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WPF DataBinding not updating with INotifyPropertyChanged

I'm trying to create a very simple data binding app for practice but I can't get it to work, I've looked at a lot of different solutions but none of them help and I can't figure out the problem.
MainWindow.xaml:
<Window.DataContext>
<local:ViewModel/>
</Window.DataContext>
<Grid>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding BindText, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}"/>
</Grid>
Window1.xaml:
<Window.DataContext>
<local:ViewModel/>
</Window.DataContext>
<Grid>
<TextBox Text="{Binding BindText, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}"/>
</Grid>
ViewModel:
using System.ComponentModel;
namespace bindtest
{
public class ViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
private string bindText = "Hello";
public string BindText
{
get { return bindText; }
set
{
bindText = value;
OnPropertyChanged("BindText");
}
}
private void OnPropertyChanged(string propertyName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
}
}
The text displays correctly when it first loads but then won't update. The text in MainWindow is meant to update when the text in window1 changes.
Any solutions?
Thanks

As JanDotNet suggests, you need to use a single instance of the view model. So in your app level code for instance you would do something like:
public partial class App : Application
{
private void App_Startup(object sender, StartupEventArgs e)
{
try
{
ViewModel vm = new ViewModel();
MainWindow w = new MainWindow(vm);
Window1 w1 = new Window1(vm);
w.Show();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}
}
}
And then your window constructors modified like so:
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
pulic MainWindow(ViewModel vm)
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = vm;
}
}

Since you are creating your view model via:
<Window.DataContext>
<local:ViewModel/>
</Window.DataContext>
you have 2 distinct instances of the view models. You have to bind the same instance of your view models against the views.
How to bind the same instance against 2 views?
The simplest way in your case is, to create a singleton:
public class ViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public ViewModel Instance {get; } = new ViewModel();
// ....
}
and bind to it:
<Window DataContext="{Binding Source={x:Static local:ViewModel.Instance}}" /* ... */>
Note that it is not the best way....
You should use PropertyChanged?.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName)); or
var handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null)
handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName)
to ensure that the handler wasn't unsubscribed beween checking for null and invoking the event handler!

Cannot get internal XAML binding to work against a Dependency Property

I have a user control "CtrlComments", this control has the following XAML (It's super basic).
<UserControl
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:wpftoolkit="http://schemas.microsoft.com/wpf/2008/toolkit"
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"
x:Name="ucRoot">
<Grid>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock Text="ID: " />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Deployment.Id}" />
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
The code behind is as follows, it's the bare basics to get the control to function. The key is the DependencyObject typeof(DeploymentDto) which has an int property called Id that we are interested in showing on our window as per XAML binding above.
public partial class CtrlComments : UserControl, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty DeploymentProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("Deployment", typeof(DeploymentDto),
typeof(CtrlComments), new PropertyMetadata(new DeploymentDto()));
public DeploymentDto Deployment
{
get
{
return (DeploymentDto)GetValue(DeploymentProperty);
}
set
{
SetValue(DeploymentProperty, value);
OnPropertyChanged(new PropertyChangedEventArgs("Deployment"));
}
}
public CtrlComments()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.DataContext = this;
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
public void OnPropertyChanged(PropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
PropertyChanged(this, e);
}
}
Our problem is, despite the fact that the binding between the parent control and my user control via the dependency property is working (verified) and the OnPropertyChanged method firing, the TextBlock in my XAML isn't updating.
I have noticed that when the OnPropertyChanged method is run, the eventhandler is null meaning no one is notified that there was a property change.
I don't understand why this is the case though. If you could help explain where we are going wrong it would be enormously appreciated.
Thanks!

