Binding ListBox Items using Templates - wpf

I am going crazy trying to figure this out without success.
I have a DependencyObject, ("UserObject"). It has a "DataItems" DependecyProperty that is an ObservableCollection. "UserDefiniton" is a DependencyObject with a DependencyProperty of "Data". Data has two properties: DataType (an enumeration) and Value (a string).
I am trying to define a ListBox in XAML that uses the "DataItems" property as its ItemsSource. In the ItemTemplate, I have several different controls. For simplicity of this issue, I am using a CheckBox and a TextBox. I want CheckBox to be available and visible when DataType is 0, while I want the TextBox to be available and visible when the DataType is 1. Only one control can be available and visible at a time.
This works:
<ListBox
ItemsSource={Binding DataItems, Mode=OneWay}>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel>
<CheckBox
Visibility="{Binding Path=Data.DataType, Mode=OneWay, Converter={StaticResource VisibilityConverter}, ConverterParameter=0}"
IsChecked="{Binding Path=Data.Value, Mode=TwoWay, Converter={StaticResource StringToBoolean}}" />
<TextBox
Visibility="{Binding Path=Data.DataType, Mode=OneWay, Converter={StaticResource VisibilityConverter}, ConverterParameter=1}"
Text="{Binding Path=Data.Value, Mode=TwoWay}" />
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
<Listbox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
The problem is that even though only one is visible, both are fighting over the Data.Value property (the boolean of the checkbox will show in the textbox, even though the checkbox is hidden).
Basically, though, the binding in this case is working--but the implementation is incorrect.
So, I switched to using Templates. The problem I am having is that I can't get the binding to work.
This is the code that I have for the Template. The Template selector is working correctly, but the Text property of the TextBox and the IsChecked property of the checkbox are not binding to Data.Value:
<DataTemplate x:Key="TextBoxItem">
<TextBox
Text="{Binding Path=Data.Value, Mode=TwoWay}" />
</DataTemplate>
<DataTemplate x:Key="CheckBoxItem">
<CheckBox
IsChecked="{Binding Path=Data.Value, Mode=TwoWay, Converter={StaticResource StringToBoolean}}" />
</DataTemplate>
...
<ListBox
ItemsSource={Binding DataItems, Mode=OneWay}>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<ContentControl
Content="{Binding Path=Data.DataType, Mode=OneWay}"
ContentTemplateSelector="{DynamicResource UserDefinitionTemplateSelector}"/>
</DataTemplate>
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
So how do I fix the binding?

Content should be set to {Binding}, since the Content will be the DataContext of the data-templates, hence you should just pass on the current DataContext. If you need to pass specific data to the template selector you can just drill down in the whole object.
There also is a template selector on the level of the ListBox, so you do not really need the internal ContentControl.
(You might also be interested in generic methods of debugging data bindings.)

Related

Bind the Text Property of Textblock to a Combobox selectedItem with different DataContext in Silverlight

I have a Data Grid that is bound to a object of type MyStaff. Apart from other properties MyStaff contains a column named LookupID. Now, in my ViewModel I have a collection Named Lookups that have a description for each LookupID.
I have a Template column that has a Textblock in Cell Template and Combobox in CellEdit Template. How do I bind the Textblock so that it dsiplays the description from ComboBox based on LookupID.
I know it would be pretty simple if the datacontext for both the Textblock and ComboBox were simple but that is not the case.
I have tried this but this doesn't work. Any suggestions? Also would appreciate any information on how to best use different Data Context for different controls in Silverlight. For this I have added a static resource pointing to the ViewModel Class.
<sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn Header="Action Point"
Width="500"
CanUserReorder="False"
HeaderStyle="{StaticResource dthFull2}"
IsReadOnly="False">
<sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock
Text="{Binding ElementName=LookupList,
Path=SelectedItem.Description}"
MinHeight="24"
VerticalAlignment="Top"
Padding="2"
TextTrimming="WordEllipsis"/>
</DataTemplate>
</sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn.CellTemplate>
<sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn.CellEditingTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<my:AutoCompleteComboBox x:Name="LookupList"
FilterMode="Custom" Margin="2,0,0,0"
SelectedValue="{Binding LookupID, Mode=TwoWay}"
SelectedValuePath="LookupID"
ItemsSource="{Binding Path=AnalysisLookupList.Values,
Source={StaticResource ViewModel}}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn.CellEditingTemplate>
</sdk:DataGridTemplateColumn>

