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In WPF MVVM, i have a usercontrol with a check box, how do i connect a command to the viewmodel

I am still new to WPF and MVVM and am trying to keep the seperation between View and View Model.
i have an app, essentially a projects task list app, in this i create projects and within each project i can create a set of tasks. Most is working well, but essentially i cannot get a command binding on a checkbox in a user control to work using DP, inherited datacontext etc. i always ge a binding failed error when running the app. i am trying to bing to a command in the viewmodel of the view which contains the user controls.
i created a user control to pull the task data together in the view, the command is on the checkbox
<UserControl x:Class="TaskProjectApp.Controls.TaskControl"
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:local="clr-namespace:TaskProjectApp.Controls"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="100" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid Background="LightBlue">
<StackPanel Margin="5,5,5,5">
<TextBlock x:Name="titleTB"
Text="title"
FontSize="20"
FontWeight="Bold"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="DescriptionTB"
Text="description.."
FontSize="15"
Foreground="DodgerBlue"/>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="auto"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock x:Name="priority"
Text="0"
FontSize="15"
FontStyle="Italic"/>
<CheckBox Grid.Column="1"
x:Name="iscomplete"
Command="{Binding SetComplete}"/>
</Grid>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</UserControl>
in the user control code behind i have set the DP and the set text function is working
namespace TaskProjectApp.Controls
{
/// <summary>
/// Interaction logic for TaskControl.xaml
/// </summary>
public partial class TaskControl : UserControl
{
public UserTask Task
{
get { return (UserTask)GetValue(TaskProperty); }
set { SetValue(TaskProperty, value); }
}
// Using a DependencyProperty as the backing store for Task. This enables animation, styling, binding, etc...
public static readonly DependencyProperty TaskProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("Task", typeof(UserTask), typeof(TaskControl), new PropertyMetadata(new UserTask()
{
Title = "title",
Description = "none",
Comments = "none"
}, SetText));
private static void SetText(DependencyObject d, DependencyPropertyChangedEventArgs e)
{
TaskControl task = d as TaskControl;
if (task != null)
{
task.titleTB.Text = (e.NewValue as UserTask).Title;
task.DescriptionTB.Text = (e.NewValue as UserTask).Description;
task.priority.Text = (e.NewValue as UserTask).Priority.ToString();
task.iscomplete.IsChecked = (e.NewValue as UserTask).IsComplete;
}
}
public TaskControl()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
}
}
now to make this work i set the binding of the user control in the window as so, the listview takes the usercontrols and implements the observable collection of tasks.
<Window x:Class="TaskProjectApp.Views.ProjectsView"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
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"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:TaskProjectApp.Views"
xmlns:uc="clr-namespace:TaskProjectApp.Controls"
mc:Ignorable="d"
Title="ProjectsView" Height="450" Width="800">
<Grid>
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="auto"/>
<RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<uc:ProjectControl Project="{Binding UserProject}" />
<StackPanel Grid.Row="1">
<TextBlock Text="Task List"/>
<ListView ItemsSource="{Binding Tasks}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedTask}">
<ListView.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<uc:TaskControl Task="{Binding}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListView.ItemTemplate>
</ListView>
<Button Content="Add Task"
Command="{Binding NewProjectTask}"/>
<Button Content="Delete Task"
Command="{Binding DeleteProjectTask}"/>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</Window>
this seems to completely stop me using the command, i set the datacontext in the code behind, to the whole window
public partial class ProjectsView : Window
{
public ProjectViewModel ProjectViewModel { get; set; }
public ProjectsView()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public ProjectsView(UserProject userProject)
{
InitializeComponent();
ProjectViewModel = new ProjectViewModel(userProject);
DataContext = ProjectViewModel;
}
}
and reading trying to solve this has shown that the usercontrol should inherit the datacontext of the parent window.
i have seen solutions using relative paths and DPs for the commands as well as people saying these are not needed just let the inherited datacontext handle it.
but i have tried all three an neither works.
the interface shows me a message box saying no datacontext found, although i notice this is the case when you set the datacontext in code behind and not the xaml.
the SetCommand is created in the projects view model and its a property not a field as i have seen this fail for that reason too.
namespace TaskProjectApp.ViewModels
{
public class ProjectViewModel
{
public UserProject UserProject { get; set; }
public ProjectViewModel(UserProject userProject)
{
UserProject = userProject;
Tasks = new ObservableCollection<UserTask>();
NewProjectTask = new NewProjectTaskCommand(this);
DeleteProjectTask = new DeleteProjectTaskCommand(this);
SetComplete = new SetCompleteCommand();
ReadTaskDatabase();
}
public ObservableCollection<UserTask> Tasks { get; set; }
public NewProjectTaskCommand NewProjectTask { get; set; }
public DeleteProjectTaskCommand DeleteProjectTask { get; set; }
public SetCompleteCommand SetComplete { get; set; }
public UserTask SelectedTask { get; set; }
public void ReadTaskDatabase()
{
List<UserTask> list = new List<UserTask>();
using (SQLiteConnection newConnection = new SQLiteConnection(App.databasePath))
{
newConnection.CreateTable<UserTask>();
list = newConnection.Table<UserTask>().ToList().OrderBy(c => c.Title).ToList();
}
Tasks.Clear();
foreach (UserTask ut in list)
{
if (ut.ProjectId == UserProject.Id)
{
Tasks.Add(ut);
}
}
}
}
}
if anyone can point out where i am going wrong tat will be great as i fear i am now not seeing the wood for the trees.

