How do I use WPF bindings with RelativeSource?

Question

How do I use RelativeSource with WPF bindings and what are the different use-cases?

Answer 1

I created a library to simplify the binding syntax of WPF including making it easier to use RelativeSource. Here are some examples. Before:

{Binding Path=PathToProperty, RelativeSource={RelativeSource Self}}
{Binding Path=PathToProperty, RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType={x:Type typeOfAncestor}}}
{Binding Path=PathToProperty, RelativeSource={RelativeSource TemplatedParent}}
{Binding Path=Text, ElementName=MyTextBox}

After:

{BindTo PathToProperty}
{BindTo Ancestor.typeOfAncestor.PathToProperty}
{BindTo Template.PathToProperty}
{BindTo #MyTextBox.Text}

Here is an example of how method binding is simplified. Before:

// C# code
private ICommand _saveCommand;
public ICommand SaveCommand {
 get {
  if (_saveCommand == null) {
   _saveCommand = new RelayCommand(x => this.SaveObject());
  }
  return _saveCommand;
 }
}

private void SaveObject() {
 // do something
}

// XAML
{Binding Path=SaveCommand}

After:

// C# code
private void SaveObject() {
 // do something
}

// XAML
{BindTo SaveObject()}

You can find the library here: http://www.simplygoodcode.com/2012/08/simpler-wpf-binding.html

Note in the 'BEFORE' example that I use for method binding that code was already optimized by using RelayCommand which last I checked is not a native part of WPF. Without that the 'BEFORE' example would have been even longer.