Store custom class instance in IsolatedStorage in Silverlight - silverlight

I need to store different objects in IsolatedStorage and i'm using IsolatedStorageSettings class to do that. Some of that objects are base types so stored and retrieved well. But some of them are custom classes instances and they stored well, but when i try to retrieve them i get instances with the initial values.
How can i store custom classes instances in IsolatedStorage and retrieve them?
Phil Sandler, i guess so. but i don't know what type of serialization use isolated storage, so i don't know how to make my class serializable. Private fields also must be stored.
Here is the code of custom class:
public class ExtentHistory : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
private const int Capacity = 20;
private List<Envelope> _extents;
private int _currentPosition;
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
public int ItemsCount
{
get { return _extents.Count; }
}
public bool CanStepBack
{
get { return _currentPosition > 0; }
}
public bool CanStepForward
{
get { return _currentPosition < _extents.Count - 1; }
}
public Envelope CurrentExtent
{
get { return (_extents.Count > 0) ? _extents[_currentPosition] : null; }
}
public ExtentHistory()
{
_extents = new List<Envelope>();
_currentPosition = -1;
}
public void Add(Envelope extent)
{
if (_extents.Count > Capacity)
{
_extents.RemoveAt(0);
_currentPosition--;
}
_currentPosition++;
while (_extents.Count > _currentPosition)
{
_extents.RemoveAt(_currentPosition);
}
_extents.Add(extent);
}
public void StepBack()
{
if (CanStepBack)
{
_currentPosition--;
NotifyPropertyChanged("CurrentExtent");
}
}
public void StepForward()
{
if (CanStepForward)
{
_currentPosition++;
NotifyPropertyChanged("CurrentExtent");
}
}
private void NotifyPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
}
And here are the functions of storing and retrieving:
private IsolatedStorageSettings _storage;
public void Store(string key, object value)
{
if (!_storage.Contains(key))
{
_storage.Add(key, value);
}
else
{
_storage[key] = value;
}
}
public object Retrieve(string key)
{
return _storage.Contains(key) ? _storage[key] : null;
}
I don't want to serialize manually every object to add, i want to make custom class serializable by default to store it in isolated storage (if it's possible)

My inital guess would be a serialization problem. Do all your properties have public setters? Post the classes you are storing and the code you are using to store them.
I believe IsolatedStorageSettings uses the DataContractSerializer by default. If you want ExtentHistory to be serialized, you should read up on what you need to do to get it to work properly with this serializer:
DataContractSerializer Class
You might create a separate object strictly for the purpose of storing the data in Isolated storage (sort of like a DTO). This will allow you to keep ExtentHistory as-is.

Related

mvvm update calculated fields

Do you know best practices in wpf+mvvm to update Calculated fields?
What I can do instead OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Summary))?
Also calculated field can be in another viewmodel and this viewmodel should not know about all dependences.
This is my code :
public class Model
{
public int Prop1 { get; set; }
public int Prop2 { get; set; }
public int Summary => Prop1 + Prop2;
}
public class ViewModel : BaseViewModel
{
public Model Model { get; }
public int Prop1
{
get
{
return Model.Prop1;
}
set
{
Model.Prop1 = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Summary));
}
}
public int Prop2
{
get
{
return Model.Prop2;
}
set
{
Model.Prop2 = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Summary));
}
}
public int Summary => Model.Summary;
}
Calling OnPropertyChanged on the calculated property is perfectly acceptable. If you have a relatively simple model like the one you wrote that'll be enough.
If you have multiple calculated properties on the model, you might consider creating a method to call all of them from a single place, instead of calling each one from every property.
Something like this:
public int Prop1
{
get
{
return _prop1;
}
set
{
_prop1 = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
NotifyCalculatedProperties();
}
}
public int Calc1 { get { /* ... */ } }
public int Calc2 { get { /* ... */ } }
public int Calc3 { get { /* ... */ } }
public void NotifyCalculatedProperties()
{
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc1));
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc2));
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc3));
}
In case the calculated properties exist in a different model, you can register in that Model\VM to the source's PropertyChanged event, and then invoke the change notification there.
Like that:
void ModelPropertyChanged(object sender, PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
if(e.PropertyName == "Prop1")
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc1));
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc2));
OnPropertyChanged(nameof(Calc3));
}
Just don't forget to unsubscribe when the Model\VM changes, or you'll have a memory leak on your hands.
Lastly, you can always use the Messenger to pass messages between unrelated VMs, though you should use caution since it's a very powerful tool, and can easily be misused.
I don't know what MVVM framework you're using, but each has it's own implementation. You can find more general details on the Messenger pattern here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/jj694937.aspx

