Binding with object in Windows forms designer

Question

I am trying to bind a list in my namespace to BindingSource through designer. I know how to bind a list in code behind but I would also like to know if it is possible to do the same in designer.

Using the "Data Source Configuration Wizard", I have selected "Object" but it shows only namespace and classes.

I choose a class with List and clicked Finish.

This is the code generated in designer after choosing the class name

this.bindingSource1.DataSource = typeof(Template.Form3);

It looks like windows forms does not have support for binding a list in designer. I am not sure this is the right method or windows forms does not support it. If windows forms have no support for binding to an object, can anyone explain the reason?

Edit: I tried the suggestion in answer to choose a data member, but it does not bind the binding source with actual data in List. Now designer code looks like

this.bindingSource1.DataMember = "data";
this.bindingSource1.DataSource = typeof(Template.Form3);

Answer 1

The trick is to rebuild your solution, then any public class will be visible in the dropdown list to choose the datasource type from.

Then from the designer, click the binding source (bottom of screen) => Properties => DataMember => Select Property in your class to bind to (A List or Collection)

Edit:

Binding through the designer allows generation of columns at Design time, but it seems that you need to set the BindingSource's Data at runtime.

Since the bind object can't be static memeber but instance member.

private void bindingForm_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
    myDataSourceBindingSource.DataSource = (new  myDataSource()).MyDataSourceList;
}

Designer:

// 
// colADataGridViewTextBoxColumn
// 
this.colADataGridViewTextBoxColumn.DataPropertyName = "ColA";
this.colADataGridViewTextBoxColumn.HeaderText = "ColA";
this.colADataGridViewTextBoxColumn.Name = "colADataGridViewTextBoxColumn";
// 
// myDataSourceBindingSource
// 
this.myDataSourceBindingSource.DataMember = "MyDataSourceList";
this.myDataSourceBindingSource.DataSource = typeof(myNameSpace.myDataSource);

Class:

public class myDataSource
{
    public BindingList<myData> MyDataSourceList
    {
        get
        {
            var list = new List<myData>()
            {
                new myData() { ColA = "A" },
                new myData() { ColA = "B" }
            };

            return new BindingList<myData>(list);
        }
    }
}

public class myData
{
    public string ColA { set; get; }
}

I don't know if this makes sense for you, but this is how it works in Windows Forms.