How to set a binding in Code?

Question

I have the need to set a binding in code.

I can't seem to get it right tho.

This is what i have tried:

XAML:

<TextBox Name="txtText"></TextBox>

Code behind:

Binding myBinding = new Binding("SomeString");
myBinding.Source = ViewModel.SomeString;
myBinding.Mode = BindingMode.TwoWay;
myBinding.UpdateSourceTrigger = UpdateSourceTrigger.PropertyChanged;
BindingOperations.SetBinding(txtText, TextBox.TextProperty, myBinding);

ViewModel:

public string SomeString
    {
      get
      { 
          return someString;
      }
      set 
      { 
          someString= value;
          OnPropertyChanged("SomeString");
      }
    }

The property is not updating when i set it.

What am i doing wrong?

score 216 · Accepted Answer · edited May 07 '20 at 08:38

216

Replace:

myBinding.Source = ViewModel.SomeString;

with:

myBinding.Source = ViewModel;

Example:

Binding myBinding = new Binding();
myBinding.Source = ViewModel;
myBinding.Path = new PropertyPath("SomeString");
myBinding.Mode = BindingMode.TwoWay;
myBinding.UpdateSourceTrigger = UpdateSourceTrigger.PropertyChanged;
BindingOperations.SetBinding(txtText, TextBox.TextProperty, myBinding);

Your source should be just ViewModel, the .SomeString part is evaluated from the Path (the Path can be set by the constructor or by the Path property).

edited May 07 '20 at 08:38

Eliahu Aaron

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answered Sep 23 '11 at 06:45

Dyppl

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15

You could also use txtText.SetBinding(TextBox.TextProperty,myBinding) in place of last line just to reduce typing :) – Manish Dubey Mar 12 '15 at 11:42
6

@ManishDubey The benefit of the static method is that the first parameter is defined as a DependencyObject, so it enables data binding on objects that don't derive from FrameworkElement or FrameworkContentElement (such as Freezables). – FreddyFlares Jul 09 '17 at 12:54
Thanks for this. Struggled a bit looking for an example like this – Jesse Roper May 21 '20 at 20:29
Great! How do I clear that binding? – Quark Soup Apr 15 '22 at 19:47

score 12 · Answer 2 · edited May 07 '20 at 08:41

12

You need to change source to viewmodel object:

myBinding.Source = viewModelObject;

edited May 07 '20 at 08:41

Eliahu Aaron

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answered Sep 23 '11 at 06:47

bartosz.lipinski

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score 2 · Answer 3 · edited May 07 '20 at 08:06

In addition to the answer of Dyppl, I think it would be nice to place this inside the OnDataContextChanged event:

private void OnDataContextChanged(object sender, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
    // Unforunately we cannot bind from the viewmodel to the code behind so easily, the dependency property is not available in XAML. (for some reason).
    // To work around this, we create the binding once we get the viewmodel through the datacontext.
    var newViewModel = e.NewValue as MyViewModel;

    var executablePathBinding = new Binding
    {
        Source = newViewModel,
        Path = new PropertyPath(nameof(newViewModel.ExecutablePath))
    };

    BindingOperations.SetBinding(LayoutRoot, ExecutablePathProperty, executablePathBinding);
}

We have also had cases were we just saved the DataContext to a local property and used that to access viewmodel properties. The choice is of course yours, I like this approach because it is more consistent with the rest. You can also add some validation, like null checks. If you actually change your DataContext around, I think it would be nice to also call:

BindingOperations.ClearBinding(myText, TextBlock.TextProperty);

to clear the binding of the old viewmodel (e.oldValue in the event handler).

Stepagrus · Answer 4 · 2021-10-05T06:46:14.987

0

Example:

DataContext:

  class ViewModel
  {
    public string SomeString
    {
      get => someString;
      set 
      {
        someString = value;
        OnPropertyChanged(nameof(SomeString));
      }
    }
  }

Create Binding:

  new Binding("SomeString")
  {
    Mode = BindingMode.TwoWay,
    UpdateSourceTrigger = UpdateSourceTrigger.PropertyChanged
  };

edited Oct 05 '21 at 06:46

answered Oct 04 '21 at 10:58

Stepagrus

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How to set a binding in Code?

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