ContentControl with DataTemplateSelector - help needed

Question

I got an enoying problem... Maybe someone can (please!) help. I am using a model that has and enumeration of types and a property that should hold UI models for each selected type from enumeration: Let's define them like:

class ViewModel
   {
     Types selectedType{get;set;}
     UiModelBase editedModel{get;set;}
   }

I want to have a content control that use datatemplateselector to change his view each time I change the selectedType.

    <ListBox x:Name="RuleTypeList" ItemsSource="{Binding Source={StaticResource Types}}" SelectedItem="{Binding Path=selectedType}"/>     
    <!--Content control-->
    <ContentControl ContentTemplateSelector="{StaticResource ruleEditTemplateSelector}" 
             Content="{Binding SelectedItem, ElementName=RuleTypeList}"/>

the PROBLEM: In DataTemplates that I create to be returned by ruleEditTemplateSelector the DataContext is Type (agree with that) but I need access to the editedModel to create my DataTemplate...I do not know how to deal with it

Thanks in advance!

Answer 1

The solution was not very hard....

 DataContext="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ContentControl},Path=DataContext}"

In this way the context of template is the same with the content of his parent and I can acces his members. I think I tryind to do that but I didn't code correct... Thanks Cstein for involving !

Answer 2

If I understand you right you want to create your DataTemplate inside the templateselector, while the datatemplate is based on the editedModel property.

I would solve this problem this way:

Windows.xaml:

<Window.Resources>
    <local:Selector x:Key="sel"/>

    <DataTemplate x:Key="templateA">
        <TextBlock Text="{Binding editedModel.PropertyName}"/>
    </DataTemplate>

    <DataTemplate x:Key="templateB">
        <TextBlock Text="{Binding editedModel.PropertyName}"/>
    </DataTemplate>

    <DataTemplate x:Key="templateC">
        <TextBlock Text="{Binding editedModel.PropertyName}"/>
    </DataTemplate>

</Window.Resources>

Contentcontrol and listbox stay the same.

DataTemplateSelector:

public class Selector : DataTemplateSelector
{
    public override DataTemplate SelectTemplate(object item, DependencyObject container)
    {
        if (item is ClassA)
            return (container as FrameworkElement).FindResource("TemplateA") as DataTemplate;
        else if (item is ClassB)
            return (container as FrameworkElement).FindResource("TemplateB") as DataTemplate;
        else if (item is ClassC)
            return (container as FrameworkElement).FindResource("TemplateC") as DataTemplate;
        return null;
    }
}

This return an existing datatemplate depending on the item's type. I hope I understood you right and it helps you.