I found the solution thanks to Ash link Binding to Window.DataContext.ViewModelCommand inside a ItemsControl not sure how i missed it, maybe wrong key words. anyway because the datacontext of the usercontrol is being made into my data class in the observable list Tasks
<StackPanel Grid.Row="1">
<TextBlock Text="Task List"/>
<ListView ItemsSource="{Binding Tasks}"
SelectedItem="{Binding SelectedTask}">
<ListView.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<uc:TaskControl Task="{Binding}"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListView.ItemTemplate>
</ListView>
<Button Content="Add Task"
Command="{Binding NewProjectTask}"/>
<Button Content="Delete Task"
Command="{Binding DeleteProjectTask}"/>
</StackPanel>
you need to use a relative path inside the user control to look up past the ItemTemplate to the ListView itself as this uses the viewmodel data context to bind to, so has access to the right level
<UserControl x:Class="TaskProjectApp.Controls.TaskControl"
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:local="clr-namespace:TaskProjectApp.Controls"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="100" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid Background="LightBlue">
<StackPanel Margin="5,5,5,5">
<TextBlock x:Name="titleTB"
Text="title"
FontSize="20"
FontWeight="Bold"/>
<TextBlock x:Name="DescriptionTB"
Text="description.."
FontSize="15"
Foreground="DodgerBlue"/>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="*"/>
<ColumnDefinition Width="auto"/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock x:Name="priority"
Text="0"
FontSize="15"
FontStyle="Italic"/>
<CheckBox Grid.Column="1"
x:Name="iscomplete"
Command="{Binding DataContext.SetComplete, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ListView}}"/>
</Grid>
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</UserControl>
this might be limiting in future as it measn the usercontrol will look for a listview to bind the command, but it solves the immediate issue.