I have tried to replicate your problem and while doing so, I figured that the problem for me was in the following line in CtrlComments:
this.DataContext = this;
Dropping this line just made it work for me. Also note (as #Aron wrote in the comments) that the OnPropertyChanged of INotifyPropertyChanged shouldn't be called while in the setter of the DependencyProperty. At least for me it isn't necessary to implement INPC at all.
In the XAML file where you are using the UserControl you are most likely going to have another DataContext set (on a higher level, perhaps in the Window), and thus I guess it isn't inherited to the user control if already set in there (or overwritten). Below is my working code, but perhaps I misunderstood exactly what you're doing. If that is the case, please extend your question to include how you are using the UserControl, as that is a key to answering the question if this doesn't work :)
CtrlComments.xaml:
<UserControl x:Class="WpfApplication1.CtrlComments"
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>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<TextBlock Text="ID: "/>
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Path=Deployment.Id}"/>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</UserControl>
CtrlComments.xaml.cs:
namespace WpfApplication1
{
public partial class CtrlComments : UserControl
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty DeploymentProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("Deployment", typeof(DeploymentDto), typeof(CtrlComments), new PropertyMetadata(new DeploymentDto { Id = 5 }));
public DeploymentDto Deployment
{
get { return (DeploymentDto)GetValue(DeploymentProperty); }
set
{
SetValue(DeploymentProperty, value);
}
}
public CtrlComments()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
}
}
MainWindow.xaml:
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication1.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:WpfApplication1"
DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">
<StackPanel>
<local:CtrlComments x:Name="testUC" Height="100" Deployment="{Binding Deployment}"/>
<Button Click="Button_Click" Height="50" Width="100"/>
</StackPanel>
</Window>
MainWindow.xaml.cs:
namespace WpfApplication1
{
public partial class MainWindow : Window, INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private DeploymentDto deployment = new DeploymentDto { Id = 2 };
public DeploymentDto Deployment
{
get { return deployment; }
set { deployment = value; OnPropertyChanged("Deployment"); }
}
private void Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
Deployment = new DeploymentDto { Id = new Random().Next(100) };
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
public void OnPropertyChanged(string propName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
{
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propName));
}
}
}
}
DeploymentDto:
public class DeploymentDto
{
public int Id { get; set; }
}
It's quite ugly to bind MainWindow.DataContext to its code-behind, but since it's just used for example purposes I hope it's okay :)

How to excecute a command declared in child viewmodel in an MVVM app?

I've got a MainWindowVM and multiple child viewmodels inheriting from it.
MainWindowVM inherits from ViewModelBase which implements INotifyPropertychanged.
Each view has DataContext set to CurrentViewModel defined in MainWindowVM and every button
has got a binding to a command.
If I put the commands (and other command-handling code in the constructor) in the MainWindowVM,
button clicks in every view works as expected. I set MainControlVM as CurrentViewModel in the constructor of MainWindowVM.
Except for MainControlVM and MainWindowVM, setting commands in any other VM means they wont execute.
However, I want to have commands only in the VMs they are used.
I found many tutorials on MVVM with only one or two viewmodels so this situation isnt an issue for them.
Edit including code:
This is the relevant code:
Part of one of the child views in XAML with a binding:
<Grid DataContext="{Binding CurrentViewModel}" Margin="0,0,-186,0">
<Button Content="Add" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="25,249,0,0" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="62" Height="32"
Command="{Binding AddCategoryVMCommand}" />
MainWindowVM class contains:
public ICommand AddCategoryVMCommand { get; private set; }
and, in the constructor:
AddCategoryVMCommand = new RelayCommand(() => ExecuteAddCategoryVMCommand());
and:
protected void ExecuteAddCategoryVMCommand()
{
CurrentViewModel = new AddCategoryVM();
}
....and the same kind of code for each command. Aso, CurrentViewModel is set in the MainWindowVM class. This is the property that the MainWindow view uses to determine which view to display along with a datatemplate:
public ViewModelBase CurrentViewModel
{
get { return _currentViewModel; }
set
{
if (_currentViewModel == value)
return;
_currentViewModel = value;
this.RaiseNotifyPropertyChanged("CurrentViewModel");
}
}
How can I make commands execute when declared in child viewmodel?