where doese breeze fits into ntier architecture

i am Trying to fit in breezeJS with my existing architecture. I have a structure like
html/JS/Angular :: based view using hot-towel angular.
web api controllers :: whom the view calls.
Services layer :: that is being called from Web api. Any business logic goes here.
Unit of Work :: And (if) business logic requires to talk to data base for CRUDs it calls UOW.
Repository Pattern :: UOW is actually wrapping repositories. and repositores in turn talking to DbContexts.
Uptill now i was able to conver normal repositories implementation into the one using
public EFContextProvider<MyContext> DbContext { get; set; }
instead of just DbContext and i am also exposing MetaData using a string property with in UOW and IQueryables are returned using DbContext.Context.SomeEntity
Question 1 : Am i on right track ??
Question 2 : Most of the breeze examples are suggesting one SaveChanges method that give you all the entities that were changed and it will persist it at once. What if i want to trigger some business logic before Add,Update and Delete. i want to call me AddSomething service method and want to have a particular type of entity being sent to AddSomething and run some business logic before persistence. How can i put it together.
my code looksl ike
[BreezeController]//This is the controller
public class BreezeController : ApiController
{
private readonly ISomeService someService;
public BreezeController(ISomeService someService)
{
this.someService = someService;
}
// ~/breeze/todos/Metadata
[HttpGet]
public string Metadata()
{
return someService.MetaData();
}
// ~/breeze/todos/Todos
// ~/breeze/todos/Todos?$filter=IsArchived eq false&$orderby=CreatedAt
[HttpGet]
public IQueryable<Node> Nodes()
{
return nodesService.GetAllNodes().AsQueryable();
}
// ~/breeze/todos/SaveChanges
//[HttpPost]
//public SaveResult SaveChanges(JObject saveBundle)
//{
// return _contextProvider.SaveChanges(saveBundle);
//}
Below is the service
public class SomeService : BaseService, ISomeService
{
private readonly IUow Uow;
public SomeService(IUow Uow)
: base(Uow)
{
this.Uow = Uow;
}
public IEnumerable<Something> GetAllNodes()
{
return Uow.Somethings.GetAll();
}
}
every service can expose one property through base. that is actually the meta data
public class BaseService : IBaseService
{
private readonly IUow Uow;
public BaseService(IUow Uow)
{
this.Uow = Uow;
}
public string MetaData()
{
return Uow.MetaData;
}
}
and the my UOW looks like
public class VNUow : IUow, IDisposable
{
public VNUow(IRepositoryProvider repositoryProvider)
{
CreateDbContext();
repositoryProvider.DbContext = DbContext;
RepositoryProvider = repositoryProvider;
}
// Code Camper repositories
public IRepository<Something> NodeGroup { get { return GetStandardRepo<Something>(); } }
} }
public IRepository<Node> Nodes { get { return GetStandardRepo<Node>(); } }
/// <summary>
/// Save pending changes to the database
/// </summary>
public void Commit()
{
//System.Diagnostics.Debug.WriteLine("Committed");
DbContext.Context.SaveChanges();
}
public string MetaData // the Name property
{
get
{
return DbContext.Metadata();
}
}
protected void CreateDbContext()
{
// DbContext = new VNContext();
DbContext = new EFContextProvider<VNContext>();
// Load navigation properties always if it is true
DbContext.Context.Configuration.LazyLoadingEnabled = false;
// Do NOT enable proxied entities, else serialization fails
DbContext.Context.Configuration.ProxyCreationEnabled = true;
// Because Web API will perform validation, we don't need/want EF to do so
DbContext.Context.Configuration.ValidateOnSaveEnabled = false;
//DbContext.Configuration.AutoDetectChangesEnabled = false;
// We won't use this performance tweak because we don't need
// the extra performance and, when autodetect is false,
// we'd have to be careful. We're not being that careful.
}
protected IRepositoryProvider RepositoryProvider { get; set; }
private IRepository<T> GetStandardRepo<T>() where T : class
{
return RepositoryProvider.GetRepositoryForEntityType<T>();
}
private T GetRepo<T>() where T : class
{
return RepositoryProvider.GetRepository<T>();
