MVVM : Share data between ViewModels

Question

How do I share data between multiple ViewModels ?

For example there is a class named Project in application .

    public class Project : ModelB         


        

Answer 1

Don't, don't. Don't use singletons this way in your MVVM application. In fact, the Project class should be a model for your ViewModels. Just pass it in vm's constructor. If you really need to share one instance of Project class in multiple vm's, then use factories and some type of cache when constructing view models. If your vm reguires some more information, just create special Model class which will derive from Project (or implement IProject), so you can easilly use interface segregation principle.

Answer 2

I would create a ViewModel that acts as a parent to all the Project ViewModels. (Let's call it Solution)

The Solution ViewModel would have the property ActiveProject and an observable collection of Projects.

Answer 3

I would recommend the Mediator Pattern. I have used an EventAggregator for this type of messaging between VM's before and there is really not much to it.

Answer 4

You could have a static collection which your view model populate before you navigate to the new view model. The target view model can then retrieve the data from within it's constructor.

For example ViewModel1 (VM1) will create a Project and populate it. VM1 will then put the Project into a shard, static, collection. VM1 will then navigate to another view model (VM2). In the constructor of VM2 you would go to the collection and retrieve the Project placed in there by VM1.

If you used a dictionary of key-value pairs it would also allow you to share other data between view models.

Answer 5

Singleton will definitely help. To implement, if I had a class named User:

    private static User mInstance;

    private User () //constructor
    {
    }

    public static User Instance
    {
        get
        {
            if (mInstance == null)
                mInstance = new User();
            return mInstance;
        }
    }