There are a lot of comments going on, all out of sync and they appear to convolute the issue so I thought I would try to solve your problem with a basic example. The example deals solely with the command binding issue you appear to have.
I have created 3 ViewModel's, MyViewModel1 and MyViewModel2 are derived of MyViewModel. There is a command defined in the base ViewModel which is used to load the CurrentViewModel. The other 2 ViewModels contain their own commands.
public class MyViewModel : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
private MyViewModel currentViewModel;
public RelayCommand<object> MyCommand { get; set; }
public MyViewModel()
{
MyCommand = new RelayCommand<object>(MyCommandExecute);
}
public MyViewModel CurrentViewModel
{
get { return currentViewModel; }
set
{
if (value != currentViewModel)
{
currentViewModel = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
}
protected virtual void MyCommandExecute(object obj)
{
switch (int.Parse(obj.ToString()))
{
case 1:
CurrentViewModel = new MyViewModel1();
break;
case 2:
CurrentViewModel = new MyViewModel2();
break;
}
}
protected void OnPropertyChanged([CallerMemberName] string propertyName = null)
{
var handler = this.PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null)
{
handler.Invoke(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propertyName));
}
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
}
public class MyViewModel1 : MyViewModel
{
public RelayCommand<object> MyCommand1 { get; set; }
public MyViewModel1()
{
MyCommand1 = new RelayCommand<object>(MyCommand1Execute);
}
private void MyCommand1Execute(object obj)
{
Debug.WriteLine("MyCommand1");
}
}
public class MyViewModel2 : MyViewModel
{
public RelayCommand<object> MyCommand2 { get; set; }
public MyViewModel2()
{
MyCommand2 = new RelayCommand<object>(MyCommand2Execute);
}
private void MyCommand2Execute(object obj)
{
Debug.WriteLine("MyCommand2");
}
}
The code behind the UserControl1 is
public partial class UserControl1 : UserControl
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty ViewModelProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("ViewModel", typeof(MyViewModel1), typeof(UserControl1));
public UserControl1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public MyViewModel1 ViewModel
{
get { return GetValue(ViewModelProperty) as MyViewModel1; }
set { SetValue(ViewModelProperty, value); }
}
}
I have created the ViewModel Property as a DependencyProperty so I can bind to it from the MainWindow.
The Xaml of the user control is
<UserControl x:Class="StackOverflow._20937791.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"
xmlns:this="clr-namespace:StackOverflow._20937791"
mc:Ignorable="d" d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<StackPanel DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type this:UserControl1}}, Path=ViewModel}">
<Button Content="View 1 Command" Command="{Binding Path=MyCommand1}" />
</StackPanel>
</UserControl>
Note I have set up the DataContext on the first content element of the control. The bindings on all child elements are against the ViewModel of the UserControl while any incoming bindings (from the parent control) will be evaluated from the DataContext of that parent control.
Another point to note is that by defining the DataContext in the Xaml, you will get autocomplete in the Binding expressions which will cut down on bad expression errors.
The second UserControl is the same but the ViewModel is of type MyViewModel2.
Finally, the code for the MainWindow is
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public MyViewModel ViewModel { get; set; }
}
The Xaml is
<Window x:Class="StackOverflow._20937791.MainWindow" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:this="clr-namespace:StackOverflow._20937791"
DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}, Path=ViewModel}"
Title="MainWindow" Height="200" Width="300">
<Window.Resources>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type this:MyViewModel1}">
<this:UserControl1 ViewModel="{Binding}" />
</DataTemplate>
<DataTemplate DataType="{x:Type this:MyViewModel2}">
<this:UserControl2 ViewModel="{Binding}" />
</DataTemplate>
</Window.Resources>
<StackPanel>
<StackPanel Orientation="Horizontal">
<Button Content="Show View 1" Command="{Binding Path=MyCommand}" CommandParameter="1" Width="100" Margin="4" />
<Button Content="Show View 2" Command="{Binding Path=MyCommand}" CommandParameter="2" Width="100" Margin="0 4" />
</StackPanel>
<ContentControl Content="{Binding Path=CurrentViewModel}" Margin="20" />
</StackPanel>
</Window>
The UserControl is referenced in the main window and it has its ViewModel passed in.
The application shows a window that looks like
I hope this helps.

Firt, FYI - your approach is called the strategy pattern.
Now what you are doing sounds right but it's hard withou seeing your xaml.
Maybe you need to raise a propertychanged event after setting your vm properties?

It would be helpful if you would post your code .But if I havent misunderstood your question then you can try this
<Button Command="{Binding MainControlVM.ClickCommand}"
Set the binding MainControlVM.ClickCommand .Here ClickCommand is the name of your Command.
Update
I think the issue is in Setting the CurrentViewModel. You are setting the CurrentViewModel in the Action Of Command. I think you want to set the CurrentViewModel on the basis of Command. I think this could be better by CommandParameter . Like Bind all Buttons to same Base ViewModel Command and from each Command pass the different CommandParameter and then on Command compare that CommandParameter and set CurrentViewModel accordingly.
ViewModelBase ,Child1ViewModel ,Child2ViewModel
public class ViewModelBase:INotifyPropertyChanged
{
private ICommand _clickCommand;
public ICommand ClickCommand
{
get
{
return _clickCommand ?? (_clickCommand = new CommandHandler(MyAction,()=>true));
}
}
public void MyAction(object obj)
{
if(obj == null )
return;
//if CommandParameter is Cild1VM
if (obj.ToString() == "Child1VM")
CurrentViewModel = new Child1ViewModel();
//if CommandParameter is Cild1VM
else if (obj.ToString() == "Child2VM")
CurrentViewModel = new Child2ViewModel();
}
ViewModelBase _currentViewModel;
public ViewModelBase CurrentViewModel
{
get { return _currentViewModel; }
set
{
if (_currentViewModel == value)
return;
_currentViewModel = value;
this.RaiseNotifyPropertyChanged("CurrentViewModel");
}
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
void RaiseNotifyPropertyChanged(string propName)
{
if (PropertyChanged != null)
PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(propName));
}
}
public class Child1ViewModel : ViewModelBase
{ }
public class Child2ViewModel : ViewModelBase
{ }
xaml
<StackPanel>
<Button Content="Foo" Command="{Binding ClickCommand}" CommandParameter="Child1VM"/>
<Button Content="Bar" Command="{Binding ClickCommand}" CommandParameter="Child2VM"/>
</StackPanel>
xaml.cs
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = new ViewModelBase();
}
}
I hope this will give you an idea.