}
private EFContextProvider<VNContext> DbContext { get; set; }
#region IDisposable
public void Dispose()
{
Dispose(true);
GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
}
protected virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing)
{
if (DbContext != null)
{
DbContext.Context.Dispose();
}
}
}
#endregion
}
in the end Repository Implementaion looks like
public class EFRepository<T> : IRepository<T> where T : class
{
public EFRepository(EFContextProvider<VNContext> dbContext)
{
if (dbContext == null)
throw new ArgumentNullException("dbContext");
DbContext = dbContext;
DbSet = DbContext.Context.Set<T>();
}
protected EFContextProvider<VNContext> DbContext { get; set; }
protected DbSet<T> DbSet { get; set; }
public virtual IQueryable<T> GetAll()
{
return DbSet;
}
public virtual IQueryable<T> GetAllEagerLoad(params Expression<Func<T, object>>[] children)
{
children.ToList().ForEach(x => DbSet.Include(x).Load());
return DbSet;
}
public virtual IQueryable<T> GetAllEagerLoadSelective(string[] children)
{
foreach (var item in children)
{
DbSet.Include(item);
}
return DbSet;
}
public virtual IQueryable<T> GetAllLazyLoad()
{
return DbSet;
}
public virtual T GetById(int id)
{
//return DbSet.FirstOrDefault(PredicateBuilder.GetByIdPredicate<T>(id));
return DbSet.Find(id);
}
public virtual T GetByIdLazyLoad(int id, params Expression<Func<T, object>>[] children)
{
children.ToList().ForEach(x => DbSet.Include(x).Load());
return DbSet.Find(id);
}
public virtual void Add(T entity)
{
DbEntityEntry dbEntityEntry = DbContext.Context.Entry(entity);
if (dbEntityEntry.State != EntityState.Detached)
{
dbEntityEntry.State = EntityState.Added;
}
else
{
DbSet.Add(entity);
}
}
public virtual void Update(T entity)
{
DbEntityEntry dbEntityEntry = DbContext.Context.Entry(entity);
if (dbEntityEntry.State == EntityState.Detached)
{
DbSet.Attach(entity);
}
dbEntityEntry.State = EntityState.Modified;
}
public virtual void Delete(T entity)
{
DbEntityEntry dbEntityEntry = DbContext.Context.Entry(entity);
if (dbEntityEntry.State != EntityState.Deleted)
{
dbEntityEntry.State = EntityState.Deleted;
}
else
{
DbSet.Attach(entity);
DbSet.Remove(entity);
}
}
public virtual void Delete(int id)
{
var entity = GetById(id);
if (entity == null) return; // not found; assume already deleted.
Delete(entity);
}
}
Much of this question is broad question and answers will be primarily opinion based... that said, here's my two cents: keep it simple. Carefully consider whether you truly need 3, 4 and 5, especially whether you need to implement UoW or the Repository Pattern yourself. The EF DbContext implements both, you could use it in your controllers directly if you wanted.
If you have custom logic that needs to execute prior to savechanges utilize one of the interceptor methods: BeforeSaveEntity or BeforeSaveEntites. Here's the documentation for those methods:
http://www.getbreezenow.com/documentation/contextprovider#BeforeSaveEntity
Breeze supports "Named saves" where you specify the name of the specific server endpoint ( i.e. your service method) on a per save basis. See:
http://www.getbreezenow.com/documentation/saving-changes
This would look something like this on your client.
var saveOptions = new SaveOptions({ resourceName: "CustomSave1" });
em.saveChanges(entitiesToSave, saveOptions).then(function (saveResult) {
// .. do something interesting.
}
and on your server
[HttpPost]
public SaveResult CustomSave1(JObject saveBundle) {
ContextProvider.BeforeSaveEntityDelegate = CustomSave1Interceptor;
return ContextProvider.SaveChanges(saveBundle);
}
private Dictionary<Type, List<EntityInfo>> CustomSave1Interceptor(Dictionary<Type, List<EntityInfo>> saveMap) {
// In this method you can
// 1) validate entities in the saveMap and optionally throw an exception
// 2) update any of the entities in the saveMap
// 3) add new entities to the saveMap
// 4) delete entities from the save map.
// For example
List<EntityInfo> fooInfos;
if (!saveMap.TryGetValue(typeof(Foo), out fooEntities)) {
// modify or delete any of the fooEntites
// or add new entityInfo instances to the fooEntities list.
}
}

