Binding to settings?

[Peter Duniho]

Okay, I'm hoping I'm missing something obvious here.

Assume I've got a TextBox in my Form. I also have a string type user
setting in the usual way (say, Settings.Default.MyText).

Is there some way to use data binding to connect the two?

I tried the direct route, adding the Properties object to my data binding
sources, but nothing was in it, never mind could I drill down far enough
to get to the MyText property.

What am I missing? Do I have to create some sort of special binding
wrapper for this to work? Or is there some simple, direct way to hook up
the two existing objects?

Pete

 

[Marc Gravell]

is there some simple, direct way to hook up

the two existing objects?

Yes: DataBindings.Add(...) - example below (you need to add a settings
file with a string "TestSetting" for this to work)

Marc

static class Program
{
[STAThread]
static void Main()
{
Application.EnableVisualStyles();
using (Form f = new Form())
using (TextBox tb = new TextBox())
using (Label lbl = new Label())
{
lbl.Dock = tb.Dock = DockStyle.Top;
f.Controls.Add(tb);
f.Controls.Add(lbl);

// data-bind the textbox to a setting
// (OnPropertyChanged for quicker feedback for demo)
tb.DataBindings.Add("Text", Settings.Default,
"TestSetting", false,
DataSourceUpdateMode.OnPropertyChanged);
// and track in the form's caption and label just to
prove it works
f.DataBindings.Add("Text", Settings.Default,
"TestSetting");
lbl.DataBindings.Add("Text", Settings.Default,
"TestSetting");
Application.Run(f);
}
}
}

 

[Peter Duniho]

Yes: DataBindings.Add(...) - example below (you need to add a settings
file with a string "TestSetting" for this to work)

Great! Thanks very much.

Next question: the code looks to me pretty similar to what going through
the designer to add a binding would result in. Any idea why I wasn't able
to implement this in the designer? Why do I have to hand-code it? I've
been able to add bindings for other controls without all the trouble (such
as it is...the code's obviously not complicated ).

I have a feeling I'm missing some important step in the designer, but what
exactly that is doesn't come to mind at the moment.

Pete

 

[Marc Gravell]

Actually, in retrospect you might be able to... if you use the
(application settings) option in the property grid.

Marc

 

[Peter Duniho]

Actually, in retrospect you might be able to... if you use the
(application settings) option in the property grid.

Duh. That works just fine.

I think it's a little bizarre that the "ApplicationSettings" exists and is
separate from the normal "DataBindings" section. But it's not like it's
obscurely named or less prominent; I definitely should've been able to
notice that myself. I was just so focused on using the technique I'd
already learned, I never noticed it.

Thanks for the kick in the pants...I needed that.

Pete