Visual Studio Crashing mysteriously because of Data Binding

Question

Visual Studio Crashing mysteriously because of Data Binding

BananasHelp20 20

Hello everybody, I am new to coding in VS and generally to programming C# and Xaml. To give y'all a good overview of my code, i have included all of my Classes and Xaml Files neccessary. I use 2 Pages: a general page displaying all Books, and a Page displaying the details of a book. For Some reason tho, The Application crashes whenever I want to view the Details of a book (i.e. go to the details page). The error says something about the data binding, but as far as i can see, it should be correctly implemented. You can see my Code in the text File I have uploaded, since it's a lot of classes: cs-question-code.txt. Also, the connectionstring i have used is: "Data Source=localhost;Initial Catalog=BooksDB;Integrated Security=True;"

BananasHelp20 20

Here is the code in Code Blocks, I've seen that the Text file is very "raw" if you might say.

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace BookViewer.Model
{
    public class Book
    {
        public string Id { get; set; }
        public string Author { get; set; }
        public string Title { get; set; }
        
        public string Genre { get; set; }
        public double Price { get; set; }
        public DateTime PublishDate { get; set; }
        public string Description { get; set; }
        public Book(string id, string author, string title, string genre, double price, DateTime publishDate, string description)
        {
            Id = id;
            Author = author;
            Title = title;
            Genre = genre;
            Price = price;
            PublishDate = publishDate;
            Description = description;
        }
        public override string ToString()
        {
            return this.Title;
        }
    }
}

using BookViewer.Model;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Diagnostics;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace BookViewer.Data
{
    public class BookRepository
    {
        private SqlConnection _connection;
        public BookRepository()
        {
            _connection = new SqlConnection(Properties.Settings.Default.connectionstring);
        }
        public List<Book> GetBooks()
        {
            List<Book> books = new List<Book>();
            _connection.Open();
            using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Books;", _connection))
            {
                using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
                {
                    while (reader.Read())
                    {
                        books.Add(new Book(
                            (string)reader["Id"],
                            (string)reader["Author"],
                            (string)reader["Title"],
                            (string)reader["Genre"],
                            (double)reader["Price"],
                            (DateTime)reader["PublishDate"],
                            (string)reader["Description"]
                        ));
                    }
                }
            }
            _connection.Close();
            return books;
        }
        public void UpdateBook(Book book)
        {
            _connection.Open();
            string query = @"UPDATE Books SET Author = @Author, Title = @Title WHERE Id = @Id;";
            using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, _connection))
            {
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Author", book.Author);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Title", book.Title);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Id", book.Id);
                command.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
            _connection.Close();
        }
        public void InsertBook(Book book)
        {
            _connection.Open();
            string query = "INSERT INTO Books (Id, Author, Title, Genre, Price, PublishDate, Description) VALUES (@Id, @Author, @Title, @Genre, @Price, @PublishDate, @Description);";
            using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, _connection))
            {
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Id", book.Id);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Author", book.Author);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Title", book.Title);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Genre", book.Genre);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Price", book.Price);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@PublishDate", book.PublishDate);
                command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@Description", book.Description);
                command.ExecuteNonQuery();
            }
            _connection.Close();
        }
    }
}

using BookViewer.Data;
using BookViewer.Model;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace BookViewer.ViewModel
{
    public class BookCatalougePageViewModel
    {
        private BookRepository _repository;
        public ObservableCollection<Book> Books { get; set; }
        public Book SelectedBook { get; set; }
        public string NewTitle { get; set; }
        public string NewAuthor { get; set; }
        public string NewDescription { get; set; }
        public DateTime NewPublishDate { get; set; }
        public string NewId { get; set; }
        public double? NewPrice { get; set; }
        public string NewGenre { get; set; }
        public BookCatalougePageViewModel(BookRepository repository)
        {
            _repository = repository;
            Books = new ObservableCollection<Book>(_repository.GetBooks());
        }
        public void UpdateBook(Book book)
        {
            
            if (book == null) return;
            _repository.UpdateBook(book);
            