WinForms binding Generic List - checkable business object to a Grid

We all like how easy it is to bind with WPF. Now I am back working with Winforms and I am looking for a nice way to bind my grid to a List of Checkable of BusinessObject (I am sticking with BindingList for Winforms). So I am essentially just adding a checkable to my business object.
I am using a grid as there will be multiple columns where the user would edit (in this scenario Name and Description on the business object) - as well as adding new objects to the grid and removing from it. Checked list box does not fit for this purpose as I want to edit columns.
For this I am using .NET 4.
I basically want to reduce the amount of UI code in the scenario so I am using a view model based approach which will populate the list. I want the user to be able to check a box alongside each of the business object properties.
Sure I can use inheritance, but if I want to apply the same mechanism against a lot of business objects (having lots of different screens where you check items in a list for the different business objects). Maybe this would be the way to go - but I have my doubts.
Now depending upon the choice of grid - I am using Infragistics - the functionality would hopefully be pretty similar conceptually.
I thought about wrapping the business object up in a Checkable generic class:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
public class Checkable<T> : ModelBase
{
public Checkable(T value)
{
_value = value;
}
private T _value;
public T Value
{
get
{
return _value;
}
set
{
if (!EqualityComparer<T>.Default.Equals(_value, value))
{
_value = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Value");
}
}
}
private bool _checked;
public bool Checked
{
get { return _checked; }
set
{
if (_checked != value)
{
_checked = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Checked");
}
}
}
}
I have made up a business object for this scenario:
public class BusinessObject : ModelBase
{
public BusinessObject()
{
}
public BusinessObject(RepairType repairType)
{
_name = repairType.Name;
_id = repairType.Id;
}
private string _name;
public string Name
{
get { return _name; }
set
{
if (_name != value)
{
_name = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Name");
}
}
}
private string _description;
public string Description
{
get { return _description; }
set
{
if (description != value)
{
description = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Description");
}
}
}
private int _id;
public int Id
{
get { return _id; }
set
{
if (_id != value)
{
_id = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Id");
}
}
}
}
Where ModelBase just implements the INotifyPropertyChanged:
public abstract class ModelBase : INotifyPropertyChanged, IDisposable
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null)
handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
protected bool SetProperty<T>(ref T field, T value, string propertyName = null)
{
if (object.Equals(field, value)) { return false; }
field = value;
OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);
return true;
}
public void Dispose()
{
Dispose(true);
GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
}
public virtual void Dispose(bool disposing)
{
if (disposing)
{
PropertyChanged = null;
}
}
}
So potentially for my grid datasource I would define:
// in view model
var datasource = new BindingList<Checkable<BusinessObject>>();
... populate list
grid.DataSource = viewmodel.DataSource;
So of course my scenario fails at the minute as Value is the BusinessObject reference which has the properties I want to bind to, and Checked is the property for a checkbox which I also want to bind to.
I am trying to kick start the old grey matter with some ideas on this. I don't really like writing code to define grid columns. However, the Infragistics grid has been ok for data binding directly to the BusinessObject at design time. Its possible to add an unbound column (checkbox for my scenario) and handle the checking/unchecking of items manually (which I might potentially have to do).
I am wondering if I am missing any neat tricks with Winform binding of late having missed out with Linq and Entity Framework when they appeared many years ago.

