title: How do I databind to a ViewModel in Expression Blend?
body: <p>In WPF and Silverlight you can make a view model object and set it into the DataContext of a control when the control is constructed at runtime.  You can then bind properties of the visual object to properties in your DataContext.</p>
  
  <p>One way to set the binding is to type the binding directly into the tag:</p>
  
  <pre><code>&lt;TextBox Text="{Binding Path=Description}"/&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>And this will bind the textbox to the Description property in the view model.</p>
  
  <p>The problem with typing in the binding is that you may make a typing mistake. (And you will almost certainly make a mistake if you have hundreds of bindings to make.)</p>
  
  <p>In Expression Blend there is a little white dot beside the Text property in the Properties window. This brings up a menu from which you can Create Data Binding.</p>
  
  <ul>
  <li>How can I get my view model properties to show in the Create Data Binding dialog so that I can select them.</li>
  <li>Will the configuration of data binding in Blend interfere with setting my view model into the DataContext at runtime?</li>
  </ul>