNameSpace.myUserControl}"
mc:Ignorable="d" ...>
This part:
xmlns:myNameSpace="clr-namespace:myNameSpace"
d:DataContext="{d:DesignInstance myNameSpace.myUserControl}"
Here's a possible working solution for you. However, I've noted in a comment above that this will work in code and perhaps (like my situation) will show up as an error (Object Not Found) in the designer:
<local:UserControl1 TextInControl="{Binding DataContext.Text,
Source={x:Reference <<Your control that contains the DataContext here>>}}" />
I'd rather to have a cleaner solution, though, without any designer errors. I wish to find out how to properly bind a dependency property in a user control to a value coming from the window it's contained in. What I'm finding is that whatever I try to do (short of what I showed above), such as using ElementName and/or AncestorType/Level, etc., the debugger complains that it can't find the source and shows that it's looking for the source inside the context of the user control! It's like I can't break out of the user control context when doing Binding logic in the use of that control (other than that "designer-breaking" solution above).
UPDATE:
I noticed that this might not work for you as your situation might force a problem I just noticed if I change my own source to reference the window instead of a control that has the data context. If I reference the window then I end up with a cyclical redundancy. Perhaps you'll figure out a way to use the Source version of the binding that will work okay for you.
I must also add that my situation is probably a bit more complex since my usercontrol is used in the context of a popup.

Need to act on a Silverlight RadioButton when it has been databound

I'm creating a custom RadioButton that has some additional functionality. I need to somehow subscribe to an "OnDataBound" event - is there such a way to do this?
Thanks!
The simplest way i can think of:
1) Create a UserControl that encapsulates a RadioButton with a DependencyProperty that holds a CustomIsChecked object:
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for CustomRadioButton.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class CustomRadioButton : UserControl
{
public CustomRadioButton()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.DataContext = this;
}
#region CustomIsChecked
public bool CustomIsChecked
{
get { return (bool)GetValue(CustomDataContextProperty); }
set { SetValue(CustomDataContextProperty, value); }
}
// Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for CustomIsChecked. This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
public static readonly DependencyProperty CustomIsCheckedProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("CustomIsChecked", typeof(bool), typeof(CustomRadioButton), new UIPropertyMetadata(new PropertyChangedCallback((dpo, dpce) =>
{
MessageBox.Show("IsChecked has changed!");
})));
#endregion
}
In the XAML part of the UserControl, bind the IsChecked of your RadioButton to the CustomIsChecked:
<UserControl x:Class="WpfApplication1.CustomRadioButton"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<RadioButton IsChecked="{Binding CustomIsChecked, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=UserControl}}" />
</UserControl>
voila!

Dependency Injection not working

I have been learning MVVM / WPF and have gone through the tutorial here.
I have created a working application using this methodology but now, on a new project, I cannot get the Dependency Injection to work.
When I run this project I get an empty MainWindow without the CompanyView injected. I have double and tripled checked everything between the project that works and this one that doesn't and cannot find the reason for CompanyView not being injected. I have also tried cleaning the solution and restarting VS to no avail. Hopefully someone can see what I am missing.
I have the following file:
App.xaml.cs (using base.OnStartup() instead of StartupUri in App.xaml)
namespace SidekickAdmin
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for App.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class App : Application
{
protected override void OnStartup(StartupEventArgs e)
{
base.OnStartup(e);
MainWindow window = new MainWindow();
var viewModel = new MainWindowViewModel();
window.DataContext = viewModel;
window.Show();
}
}
}
MainWindowViewModel.cs
namespace SidekickAdmin.ViewModel
{
class MainWindowViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
public MainWindowViewModel()
{
CompanyViewModel companyViewModel = new CompanyViewModel(_repository);
this.ViewModels.Add(companyViewModel);
}
ObservableCollection<ViewModelBase> _viewModels;
ObservableCollection<ViewModelBase> ViewModels
{
get
{
if (_viewModels == null)
{
_viewModels = new ObservableCollection<ViewModelBase>();
}
return _viewModels;
}
}
}
}
MainWindowView.xaml
<Window x:Class="SidekickAdmin.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:vm="clr-namespace:SidekickAdmin.ViewModel"
xmlns:vw="clr-namespace:SidekickAdmin.View"
Title="Sidekick Admin" SizeToContent="WidthAndHeight">
<!-- Typically done in a resources dictionary -->
<Window.Resources>
<ResourceDictionary Source="MainWindowResources.xaml" />
</Window.Resources>
<StackPanel>
<ItemsControl ItemsSource="{Binding ViewModel}" Margin="3" />
</StackPanel>
</Window>
MainWindowResources.xaml
<ResourceDictionary xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:vm="clr-namespace:SidekickAdmin.ViewModel"
xmlns:vw="clr-namespace:SidekickAdmin.View">
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type vm:CompanyViewModel}">
<vw:CompanyView />
</DataTemplate>
</ResourceDictionary>
CompanyViewModel.cs (not really used yet as I am still trying to just get the view to appear)
namespace SidekickAdmin.ViewModel
{
class CompanyViewModel : ViewModelBase
{
readonly GenericRepository _repository;
#region Getters & Setters
public ObservableCollection<Company> AllCompanies
{
get;
private set;
}
#endregion
#region Constructors
public CompanyViewModel(GenericRepository repository)
{
if (repository == null)
{
throw new ArgumentNullException("repository");
}
_repository = repository;
this.AllCompanies = new ObservableCollection<Company>(_repository.GetAll<Company>());
}
#endregion
protected override void OnDispose()
{
this.AllCompanies.Clear();
}
}
}
CompanyView.xaml
<UserControl x:Class="SidekickAdmin.View.CompanyView"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
Height="300" Width="300">
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock>You say Hello</TextBlock>
<TextBlock>And I say Goodbye</TextBlock>
<TextBlock>Hello, Hello</TextBlock>
</StackPanel>
</UserControl>
Lester's comment is right... you are binding to a ViewModel property which does not exist - MainWindowViewModel has a ViewModels property though. The s is important
Besides what #Robert Levy has wrote, the error you are making is that your ViewModels property is private, make it public and it should work fine.
#RobertLevy and #dmusial are correct. You need to make your reference to ViewModels in your XAML plural, to match the property name in your C# code. Also, the property should be public, so the View can see it.

