Binding Silverlight UserControl to a complex object

Question

What is the "best" (or the most-often-used) approach when binding a complex class to a user control for re-use?

I am trying to create some reusable libraries for classes, and I am not sure which approach I should use. Example: I want to create an Address library that defines and Address class (with properties Line1, Line2 etc.), it's validation logic and an AddressControl which acts as the viewer/editor with bound fields for each property.

In use I might have a customer class with BillingAddress, DeliveryAddress properties and I would want to bind these in my customer control thus:

<addressLib:AddressControl [xxx]="{Binding BillingAddress}" />

So the question is what do I put in XXX?

Initially I thought of creating a DependencyProperty 'Address' on the control:

<addressLib:AddressControl Address="{Binding BillingAddress}" />

But now I am thinking surely I could just use the existing DataContext property?

<addressLib:AddressControl DataContext="{Binding BillingAddress}" />

Is this the best approach? Are there any issues e.g. updates or NotifyPropertyChange issues?

many thanks for your help!

Answer 1

One difference to remember is that with dependency property you get change notification and with datacontext you don't (at least not untill SL5 is out)

Answer 2

Setting the DataContext of your control to your model (in this case a BillingAddress) is the way to go. If your Control is used in a DataTemplate for an ItemsControl then the DataContext would be of course just "{Binding}".