Refactoring multiple interfaces to a common interface using MVVM, MEF and Silverlight4

I am just learning MVVM with MEF and already see the benefits but I am a little confused about some implementation details. The app I am building has several Models that do the same with with different entities (WCF RIA Services exposing a Entity framework object) and I would like to avoid implementing a similar interface/model for each view I need and the following is what I have come up with though it currently doesn't work.
The common interface has a new completed event for each model that implements the base model, this was the easiest way I could implement a common class as the compiler did not like casting from a child to the base type.
The code as it currently sits compiles and runs but the is a null IModel being passed into the [ImportingConstructor] for the FaqViewModel class.
I have a common interface (simplified for posting) defined as follows, this should look familiar to those who have seen Shawn Wildermuth's RIAXboxGames sample.
public interface IModel
{
void GetItemsAsync();
event EventHandler<EntityResultsArgs<faq>> GetFaqsComplete;
}
A base method that implements the interface
public class ModelBase : IModel
{
public virtual void GetItemsAsync() { }
public virtual event EventHandler<EntityResultsArgs<faq>> GetFaqsComplete;
protected void PerformQuery<T>(EntityQuery<T> qry, EventHandler<EntityResultsArgs<T>> evt) where T : Entity
{
Context.Load(qry, r =>
{
if (evt == null) return;
try
{
if (r.HasError)
{
evt(this, new EntityResultsArgs<T>(r.Error));
}
else if (r.Entities.Count() > 0)
{
evt(this, new EntityResultsArgs<T>(r.Entities));
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
evt(this, new EntityResultsArgs<T>(ex));
}
}, null);
}
private DomainContext _domainContext;
protected DomainContext Context
{
get
{
if (_domainContext == null)
{
_domainContext = new DomainContext();
_domainContext.PropertyChanged += DomainContext_PropertyChanged;
}
return _domainContext;
}
}
void DomainContext_PropertyChanged(object sender, System.ComponentModel.PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
switch (e.PropertyName)
{
case "IsLoading":
AppMessages.IsBusyMessage.Send(_domainContext.IsLoading);
break;
case "IsSubmitting":
AppMessages.IsBusyMessage.Send(_domainContext.IsSubmitting);
break;
}
}
}
A model that implements the base model
[Export(ViewModelTypes.FaqViewModel, typeof(IModel))]
public class FaqModel : ModelBase
{
public override void GetItemsAsync()
{
PerformQuery(Context.GetFaqsQuery(), GetFaqsComplete);
}
public override event EventHandler<EntityResultsArgs<faq>> GetFaqsComplete;
}
A view model
[PartCreationPolicy(CreationPolicy.NonShared)]
[Export(ViewModelTypes.FaqViewModel)]
public class FaqViewModel : MyViewModelBase
{
private readonly IModel _model;
[ImportingConstructor]
public FaqViewModel(IModel model)
{
_model = model;
_model.GetFaqsComplete += Model_GetFaqsComplete;
_model.GetItemsAsync(); // Load FAQS on creation
}
private IEnumerable<faq> _faqs;
public IEnumerable<faq> Faqs
{
get { return _faqs; }
private set
{
if (value == _faqs) return;
_faqs = value;
RaisePropertyChanged("Faqs");
}
}
private faq _currentFaq;
public faq CurrentFaq
{
get { return _currentFaq; }
set
{
if (value == _currentFaq) return;
_currentFaq = value;
RaisePropertyChanged("CurrentFaq");
}
}
public void GetFaqsAsync()
{
_model.GetItemsAsync();
}
void Model_GetFaqsComplete(object sender, EntityResultsArgs<faq> e)
{
if (e.Error != null)
{
ErrorMessage = e.Error.Message;
}
else
{
Faqs = e.Results;
}
}
}
And then finally the Silverlight view itself
public partial class FrequentlyAskedQuestions
{
public FrequentlyAskedQuestions()
{
InitializeComponent();
if (!ViewModelBase.IsInDesignModeStatic)
{
// Use MEF To load the View Model
CompositionInitializer.SatisfyImports(this);
}
}
[Import(ViewModelTypes.FaqViewModel)]
public object ViewModel
{
set
{
DataContext = value;
}
}
}
It seems as though I am going down the wrong path with trying to refactor into multiple models. As seen here, http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/magazine/dd458800.aspx#id0090019 if would appear the best thing to do would be to think about the model as an instance of the EDMX class referenced via RIA Services. As such, the model should contain all methods and event handlers needed to access the DomainContext.
If anybody has other thoughts I would be open to them.
As a fellow noob, I am just starting to play with MEF, and I think I have identified a possible problem with your code. From your question, it sounds like your main problem is the null IModel reference.
Try changing this:
private readonly IModel _model;
to this:
[Import]
public IModel _model { get; set; }
I haven't yet played with how MEF likes private and readonly properties, so try setting to public and then verify that _model isn't null when you first try to use it.