        }
        public void InsertBook(Book book)
        {
            _repository.InsertBook(book);
            Books.Add(book);
        }
        
    }
}

using BookViewer.Data;
using BookViewer.Model;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
namespace BookViewer.ViewModel
{
    public class BookDetailsPageViewModel
    {
        private BookRepository _repository;
        public Book Book {  get; }
        public BookDetailsPageViewModel(BookRepository repository, Book book)
        {
            _repository = repository;
            Book = book;
        }
    }
}

<Application x:Class="BookViewer.App"
             xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
             xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
             xmlns:local="clr-namespace:BookViewer"
             StartupUri="MainWindow.xaml">
    <Application.Resources>
        <Style x:Key="headerStyle">
            <Setter Property="Label.FontSize" Value="20"/>
            <Setter Property="Label.FontWeight" Value="Bold"/>
            <Setter Property="Label.Foreground" Value="Black"/>
        </Style>
    </Application.Resources>
</Application>

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
namespace BookViewer
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für "App.xaml"
    /// </summary>
    public partial class App : Application
    {
    }
}

<Page x:Class="BookViewer.BookCatalougePage"
      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:BookViewer"
      mc:Ignorable="d" 
      d:DesignHeight="450" d:DesignWidth="800"
      Title="BookCatalougePage">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition/>
            <ColumnDefinition/>
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition Height="50px"/>
            <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Label Style="{ StaticResource headerStyle}" Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" >
            Book Catalouge
        </Label>
        <DataGrid Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="0" ItemsSource="{ Binding Books, Mode=TwoWay}" SelectedItem="{ Binding SelectedBook, Mode=TwoWay }" AutoGenerateColumns="False" VerticalAlignment="Top" CellEditEnding="DataGrid_CellEditEnding">
            <DataGrid.Columns>
                <DataGridTextColumn Header="Title"  Binding="{Binding Title}" Width="2*"/>
                <DataGridTextColumn Header="Author" Binding="{Binding Author}" Width="*"/>
            </DataGrid.Columns>
        </DataGrid>
        
        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" VerticalAlignment="Top">
            <Button Name="View_Button" Click="View_Button_Click"  Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Margin="10, 10, 10, 10" Height="35px" Width="Auto">
                View Details
            </Button>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewId_Input" Text="{Binding NewId, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewTitle_Input" Text="{Binding NewTitle, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewAuthor_Input" Text="{Binding NewAuthor, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewGenre_Input" Text="{Binding NewGenre, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewPrice_Input" Text="{Binding NewPrice, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewPublishDate_Input" Text="{Binding NewPublishDate, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="20px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <TextBox AcceptsReturn="True" TextWrapping="Wrap" Name="NewDescription_Input" Text="{Binding NewDescription, Mode=TwoWay, UpdateSourceTrigger=PropertyChanged, TargetNullValue=''}" Height="100px" Margin="10,10,0,10"/>
            <Button Name="Add_Book_Button" Click="Add_Book_Button_Click" Height="30px" Margin="10, 10, 10, 0">
                Add Book
            </Button>
        </StackPanel>
    </Grid>
</Page>

using BookViewer.Data;
using BookViewer.ViewModel;
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
using BookViewer.Model;
namespace BookViewer
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für BookCatalougePage.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class BookCatalougePage : Page
    {
        private BookRepository _repository;
        private BookCatalougePageViewModel _viewModel;
        public BookCatalougePage()
        {
            _repository = new BookRepository();
            _viewModel = new BookCatalougePageViewModel(_repository);
            InitializeComponent();
            this.DataContext = _viewModel;
        }
        private void View_Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            if (_viewModel.SelectedBook == null) return;
            NavigationService.Navigate(new BookDetailsPage(_repository, _viewModel.SelectedBook));
        }
        private void DataGrid_CellEditEnding(object sender, DataGridCellEditEndingEventArgs e)
        {
            e.EditingElement.GetBindingExpression(TextBox.TextProperty)?.UpdateSource();
            
