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?

Answer 1

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).

Answer 2

You need to change source to viewmodel object:

myBinding.Source = viewModelObject;

Answer 3

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).