WPF data binding through UserControls

I would like to bind property from the main window's DataContext, above you can see my UserControls and models. So I want to bind the Model.ID.Label1 and Model.ID.Label2 properties to the main_id/card_1/top and main_id/card_1/bottom controls. I hope it's clear. If I enable the
ref_lbl Label it will shows the "lbl1", the card_2 still working with the hardcoded texts but the card_1 will be blank. What should I modify to fix the binding on card_1?
I have an ID UserControl and it contains another UserControl.
XAML:
<UserControl x:Class="stack.ID"
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:Controls="clr-namespace:stack.Controls"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid>
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="1*" />
<RowDefinition Height="1*" />
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<Label Name="ref_lbl" Grid.Row="0" Content="{Binding Label1}" Visibility="Collapsed" />
<Controls:Card x:Name="card_1" Grid.Row="0" TopLabel="{Binding Label1}" BottomLabel="{Binding Label2}" />
<Controls:Card x:Name="card_2" Grid.Row="1" TopLabel="Text 1" BottomLabel="Text 2" />
</Grid>
Code Behind: default, auto generated
Here is the Card UserControl.
XAML:
<UserControl x:Class="stack.Controls.Card"
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" DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}">
<Grid>
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="1*" />
<RowDefinition Height="1*" />
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<Label Grid.Row="0" FontSize="20" Foreground="Black" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding TopLabel}" />
<Label Grid.Row="1" FontSize="20" Foreground="Black" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" Content="{Binding BottomLabel}" />
</Grid>
Code Behind:
namespace stack.Controls
{
public partial class Card : UserControl
{
public static readonly DependencyProperty TopLabelProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("TopLabel", typeof(string), typeof(Card), new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));
public static readonly DependencyProperty BottomLabelProperty = DependencyProperty.Register("BottomLabel", typeof(string), typeof(Card), new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));
public Card()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
public string TopLabel
{
get
{
return (string)GetValue(TopLabelProperty);
}
set
{
SetValue(TopLabelProperty, value);
}
}
public string BottomLabel
{
get
{
return (string)GetValue(BottomLabelProperty);
}
set
{
SetValue(BottomLabelProperty, value);
}
}
}
}
And here is my main window.
XAML:
<Window x:Class="stack.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:local="clr-namespace:stack"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Window.DataContext>
<local:Model />
</Window.DataContext>
<Grid>
<local:ID x:Name="main_id" DataContext="{Binding ID}" />
</Grid>
Code Behind: default, auto generated
And I also have 2 models.
namespace stack
{
public class IDModel
{
private string label1 = "lbl1";
private string label2 = "lbl2";
public string Label1
{
get
{
return label1;
}
set
{
label1 = value;
}
}
public string Label2
{
get
{
return label2;
}
set
{
label2 = value;
}
}
}
public class Model
{
private IDModel id = new IDModel();
public IDModel ID
{
get
{
return id;
}
set
{
id = value;
}
}
}
}

Remove
DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}"
from the Card's XAML.
It prevents inheriting the DataContext from its parent ID control, which is necessary when you write
<Controls:Card ... TopLabel="{Binding Label1}" />
Instead write the Content bindings in Card's XAML like this:
<Label ... Content="{Binding TopLabel,
RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=UserControl}}" />

Get property value WPF

I am trying get a value from a property but isn't working I always get a null value.
string imageNormal;
public static readonly DependencyProperty ImageNormalProperty =
DependencyProperty.Register("ImageNormal", typeof(string), typeof(MainWindow));
public string ImageNormal
{
get { return (string)GetValue(ImageNormalProperty); }
set { SetValue(ImageNormalProperty, value); }
}
public ButtonImageStyle()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = this;
Console.WriteLine("Path: " + ImageNormal);
}
Xaml ButtonImageStyle.xaml:
<Image Source="{Binding ImageNormal}" Stretch="None" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
Xaml MainWindow.xaml:
<local:ButtonImageStyle HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="60" VerticalAlignment="Top" Width="88" ImageNormal="C:/Users/Xafi/Desktop/add.png"/>
I always obtain next output:
Path:

since your ImageSource is have to be binded to it's parent DependencyProperty (which is defined to your code behind), you have to define your binding to be rlative to your UserControl (let's name it This). Thus please try to change your xaml in the next way:
Xaml code
<UserControl x:Class="SomeBindingExampleSOHelpAttempt.ButtonImageStyle"
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" x:Name="This">
<Grid>
<Image Source="{Binding ElementName=This, Path=ImageNormal, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged}"
Stretch="None" HorizontalAlignment="Center" VerticalAlignment="Center" />
</Grid></UserControl>
Here you can find an additional perfect answer.
Regards.