Two way binding in ListBox ItemTemplate

I have a ListBox which DataTemplate is TextBox that can be edited. Where should I set Binding TwoWay? In ItemSource or In TextBox binding? Maybe in both? And how it works inside? Is it inherited? So if I set Binding in ItemSource - is it inherited in TextBox?
<ListBox HorizontalAlignment="Left" ItemsSource="{Binding Commands, Mode=TwoWay}">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBox Text="{Binding Name}" />
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
Two way binding should be setup op your item you need to display, in this case the Textbox. Here you need to have coupling back to your datacontext. You might want to consider setting the UpdateSourceTrigger property to PropertChanged.
This way you will always have entered value of your text, even without loosing focus.
The itemsource should not be Two way. One way will do since you probable will be binding to an observable collection. This will only be set once from your datacontext. This will automatically handle the adding and removing of items to your collection.
I'd add your code like this:
<ListBox Margin="10,0,0,0" Width="200" HorizontalAlignment="Left" ItemsSource="{Binding Commands}" >
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBox Text="{Binding Name, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
Where should I set Binding TwoWay?
You should set this Mode for TextBox like this:
<TextBox Text="{Binding Path=Name, Mode=TwoWay}" />
If I'm not mistaken, the Text property is listed TwoWay mode by default. Therefore, it's construction is not required.
From MSDN:
When used in data-binding scenarios, this property uses the default update behavior of UpdateSourceTrigger.LostFocus.
This means that updates the properties were visible at once, you need to set the property UpdateSourceTrigger to PropertyChanged:
<TextBox Text="{Binding Path=Name, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}" />
So if I set Binding in ItemSource - is it inherited in TextBox?
No, inheritance will not be, because settings of Binding unique for each dependency property. Inheritance happens when using DataContext, but again, settings unique for each property.

Binding in listbox with textblocks not working

I have the following xaml code:
<ListBox Foreground="{Binding MyColor, Converter={local:ColorConverter}}" ItemsSource="{Binding LogCollection, Mode=TwoWay}" Grid.Row="1">
</ListBox>
This changes the foreground color for the entire listbox, so I modified the code in this way:
<ListBox ItemsSource="{Binding LogCollection, Mode=TwoWay}" Grid.Row="1">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Foreground="{Binding MyColor, Converter={local:ColorConverter}}" Text="{Binding}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
In this way I wanted to set the foreground for an item instead for the entire listbox, but it is not working. How do I find the right datacontext ? MyColor is a property on my MainViewModel.
LATER EDIT WITH THE SOLUTION
Jens's answer was the one that showed me where I was wrong. Instead of storing simple message log strings in the ObservableCollection, I created a new class (LogItems) which contains a Message and a Color members. Now the LogCollection is typeof LogItems instead of strings.
I populate the listbox with the following code in my viewmodel:
LogItems logitem = new LogItems(myMessage, myColor);
LogCollection.Insert(0, logitem);
And the view has the following form. Also it doesn't require anymore to use RelativeSource, because the datacontext is the same.
<ListBox ItemsSource="{Binding LogCollection, Mode=TwoWay}" Grid.Row="1">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<TextBlock Foreground="{Binding Path=Color, Converter={local:ColorConverter}}" Text="{Binding Path=Message}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
Thank you all for your answers which lead me to this solution.
The DataContext of generated container in a listbox is automatically set to the corresponding item, therefore your Binding does not find the Property MyColor. You need to use a RelativeSource binding to bind to the DataContext of the containing list:
<TextBlock Foreground="{Binding DataContext.MyColor,
RelativeSource={RelativeSource
Mode=FindAncestor,
AncestorType={x:Type ListBox}},
Converter={local:ColorConverter}}"
Text="{Binding}"/>