            this._viewModel.UpdateBook((Book)e.Row.Item);
        }
        private void Add_Book_Button_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
            if (_viewModel.NewId  == null || _viewModel.NewAuthor == null 
                || _viewModel.NewTitle == null || _viewModel.NewGenre == null || _viewModel.NewPrice == null
                || _viewModel.NewPublishDate == null || _viewModel.NewDescription == null || _viewModel.NewPublishDate.Year < 1753)
            {
                MessageBox.Show("Please Enter valid values in each field");
                return;
            }
            Book newBook = new Book(
                _viewModel.NewId,
                _viewModel.NewAuthor,
                _viewModel.NewTitle,
                _viewModel.NewGenre,
                (double) _viewModel.NewPrice,
                _viewModel.NewPublishDate,
                _viewModel.NewDescription
            );
            _viewModel.InsertBook(newBook);
        }
    }
}

<Page x:Class="BookViewer.BookDetailsPage"
      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:BookViewer"
      mc:Ignorable="d" 
      d:DesignHeight="450" d:DesignWidth="800"
      Title="BookDetailsPage">
    <Grid>
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition Height ="70px"/>
            <RowDefinition/>
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Label Grid.Row="0" Margin="10, 10, 0, 10" Style="{StaticResource headerStyle }">
            <TextBlock >
                <Run Text="Book Details for: "/>
                <Run Text="{ Binding Book.Title }"/>
            </TextBlock>
        </Label>
        <StackPanel Grid.Row="1" DataContext="{Binding Book}">
            <Border Height="40px">
                <TextBlock>
                    <Run Text="Author: "/>
                    <Run Text="{Binding Author}"/>
                </TextBlock>
            </Border>
            <Border Height="40px">
                <TextBlock>
                    <Run Text="Genre: "/>
                    <Run Text="{Binding Genre}"/>
                </TextBlock>
            </Border>
            <Border Height="40px">
                <TextBlock>
                    <Run Text=" Price: "/>
                    <Run Text="{Binding Price}"/>
                </TextBlock>
            </Border>
            <Border Height="40px">
                <TextBlock>
                    <Run Text="Publish Date: "/>
                    <Run Text="{Binding PublishDate}"/>
                </TextBlock>
            </Border>
            <Border Height="40px">
                <TextBlock>
                <Run Text="Description: "/>
                <Run Text="{Binding Description}"/>
                </TextBlock>
            </Border>
        </StackPanel>
    </Grid>
</Page>

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
using BookViewer.Data;
using BookViewer.Model;
using BookViewer.ViewModel;
namespace BookViewer
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für BookDetailsPage.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class BookDetailsPage : Page
    {
        private BookDetailsPageViewModel _viewModel;
        public BookDetailsPage(BookRepository _repository, Book selectedBook)
        {
            this._viewModel = new BookDetailsPageViewModel(_repository, selectedBook);
            InitializeComponent();
            this.DataContext = _viewModel;
        }
    }
}

BananasHelp20 20

also, here is my mainwindow

<NavigationWindow x:Class="BookViewer.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/blenmi/2008"
        xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
        xmlns:local="clr-namespace:BookViewer"
        mc:Ignorable="d"
        Title="Main" Height="450" Width="800" Source="BookCatalougePage.xaml">
</NavigationWindow>

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Data;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Imaging;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
namespace BookViewer
{
    /// <summary>
    /// Interaktionslogik für MainWindow.xaml
    /// </summary>
    public partial class MainWindow : NavigationWindow
    {
        public MainWindow()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
    }
}

Answer accepted by question author

Nancy Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 4,845 Microsoft External Staff Moderator

Hello @BananasHelp20 ,

Thanks for your question.

I tested this on my end, and it works as expected (using mock data). Please share the error message so I can further investigate. Thank you.