WPF - property change notification from UserControl

I have two UserControls (uc1 and uc2) loading into a third UserControl (shell). Shell has two properties, uc1 and uc2, of type UserControl1 and UserControl2, and each have a DependencyProperty registered to their own classes called IsDirty:
public static readonly DependencyProperty IsDirtyProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("IsDirty", typeof (bool), typeof (UserControl1));
public bool IsDirty
{
get { return (bool) GetValue(IsDirtyProperty); }
set { SetValue(IsDirtyProperty, value); }
}
(same code for UserControl2)
Shell has TextBlocks bound to the IsDirty properties:
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=shell, Path=Uc1.IsDirty}"/>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=shell, Path=Uc2.IsDirty}"/>
When I change the values of IsDirty in uc1 and uc2, Shell never gets notified. What am I missing? UserControl is descendant of DependencyObject...
The same behavior occurs if I have regular properties notifying changes via INotifyPropertyChanged.
If I raise a routed event from uc1 and uc2, bubbling up to Shell, then I can catch the Dirty value and everything works, but I shouldn't have to do that, should I?
Thanks
Edit: The answer is to raise property changed event on the Uc1 and Uc2 properties or make them DPs.
I tried reproducing your problem using a simple setup, and it works fine for me. I'm not sure though if this setup is correct enough to replicate your situation. Anyway, I'm posting it just in case. It might be helpful:
XAML:
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication2.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication2"
x:Name="shell"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<StackPanel>
<Button Click="Button_Click">Click</Button>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=shell, Path=Uc1.IsDirty}"/>
</StackPanel>
</Window>
Code-Behind:
namespace WpfApplication2
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
private MyUserControl uc1 = new MyUserControl();
public MyUserControl Uc1
{
get { return this.uc1; }
}
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
this.uc1.IsDirty = !this.uc1.IsDirty;
}
}
public partial class MyUserControl : UserControl
{
public MyUserControl()
{
}
public bool IsDirty
{
get { return (bool)GetValue(IsDirtyProperty); }
set { SetValue(IsDirtyProperty, value); }
}
// Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for IsDirty. This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
public static readonly DependencyProperty IsDirtyProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("IsDirty", typeof(bool), typeof(UserControl), new UIPropertyMetadata(false));
}
}
Karmicpuppet's answer works well. However it didn't solve my problem because Shell is also of type UserControl. For it to work I needed to raise the property changed on Uc1 and Uc2. When I declared them as DependencyProperties all worked as expected. Duh!

How to access a named element of a derived user control in silverlight?

I have a custom base user control in silverlight.
<UserControl x:Class="Problemo.MyBaseControl"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="400">
<Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="White">
<Border Name="HeaderControl" Background="Red" />
</Grid>
</UserControl>
With the following code behind
public partial class MyBaseControl : UserControl
{
public UIElement Header { get; set; }
public MyBaseControl()
{
InitializeComponent();
Loaded += MyBaseControl_Loaded;
}
void MyBaseControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
HeaderControl.Child = Header;
}
}
I have a derived control.
<me:MyBaseControl x:Class="Problemo.MyControl"
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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
xmlns:me="clr-namespace:Problemo"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="400">
<me:MyBaseControl.Header>
<TextBlock Name="header" Text="{Binding Text}" />
</me:MyBaseControl.Header>
</me:MyBaseControl>
With the following code behind.
public partial class MyControl : MyBaseControl
{
public string Text
{
get; set;
}
public MyControl(string text)
{
InitializeComponent();
Text = text;
}
}
I'm trying to set the text value of the header textblock in the derived control.
It would be nice to be able to set both ways, i.e. with databinding or in the derived control code behind, but neither work. With the data binding, it doesn't work. If I try in the code behind I get a null reference to 'header'. This is silverlight 4 (not sure if that makes a difference)
Any suggestions on how to do with with both databinding and in code ?
Cheers
First of all I'll show you how to adjust your Derived control to handle this. You need to do two things, first you need to implement INotifyPropertyChanged and secondly you to add the binding to the user control.
MyControl Xaml:-
<me:MyBaseControl.Header>
<TextBlock Name="headerItem" />
</me:MyBaseControl.Header>
MyControl code:-
public partial class MyControl : MyBaseControl, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public MyControl ()
{
InitializeComponent();
headerItem.SetBinding(TextBlock.TextProperty, new Binding("Text") { Source = this });
}
string _text;
public string Text
{
get { return _text; }
set { _text = value; NotifyPropertyChanged("Text"); }
}
#region INotifyPropertyChanged Members
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
void NotifyPropertyChanged(string name)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(name));
}
#endregion
}
This should get you working. However, as soon as you feel you need to inherit a UserControl based class you should take a step back and ask whether the base and derived items ought to be templated controls instead. If I get time I'll try to add a version of your code in terms of templated controls.

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