Effective DataBinding: How to Use an ObservableCollection with a DataGrid in WPF

Learn how to correctly bind data to a DataGrid in WPF using ObservableCollection for dynamic updates without hassle.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/67137385/ asked by the user 'JohnFo6' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/15671733/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/67137680/ provided by the user 'EldHasp' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/13349759/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Understanding DataBinding in WPF: The Power of ObservableCollection

In the world of Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), data binding is an essential technique that facilitates the communication between the user interface (UI) and the underlying data models. However, many developers run into issues when attempting to bind data, particularly when using lists. A common situation arises when an application shows only the column headers of a DataGrid while failing to display the actual data.

The Problem: DataGrid Shows No Data

In one case, a developer had created a list from a database table and tried to bind that list to a DataGrid. Despite having set the DataGrid correctly, it showed only the predefined column names without any data. This raised the question: Why wasn't the binding working?

Let's take a deeper look into the solution to this binding issue.

The Solution: Use ObservableCollection

Why ObservableCollection?

The core of the problem often lies in the type of collection used for binding. To ensure that the UI updates when items are added or removed, you should use an ObservableCollection<T>, which implements INotifyCollectionChanged. This allows the UI to automatically refresh when changes occur to the collection.

Steps to Implement the Solution

Here’s how you can change your existing code to properly utilize ObservableCollection:

Change the Property Type:

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Initialize and Populate the Collection:
In the constructor of your ViewModel, call the Update method:

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Implement the Update Method:
Define the Update method to clear the collection and repopulate it:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Retrieving Data:
The GetAllDatainTable() method can remain largely the same, although ensure everything returns correctly formatted data:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Additional Considerations

Setting the DataContext: Ensure that the ViewModel instance is correctly set as the DataContext for your Window or UserControl. This is crucial since the bindings in XAML look for properties on the DataContext.

Calling the Update Method: Verify that you are calling the Update method at the appropriate time, ideally after the ViewModel is set as the DataContext.

Example XAML DataGrid

Here's how the DataGrid definition might look:

[[See Video to Reveal this Text or Code Snippet]]

Final Thoughts

By switching to ObservableCollection, you enable effective data binding in your WPF applications, allowing your DataGrid to reflect real-time changes in the data. Remember that setting the DataContext and calling the data update method are essential steps to ensure everything works seamlessly.

Implement these changes in your application, and you'll find that binding a list to a DataGrid becomes a simple, efficient process. Happy coding!

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