What is the datacontext of the user control?

I have a user control like so:
<Grid>
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding NameC}" Width="100" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Filename}" />
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
with DP in code behind:
public TestUc()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = this;
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty NameCProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"NameC", typeof(string), typeof(TestUc), new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));
public string NameC
{
get { return (string) GetValue(NameCProperty); }
set { SetValue(NameCProperty, value); }
}
public static readonly DependencyProperty FilenameProperty = DependencyProperty.Register(
"Filename", typeof (string), typeof (TestUc), new PropertyMetadata(default(string)));
public string Filename
{
get { return (string) GetValue(FilenameProperty); }
set { SetValue(FilenameProperty, value); }
}
Now, when using it in a window,
this works fine:
<Window x:Class="TestDpOnUc.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:uc="clr-namespace:TestDpOnUc"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
<uc:TestUc NameC="name is xxx" Filename="This is filename" />
</Grid>
But This does not:
<Window x:Class="TestDpOnUc.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:uc="clr-namespace:TestDpOnUc"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525">
<Grid>
<uc:TestUc NameC="{Binding Name}" Filename="{Binding FileName}" />
</Grid>
public MainWindow()
{
InitializeComponent();
DataContext = this;
Name = "name is nafsafd";
FileName = "lkjsfdalkf";
}
private string _Name;
public string Name
{
get { return _Name; }
set
{
_Name = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
private string _FileName;
public string FileName
{
get { return _FileName; }
set
{
_FileName = value;
OnPropertyChanged();
}
}
Can someone please explain why? Why is the datacontext of the user control not automatically set to the parent - the main window?

It's because of this line DataContext = this in UserControl constructor. You set DataContext to your user control which affects default binding context for TestUc and all children, including <uc:TestUc ... />. So at the moment
<uc:TestUc NameC="{Binding Name}" Filename="{Binding FileName}" />
will look for Name and FileName properties inside UserControl. You need to remove that line but that will break bindings within the user control.
<TextBlock Text="{Binding NameC}" Width="100" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding Filename}" />
Will look for NameC and Filename in MainWindow. Solution to that is to change binding context, per binding, via either RelativeSource or ElementName binding inside UserControl
<UserControl ... x:Name="myUserControl">
<Grid>
<StackPanel Orientation="Vertical">
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=myUserControl, Path=NameC}" Width="100" />
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=myUserControl, Path=Filename}" />
</StackPanel>
</Grid>
</UserControl>

When creating a UserControl with DependencyProperties you have to bind your DP's within your UserControl with ElementName- or RelativeSource Binding to your Controls in your UserControl
<TextBlock Text="{Binding ElementName=myUserControl, Path=NameC}" Width="100" />
and you never set the DataContext.
DataContext = this; <-- do not do that within your UserControl
When you wanna use your UserControl you put it in your View and bind the Properties of your actual DataContext/Viewmodel to the DependencyProperties of the UserControl.
<uc:TestUc NameC="{Binding Name}" Filename="{Binding FileName}" />

Whe you are doing <uc:TestUc NameC="{Binding Name}" Filename="{Binding FileName}" /> its not looking at MainWindow's data context instead at your UserControl's data context.
So you might want to search for the right element and bind it. Below is one way to do it using ElementName by giving a name to Window like MainWindowName. Or you can also use relative source to search for its ancestor.
<Window x:Class="TestDpOnUc.MainWindow"
xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:uc="clr-namespace:TestDpOnUc"
xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
Title="MainWindow" Height="350" Width="525"
x:Name="MainWindowName">
<Grid>
<uc:TestUc NameC="{Binding Element=MainWindowName, Path=DataContext.Name}" Filename="{Binding Element=MainWindowName, Path=DataContext.FileName}" />
</Grid>

How to bind a property in the view model of a usercontrol to a property in another usercontrol

