MVVM – First Application

In this chapter, we will learn how to use MVVM patterns for simple input screen and the WPF application that you may already be used to.

Let’s have a look at a simple example in which we will be using MVVM approach.

Step 1 − Create a new WPF Application project MVVMDemo.

Step 2 − Add the three folders (Model, ViewModel, and Views) into your project.

Step 3 − Add a StudentModel class in the Model folder and paste the below code in that class

using System.ComponentModel;

namespace MVVMDemo.Model {
 
   public class StudentModel {}
	
   public class Student : INotifyPropertyChanged {
      private string firstName; 
      private string lastName;
		
      public string FirstName { 
         get { 
            return firstName; 
         }
			
         set { 
            if (firstName != value) { 
               firstName = value; 
               RaisePropertyChanged("FirstName"); 
               RaisePropertyChanged("FullName"); 
            } 
         } 
      }
		
      public string LastName { 
         get {return lastName; } 
			
         set {
            if (lastName != value) { 
               lastName = value;
               RaisePropertyChanged("LastName");
               RaisePropertyChanged("FullName"); 
            } 
         } 
      }
		
      public string FullName { 
         get { 
            return firstName + " " + lastName; 
         } 
      }
		
      public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropertyChanged;
		
      private void RaisePropertyChanged(string property) {
         if (PropertyChanged != null) {
            PropertyChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(property));
         } 
      } 
   } 
}

Step 4 − Add another StudentViewModel class into ViewModel folder and paste the following code.

using MVVMDemo.Model; 
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;

namespace MVVMDemo.ViewModel { 

   public class StudentViewModel { 
	
      public ObservableCollection<Student> Students { 
         get; 
         set; 
      }
		
      public void LoadStudents() { 
         ObservableCollection<Student> students = new ObservableCollection<Student>();
				
         students.Add(new Student { FirstName = "Mark", LastName = "Allain" }); 
         students.Add(new Student { FirstName = "Allen", LastName = "Brown" }); 
         students.Add(new Student { FirstName = "Linda", LastName = "Hamerski" }); 
			
         Students = students; 
      } 
   } 
}

Step 5 − Add a new User Control (WPF) by right click Views folder and Select Add > New Item…

Step 6 − Click Add button. Now you will see the XAML file. Add the following code into StudentView.xaml file which contains different UI elements.

<UserControl x:Class = "MVVMDemo.Views.StudentView" 
   xmlns = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation" 
   xmlns:x = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml" 
   xmlns:mc = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" 
   xmlns:d = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008" 
   xmlns:local = "clr-namespace:MVVMDemo.Views" 
   mc:Ignorable = "d" 
   d:DesignHeight = "300" d:DesignWidth = "300">
	
   <Grid> 
      <StackPanel HorizontalAlignment = "Left"> 
		
         <ItemsControl ItemsSource = "{Binding Path = Students}">
			
            <ItemsControl.ItemTemplate> 
               <DataTemplate> 
                  <StackPanel Orientation = "Horizontal">
                     <TextBox Text = "{Binding Path = FirstName, Mode = TwoWay}" 
                        Width = "100" Margin = "3 5 3 5"/>
								
                     <TextBox Text = "{Binding Path = LastName, Mode = TwoWay}" 
                        Width = "100" Margin = "0 5 3 5"/>
								
                     <TextBlock Text = "{Binding Path = FullName, Mode = OneWay}" 
                        Margin = "0 5 3 5"/>
								
                  </StackPanel> 
               </DataTemplate> 
            </ItemsControl.ItemTemplate> 
				
         </ItemsControl> 
			
      </StackPanel> 
   </Grid> 
	
</UserControl>

Step 7 − Now add the StudentView into your MainPage.xaml file using the following code.

<Window x:Class = "MVVMDemo.MainWindow"
   xmlns = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
   xmlns:x = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
   xmlns:d = "http://schemas.microsoft.com/expression/blend/2008"
   xmlns:mc = "http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
   xmlns:local = "clr-namespace:MVVMDemo"
   xmlns:views = "clr-namespace:MVVMDemo.Views"
   mc:Ignorable = "d"
   Title = "MainWindow" Height = "350" Width = "525">
	
   <Grid>
      <views:StudentView x:Name = "StudentViewControl" Loaded = "StudentViewControl_Loaded"/>
   </Grid>
	
</Window>

Step 8 − Here is the implementation for Loaded event in the MainPage.xaml.cs file, which will update the View from the ViewModel.

using System.Windows;

namespace MVVMDemo {

   /// <summary>
      /// Interaction logic for MainWindow.xaml
   /// </summary>
	
   public partial class MainWindow : Window {
	
      public MainWindow() {
         InitializeComponent();
      }
		
      private void StudentViewControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) {
         MVVMDemo.ViewModel.StudentViewModel studentViewModelObject = 
            new MVVMDemo.ViewModel.StudentViewModel();
         studentViewModelObject.LoadStudents();
			
         StudentViewControl.DataContext = studentViewModelObject;
      }
   }
}

Step 9 − When the above code is compiled and executed, you will receive the following output on your main window.

We recommend you to execute the above example in a step-by-step manner for better understanding.