Data Binding doesn't work when I assign a new object instance to the bound variable

Question

I have an object that I have bound to a control on a form using C# WinForms (targetting .NET 4.5.2). I have implemented INotifyPropertyChanged, and when I modif

Answer 1

To get the desired behavior, you should not bind directly to the concrete instance like you do currently:

lblName.DataBindings.Add("Text", currentUser, "Name");

Instead, you need some intermediary. The easiest is to use the BindingSource component for that purpose.

Add a BindingSource field to the form:

private BindingSource dataSource;

Then initialize it and bind the controls to it one time (usually in form Load event):

dataSource = new BindingSource { DataSource = typeof(User) };
lblName.DataBindings.Add("Text", dataSource, "Name");
// ...

Now anytime you want to bind to a User instance, you simply assign it to the DataSource property of the BindingSource:

initial:

dataSource.DataSource = new User("Example Name");

later:

dataSource.DataSource = new User("New Name");