WinRT (Win 8) Store App XAML Bindings RelativeSourceMode FindAncestor missing?

Question

does anybody know what the "new way" of FindAncestor in XAML bindings is? Looking at the RelativeSourceMode (http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/apps/windows.ui.xaml.data.relativesourcemode) there are only options left for referencing self or the TemplatedParent. FindAncestor is gone. I'd like to know why and what are the typical solutions to the problems I fixed using FindAncestor.

Best regards Gope

Answer 1

Why it's missing? No idea, but I doubt there's an explanation other than "Microsoft did not have enough time to implement all the features in time".

An easy work-around is to use ElementName instead, as in:

Binding={ ElementName=TheNameOfTheAncesor, Path=DataContext.TheViewModelProperyIWantToBindTo }

And to add an x:Name attribute to the ancestor you wanted your FindAncestor binding to point to:

<TextBlock x:Name="TheNameOfTheAncestor" />

Answer 2

There is no general solution for this lack afaik, for example you can't access ListViewItem properties in DataTemplate so you can't react on selection change elegantly. You should find workaround for each particular case until FindAncestor will be added(I can't believe that this absence is not just due to the lack of time)