WPF Databinding: How do I access the "parent" data context?

Question

I have a list (see below) contained in a window. The window's DataContext has two properties, Items and AllowItemCommand.

How do I get the binding for the Hyperlink's Command property needs to resolve against the window's DataContext?

<ListView ItemsSource="{Binding Items}"> <ListView.View> <GridView> <GridViewColumn Header="Action"> <GridViewColumn.CellTemplate> <DataTemplate> <StackPanel> <TextBlock> <!-- this binding is not working --> <Hyperlink Command="{Binding AllowItemCommand}" CommandParameter="{Binding .}"> <TextBlock Text="Allow" /> </Hyperlink> </TextBlock> </StackPanel> </DataTemplate> </GridViewColumn.CellTemplate> </GridViewColumn> </GridView> </ListView.View> </ListView>

Can you get into the debugger and step through to the point where the UI is being built? If so can you get into the variable and try to drill up — ist_lion
– ist_lion, Commented Jul 14, 2009 at 20:49
Simple solution (which also works in Windows 8 Store/Metro app) is here: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/15366609/how-to-access-parents-datacontext-in-window-8-store-apps/15419382#15419382 — LMK
– LMK, Commented Jun 13, 2013 at 3:18

flq · Accepted Answer · 2009-07-14 20:51:38Z

473

You could try something like this:

...Binding="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource FindAncestor, AncestorType={x:Type Window}}, Path=DataContext.AllowItemCommand}" ...

answered Jul 14, 2009 at 20:51

flq

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6 Comments

Wil P Over a year ago

I used this to bind to a ICommand on my VM from a ContextMenu set on a ListBoxItem from within a Style. Worked great, thanks!!

Joris Weimar Over a year ago

How does one do this in a Windows 8 app? I used "ElementName=..." to get it to work, but it leaks the DataContext

Thomas Over a year ago

Sadly didn't work for me because the parent is in a different file.

Mohammed Abrar Ahmed Over a year ago

@Thomas6767 , Hope you have solved your issue can your please your code.

DrEsperanto Over a year ago

Thanks! I was confusing myself with a relative binding because I was thinking it would give me the DataContext of the ancestor, not the ancestor itself. Adding the DataContext.<MyProperty> solved the problem :)

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Yoda · Accepted Answer · 2016-11-01 12:06:33Z

This will also work:

<Hyperlink Command="{Binding RelativeSource={RelativeSource AncestorType=ItemsControl}, Path=DataContext.AllowItemCommand}" />

ListView will inherit its DataContext from Window, so it's available at this point, too.
And since ListView, just like similar controls (e. g. Gridview, ListBox, etc.), is a subclass of ItemsControl, the Binding for such controls will work perfectly.

(Looking at the poster and the editor) I find this post funny... :D
@JackFrost if Yoda interferes with Kylo'l work again. Kylo is going to kill Yoda. :P

sangers · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-11 06:43:28Z

This also works in Silverlight 5 (perhaps earlier as well but i haven't tested it). I used the relative source like this and it worked fine.

RelativeSource="{RelativeSource Mode=FindAncestor, AncestorType=telerik:RadGridView}"

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