I am currently working within a WPF user control using MVVM. My MainWindow.xaml looks like below.
MainWindow.xaml
<Window.Resources>
<ObjectDataProvider x:Key="TabsList" ObjectType="{x:Type local:MainWindowModel}" MethodName="GetTabs"/>
</Window.Resources>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
<ColumnDefinition/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ListBox Grid.Column="0" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource TabsList}}" IsSynchronizedWithCurrentItem="True">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Label Content="{Binding Path=TabName}" Margin="10"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
<ContentControl Grid.Column="1" Content="{Binding Source={StaticResource TabsList}, Path=MyUserControl}"/>
</Grid>
Data provider class is as below
public class MainWindowModel
{
public List<TabInfo> GetTabs()
{
return new List<TabInfo>()
{
new TabInfo() { TabName="Tab1", MyUserControl = new UserControl1()},
new TabInfo() { TabName="Tab2", MyUserControl = new UserControl2()}
};
}
}
public class TabInfo
{
public string TabName { get; set; }
public UserControl MyUserControl { get; set; }
}
And now I have two usercontrols UserControl1 and UserControl2 each has a text box control. I would like to update the Text property of the textbox control in the UserControl1 whenever the Text property of the Textbox control in the UserControl2 is updated. To do this, I tried as below.
UserControl1
<UserControl x:Class="MoreOnBinding2.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"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid>
<TextBox Width="200" Height="20" Text="{Binding Path=UserControl1Text}"/>
</Grid>
UserControl1ViewModel
public class UserControl1VM : ViewModelBase
{
public UserControl1VM()
{
this.UserControl1Text = "10";
}
private string userControl1Text;
public string UserControl1Text
{
get { return userControl1Text; }
set
{
if (userControl1Text != value)
{
userControl1Text = value;
RaisePropertyChanged(() => UserControl1Text);
}
}
}
}
UserControl2
<UserControl x:Class="MoreOnBinding2.UserControl2"
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:local="clr-namespace:MoreOnBinding2"
mc:Ignorable="d"
d:DesignHeight="300" d:DesignWidth="300">
<Grid>
<TextBox Width="200" Height="20"
Text="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type local:UserControl1}},
UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, Path=UserControl1Text}" />
</Grid>
But it is not working. It seems there is a problem in the RelativeSource tag in the UserControl2. Can someone help on this.

You could use a Dependency Property on your user controls this would give you a bind able property. see link
EDIT 1
Just had another look at your class setup. If you are following the MVVM approach I don't think you should have a reference to your user control in your view model
View Model should be more Like
public Class
{
ObservableCollection<TabInfo> _Tabs = new ObservableCollection<TabInfo>();
public ObservableCollection<TabInfo> Tabs
{
get{return _Tabs;}
set {_Tabs = value;}//Need to implement INotifyPropertyChanged [Link][2]
}
public TabInfo SelectedTab {get;set;}
}
public class TabInfo
{
public string TabName { get; set; }
public UserControlViewModel MyUserControlViewModel{ get; set; }
}
Then in your View
<Window.DataContext>
<vm:MainWindowModel />
</Window.DataContext>
<Grid>
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="Auto"/>
<ColumnDefinition/>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ListBox Grid.Column="0" ItemsSource="{Binding Tabs}" IsSynchronizedWithCurrentItem="True" SelectedValue="{Binding SelectedTab}">
<ListBox.ItemTemplate>
<DataTemplate>
<Label Content="{Binding Path=TabName}" Margin="10"/>
</DataTemplate>
</ListBox.ItemTemplate>
</ListBox>
<ContentControl Grid.Column="1" Content="{Binding SelectedTab.MyUserControlViewModel"/>
</Grid>
This should give you a list of Tabs and then when one is selected it will set the content of the ContentControl to the MyUserControlViewModel.
You would then need to use some sort of template selector to control the ContentTemplate to load different UserControls into the ContentControl
I haven't tested the code works and you would need to implement the INotifyPropertyChanged on all the public properties so the bindings update as the properties value is changed.
Hope that helps a bit.