PropertyChanged notification for calculated properties

I'm developing an application in Silverlight2 and trying to follow the Model-View-ViewModel pattern. I am binding the IsEnabled property on some controls to a boolean property on the ViewModel.
I'm running into problems when those properties are derived from other properties. Let's say I have a Save button that I only want to be enabled when it's possible to save (data has been loaded, and we're currently not busy doing stuff in the database).
So I have a couple of properties like this:
private bool m_DatabaseBusy;
public bool DatabaseBusy
{
get { return m_DatabaseBusy; }
set
{
if (m_DatabaseBusy != value)
{
m_DatabaseBusy = value;
OnPropertyChanged("DatabaseBusy");
}
}
}
private bool m_IsLoaded;
public bool IsLoaded
{
get { return m_IsLoaded; }
set
{
if (m_IsLoaded != value)
{
m_IsLoaded = value;
OnPropertyChanged("IsLoaded");
}
}
}
Now what I want to do is this:
public bool CanSave
{
get { return this.IsLoaded && !this.DatabaseBusy; }
}
But note the lack of property-changed notification.
So the question is: What is a clean way of exposing a single boolean property I can bind to, but is calculated instead of being explicitly set and provides notification so the UI can update correctly?
EDIT: Thanks for the help everyone - I got it going and had a go at making a custom attribute. I'm posting the source here in case anyone's interested. I'm sure it could be done in a cleaner way, so if you see any flaws, add a comment or an answer.
Basically what I did was made an interface that defined a list of key-value pairs to hold what properties depended on other properties:
public interface INotifyDependentPropertyChanged
{
// key,value = parent_property_name, child_property_name, where child depends on parent.
List<KeyValuePair<string, string>> DependentPropertyList{get;}
}
I then made the attribute to go on each property:
[AttributeUsage(AttributeTargets.Property, AllowMultiple = true, Inherited = false)]
public class NotifyDependsOnAttribute : Attribute
{
public string DependsOn { get; set; }
public NotifyDependsOnAttribute(string dependsOn)
{
this.DependsOn = dependsOn;
}
public static void BuildDependentPropertyList(object obj)
{
if (obj == null)
{
throw new ArgumentNullException("obj");
}
var obj_interface = (obj as INotifyDependentPropertyChanged);
if (obj_interface == null)
{
throw new Exception(string.Format("Type {0} does not implement INotifyDependentPropertyChanged.",obj.GetType().Name));
}
obj_interface.DependentPropertyList.Clear();
// Build the list of dependent properties.
foreach (var property in obj.GetType().GetProperties())
{
// Find all of our attributes (may be multiple).
var attributeArray = (NotifyDependsOnAttribute[])property.GetCustomAttributes(typeof(NotifyDependsOnAttribute), false);
foreach (var attribute in attributeArray)
{
obj_interface.DependentPropertyList.Add(new KeyValuePair<string, string>(attribute.DependsOn, property.Name));
}
}
}
}
The attribute itself only stores a single string. You can define multiple dependencies per property. The guts of the attribute is in the BuildDependentPropertyList static function. You have to call this in the constructor of your class. (Anyone know if there's a way to do this via a class/constructor attribute?) In my case all this is hidden away in a base class, so in the subclasses you just put the attributes on the properties. Then you modify your OnPropertyChanged equivalent to look for any dependencies. Here's my ViewModel base class as an example:
public class ViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged, INotifyDependentPropertyChanged
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
protected virtual void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyname)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyname));
// fire for dependent properties
foreach (var p in this.DependentPropertyList.Where((x) => x.Key.Equals(propertyname)))
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(p.Value));
}
}
}
private List<KeyValuePair<string, string>> m_DependentPropertyList = new List<KeyValuePair<string, string>>();
public List<KeyValuePair<string, string>> DependentPropertyList
{
get { return m_DependentPropertyList; }
}
public ViewModel()
{
NotifyDependsOnAttribute.BuildDependentPropertyList(this);
}
}
Finally, you set the attributes on the affected properties. I like this way because the derived property holds the properties it depends on, rather than the other way around.
[NotifyDependsOn("Session")]
[NotifyDependsOn("DatabaseBusy")]
public bool SaveEnabled
{
get { return !this.Session.IsLocked && !this.DatabaseBusy; }
}
The big caveat here is that it only works when the other properties are members of the current class. In the example above, if this.Session.IsLocked changes, the notification doesnt get through. The way I get around this is to subscribe to this.Session.NotifyPropertyChanged and fire PropertyChanged for "Session". (Yes, this would result in events firing where they didnt need to)
The traditional way to do this is to add an OnPropertyChanged call to each of the properties that might affect your calculated one, like this:
public bool IsLoaded
{
get { return m_IsLoaded; }
set
{
if (m_IsLoaded != value)
{
m_IsLoaded = value;
OnPropertyChanged("IsLoaded");
OnPropertyChanged("CanSave");
}
}
}
This can get a bit messy (if, for example, your calculation in CanSave changes).
One (cleaner? I don't know) way to get around this would be to override OnPropertyChanged and make the call there:
protected override void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
base.OnPropertyChanged(propertyName);
if (propertyName == "IsLoaded" /* || propertyName == etc */)
{
base.OnPropertyChanged("CanSave");
}
}
You need to add a notification for the CanSave property change everywhere one of the properties it depends changes:
OnPropertyChanged("DatabaseBusy");
OnPropertyChanged("CanSave");
And
OnPropertyChanged("IsEnabled");
OnPropertyChanged("CanSave");
How about this solution?
private bool _previousCanSave;
private void UpdateCanSave()
{
if (CanSave != _previousCanSave)
{
_previousCanSave = CanSave;
OnPropertyChanged("CanSave");
}
}
Then call UpdateCanSave() in the setters of IsLoaded and DatabaseBusy?
If you cannot modify the setters of IsLoaded and DatabaseBusy because they are in different classes, you could try calling UpdateCanSave() in the PropertyChanged event handler for the object defining IsLoaded and DatabaseBusy.

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