How to set DataContext on multiple Windows/Pages/Controls?

I have a question about how WPF MVVM works and have working code but not sure why it's working. Most of the tutorials online seem to give examples using a single Window so I'm not sure if I'm doing this correctly with multiple windows/pages/usercontrols.
If I have a class named ViewModel and I set the DataContext in MainWindow using the code below, then I've set the DataContext of the MainWindow only.
MainWindow.xaml.cs:
public partial class MainWindow
{
Private ViewModel viewModel = new ViewModel();
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.DataContext = this.viewModel;
}
}
If I then create a new usercontrol and then bind a DataGrid without specifying a path to the viewModel, why does the code below work when I haven't set the DataContext of the usercontrol?
Is this how WPF works or should I also be setting the DataContext in the usercontrol? What is the correct method to do this?
MainSignals.xaml:
<UserControl x:Class="ProjectXYZ.Content.MainSignals"
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:core="clr-namespace:System;assembly=mscorlib"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:ProjectXYZ.Content"
xmlns:mui="http://firstfloorsoftware.com/ModernUI"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300" >
<Grid>
<DockPanel>
<DataGrid Name="DG1" ItemsSource="{Binding ReceivedSignals}" >
<DataGrid.Columns>
<mui:DataGridTextColumn Header="SignalID" Binding="{Binding signalID}"/>
<mui:DataGridTextColumn Header="SignalType" Binding="{Binding signalType}"/>
</DataGrid.Columns>
</DataGrid>
</DockPanel>
</Grid>
</UserControl>
ViewModel.cs:
private ObservableCollection<MainWindow.SignalVar> _receivedSignals;
Public ViewModel()
{
}
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
// Create the OnPropertyChanged method to raise the event
protected void OnPropertyChanged(string name)
{
PropertyChangedEventHandler handler = PropertyChanged;
if (handler != null)
{
handler(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(name));
}
}
public ObservableCollection<MainWindow.SignalVar> ReceivedSignals
{
get { return _receivedSignals; }
set
{
if (value != _receivedSignals)
{
_receivedSignals = value;
OnPropertyChanged("ReceivedSignals");
}
}
}
UserControl.xaml.cs:
public partial class MainSignals : UserControl
{
public MainSignals()
{
InitializeComponent();
//this.DataContext = new ViewModel(); //WORKS WITHOUT THIS??
}
}

This is due to the fact that child control inherit the DataContext of their parent if their DataContext is not set explicitly. This is true for some of the DependancyProperties e.g if you set the Foreground of parent control all the child control inherit the same value of Foreground property.
In your case, as you have not set the DataContext explicitly for the child UserControl, it will take the DataContext of its parent, which is your Window here.

Implementing CollectionChanged Handler in XAML with WPF

I used the solution located at stackoverflow:event-fired-when-item-is-added-to-listview to utilize interface INotifyCollectionChanged in CodeBehind. Is there a way to add this EventHandler within the XAML?
Essentially, I want this line defined in XML:
((INotifyCollectionChanged)lbFiles.Items).CollectionChanged += lbFiles_SelectionChanged;

You should just be creating the CollectionChanged event on the collection that is bound to your ListBox/ListView etc, accessing controls derictly from code behind is not the WPF way to do things.
Example:
Xaml:
<Window x:Class="WpfApplication8.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="340" Width="480" Name="UI" >
<Grid DataContext="{Binding ElementName=UI}">
<ListBox ItemsSource="{Binding MyProperty}" />
</Grid>
</Window>
Code:
public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
private ObservableCollection<string> _myProperty = new ObservableCollection<string>();
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
MyProperty.CollectionChanged += MyProperty_CollectionChanged;
}
public ObservableCollection<string> MyProperty
{
get { return _myProperty; }
set { _myProperty = value; }
}
void MyProperty_CollectionChanged(object sender, System.Collections.Specialized.NotifyCollectionChangedEventArgs e)
{
// Collection Changed
}
}