Access property of DataContext inside ItemTemplate

I have a really nasty problem with bindings. I know that there are other topics regarding binding itmes inside itemtemplate to datacontext of an object outside the template. However, this just won't work, i.e. the first textblock display 'Test' as desired whereas the same textbox inside the itemtemplate shows nothing.
<TextBlock Text="{Binding DataContext.Test, ElementName=myList}"/>
<ItemsControl x:Name="myList" ItemsSource="{Binding AllItems}"
Margin="0,0,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" HorizontalAlignment="Center">
<ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsPanelTemplate>
<toolkit:WrapPanel Orientation="Horizontal"
ItemHeight="170" ItemWidth="140"/>
</ItemsPanelTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemsPanel>
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel>
<Image x:Name="{Binding KeyName}"
Source="{Binding ImagePath}"
Width="128"
Height="128">
</Image>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding DataContext.Test, ElementName=myList}"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
I would appreciate some help here folks as this is really a problem for me.
Inside the itemtemplate, the binding is initialized to the context of the current item in AllItems.
Update
Outside of the ItemTemplateyour bindings are relative to the DataContext of the page.**
Once inside an ItemTemplate then bindings are limited to the scope of the item specifically being evaluated at that time.
So, if we assume the following (based on the code in your question):
<ItemsControl x:Name="myList" ItemsSource="{Binding AllItems}" >
<ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel>
<TextBlock x:Name="tb1"
Text="{Binding DataContext.Test, ElementName=myList}"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="tb2" Text="{Binding KeyName}"/>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ItemsControl.ItemTemplate>
</ItemsControl>
tb1 cannot access the DataContext object directly.
tb2 cann access KeyName - assuming that whatever object AllItems is an IEnumerable of contains a property with that name.
As I understand it, inside an itemtemplate, the item past from the enumeration controls the binding source and this can't be overridden (by setting ElementName or otherwise).
If you need the value from Test in every object in your enumeration then you'll need to add it as a property of the object in the enumeration.
I'm sure someone more knowledgeable than me could explain why this is or give a better explanation but that's the gist of it.
** Assuming no other nesting of ItemsControls (or equivalent)

Bind WPF DataGrid column to another

I want to enable / disable a DataGridTextColumn based on whether or not the SelectedValue of its neighboring DataGridComboBoxColumn == 'Other'
I can make this work in a ListBox as below, but this won't work in my DataGrid environment as the DataGridComboBox column doesn't have a name property.
<ListBox Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource CustomData}}">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<ComboBox Name="operatorComboBox" SelectedValue="{Binding OperatorId}" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource Operator}}" SelectedValuePath="Id" DisplayMemberPath="Name"></ComboBox>
<TextBox Text="{Binding Name}" Visibility="{Binding Path=SelectedValue, ElementName=operatorComboBox, Converter={StaticResource intToVis}}"></TextBox>
</StackPanel>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
So can this be done with a DataGrid?
(I know I've changed visibility in the ListBox example, but its not a quantum leap to change that to enabled. (Obviously hiding an entire column would be a bad thing in a proper DataGrid)
this question is fairly similar to what I'm asking, I just can't seam to mangle the solution into what I'm after
The easiest way I can think of solving this problem is actually to create a DataGridTemplateColumn instead of a DataGridTextBoxColumn then create a textbox inside the template. In order to disable / enable the textbox, bind the IsEnabled property to the underlying OperatorId property. You will also have to write a ValueConverter that checks whether the OperatorId value == 'Other' and returns that value.

Resources