How to: Specify the Binding Source
In data binding, the binding source object refers to the object you obtain your data from. This topic describes the different ways of specifying the binding source.
Example
If you are binding several properties to a common source, you want to use the DataContext property, which provides a convenient way to establish a scope within which all data-bound properties inherit a common source.
In the following example, the data context is established on the root element of the application. This allows all child elements to inherit that data context. Data for the binding comes from a custom data class, NetIncome, referenced directly through a mapping and given the resource key of incomeDataSource.
<Grid
xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
x:Class="SDKSample.DirectionalBinding"
xmlns:c="clr-namespace:SDKSample"
Name="Page1"
>
<Grid.Resources>
<c:NetIncome x:Key="incomeDataSource"/>
<Style TargetType="{x:Type TextBlock}">
<Setter Property="Padding" Value="8"/>
</Style>
<Style TargetType="{x:Type TextBox}">
<Setter Property="Margin" Value="0,6,0,0"/>
</Style>
</Grid.Resources>
<Grid.DataContext>
<Binding Source="{StaticResource incomeDataSource}"/>
</Grid.DataContext>
...
</Grid>
The following example shows the definition of the NetIncome class.
Public Class NetIncome
Implements INotifyPropertyChanged
' Events
Public Event PropertyChanged As PropertyChangedEventHandler Implements INotifyPropertyChanged.PropertyChanged
' Methods
Public Sub New()
Me._totalIncome = 5000
Me._rent = 2000
Me._food = 0
Me._misc = 0
Me._savings = 0
Me._savings = (Me.TotalIncome - ((Me.Rent + Me.Food) + Me.Misc))
End Sub
Private Sub OnPropertyChanged(ByVal info As String)
RaiseEvent PropertyChanged(Me, New PropertyChangedEventArgs(info))
End Sub
Private Sub UpdateSavings()
Me.Savings = (Me.TotalIncome - ((Me.Rent + Me.Misc) + Me.Food))
If ((Me.Savings >= 0) AndAlso (Me.Savings >= 0)) Then
End If
End Sub
' Properties
Public Property Food As Integer
Get
Return Me._food
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
If (Me.Food <> value) Then
Me._food = value
Me.OnPropertyChanged("Food")
Me.UpdateSavings()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property Misc As Integer
Get
Return Me._misc
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
If (Me.Misc <> value) Then
Me._misc = value
Me.OnPropertyChanged("Misc")
Me.UpdateSavings()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property Rent As Integer
Get
Return Me._rent
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
If (Me.Rent <> value) Then
Me._rent = value
Me.OnPropertyChanged("Rent")
Me.UpdateSavings()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property Savings As Integer
Get
Return Me._savings
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
If (Me.Savings <> value) Then
Me._savings = value
Me.OnPropertyChanged("Savings")
Me.UpdateSavings()
End If
End Set
End Property
Public Property TotalIncome As Integer
Get
Return Me._totalIncome
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
If (Me.TotalIncome <> value) Then
Me._totalIncome = value
Me.OnPropertyChanged("TotalIncome")
End If
End Set
End Property
' Fields
Private _food As Integer
Private _misc As Integer
Private _rent As Integer
Private _savings As Integer
Private _totalIncome As Integer
End Class
public class NetIncome : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
private int totalIncome = 5000;
private int rent = 2000;
private int food = 0;
private int misc = 0;
private int savings = 0;
public NetIncome()
{
savings = totalIncome - (rent+food+misc);
}
public int TotalIncome
{
get
{
return totalIncome;
}
set
{
if( TotalIncome != value)
{
totalIncome = value;
OnPropertyChanged("TotalIncome");
}
}
}
public int Rent
{
get
{
return rent;
}
set
{
if( Rent != value)
{
rent = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Rent");
UpdateSavings();
}
}
}
public int Food
{
get
{
return food;
}
set
{
if( Food != value)
{
food = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Food");
UpdateSavings();
}
}
}
public int Misc
{
get
{
return misc;
}
set
{
if( Misc != value)
{
misc = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Misc");
UpdateSavings();
}
}
}
public int Savings
{
get
{
return savings;
}
set
{
if( Savings != value)
{
savings = value;
OnPropertyChanged("Savings");
UpdateSavings();
}
}
}
private void UpdateSavings()
{
Savings = TotalIncome - (Rent+Misc+Food);
if(Savings < 0)
{}
else if(Savings >= 0)
{}
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private void OnPropertyChanged(String info)
{
PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler !=null)
{
handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(info));
}
}
}
Note
The above example instantiates the object in markup and uses it as a resource. If you want to bind to an object that has already been instantiated in code, you need to set the DataContext property programmatically. For an example, see How to: Make Data Available for Binding in XAML.
Alternatively, if you want to specify the source on your individual bindings explicitly, you have the following options. These take precedence over the inherited data context.
Property |
Description |
|---|---|
You use this property to set the source to an instance of an object. If you do not need the functionality of establishing a scope in which several properties inherit the same data context, you can use the Source property instead of the DataContext property. For more information, see Source. |
|
This is useful when you want to specify the source relative to where your binding target is. Some common scenarios where you may use this property is when you want to bind one property of your element to another property of the same element or if you are defining a binding in a style or a template. For more information, see RelativeSource. |
|
You specify a string that represents the element you want to bind to. This is useful when you want to bind to the property of another element on your application. For example, if you want to use a Slider to control the height of another control in your application, or if you want to bind the Content of your control to the SelectedValue property of your ListBox control. For more information, see ElementName. |
See Also
Reference
FrameworkContentElement.DataContext