User's image

BananasHelp20 20 Reputation points

2026-06-03T16:50:03.8266667+00:00

So, first off, sorry for my response taking so long. Secondly, I have already fixed it somehow (if there was actually an error). I have no Idea what the problem was, and can't remember the error message, but it somehow just works now. At the time the error happened, i was working on the Data Binding stuff and was struggeling with the build, rebuild and start buttons haha, maybe the .exe file just was executed bevore it was updated with the new, fixed code or something like that. I consider this problem as solved since it must've been on my end. Thanks for your time tho, I highly appreciate it.
Nancy Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 4,845 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-04T02:17:14.4733333+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

1 additional answer

Your answer

BananasHelp20 20 Reputation points

2026-06-02T06:29:42.29+00:00

also, here is my mainwindow

<NavigationWindow x:Class="BookViewer.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/blenmi/2008" xmlns:mc="http://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006" xmlns:local="clr-namespace:BookViewer" mc:Ignorable="d" Title="Main" Height="450" Width="800" Source="BookCatalougePage.xaml"> </NavigationWindow>

using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.Linq; using System.Text; using System.Threading.Tasks; using System.Windows; using System.Windows.Controls; using System.Windows.Data; using System.Windows.Documents; using System.Windows.Input; using System.Windows.Media; using System.Windows.Media.Imaging; using System.Windows.Navigation; using System.Windows.Shapes; namespace BookViewer { /// <summary> /// Interaktionslogik für MainWindow.xaml /// </summary> public partial class MainWindow : NavigationWindow { public MainWindow() { InitializeComponent(); } } }
BananasHelp20 20 Reputation points

2026-06-03T16:50:03.8266667+00:00

So, first off, sorry for my response taking so long. Secondly, I have already fixed it somehow (if there was actually an error). I have no Idea what the problem was, and can't remember the error message, but it somehow just works now. At the time the error happened, i was working on the Data Binding stuff and was struggeling with the build, rebuild and start buttons haha, maybe the .exe file just was executed bevore it was updated with the new, fixed code or something like that. I consider this problem as solved since it must've been on my end. Thanks for your time tho, I highly appreciate it.
Nancy Vo (WICLOUD CORPORATION) 4,845 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator

2026-06-04T02:17:14.4733333+00:00

Thanks for your feedback. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions.

Answer 1

The crash is caused by a data binding failure on the details page. In UWP, binding expressions are evaluated at runtime via reflection; if a binding path is wrong (for example, a property name is misspelled, the DataContext is null, or the type doesn’t match), the framework can throw and terminate the app when navigating to that page.

To diagnose and fix it in Visual Studio for a UWP app:

Check the binding paths on the details page
- Open the XAML for the book-details page.
- For each binding, verify that:
  - The property name in Path=... (or implicit path) exactly matches a public property on the view model or model (case-sensitive).
  - The DataContext of the page (or the control) is set to an object that actually has those properties.
- Common issues:
  - SelectedBook.Title vs Title when the DataContext is already the selected book.
  - Binding to a field instead of a property (must be public properties for data binding).
Verify DataContext is set correctly
- Ensure the details page’s DataContext is assigned before the page loads:
  - Either in XAML:
```
       <Page.DataContext>
           <local:BookDetailsViewModel />
       </Page.DataContext>
```
  - Or in code-behind when navigating, pass the selected book or view model and set DataContext in the details page constructor or OnNavigatedTo.
- If the DataContext is null, any binding like {Binding Title} will fail.
Use XAML binding diagnostics in Visual Studio
- Run the app under the debugger.
- Open the XAML Binding Failures window (Visual Studio 2019 16.8+ or Visual Studio 2022).
- Navigate to the details page and watch for binding failures such as:
  - “Binding: Path not found”
  - “Cannot convert value of type … to type …”
- Each entry shows the exact binding expression and target, so it’s possible to correct the specific property name or type.
Use {x:Bind} where possible
- If using {Binding}, consider switching to {x:Bind} for the details page:
  - {x:Bind} is compile-time checked and generates code, so invalid paths are caught at build time instead of causing runtime crashes.
  - When a property is renamed, the compiler will fail if bindings aren’t updated.
Turn on Break On Unhandled Exceptions
- In Visual Studio, enable Break On Unhandled Exceptions.
- When the app crashes on navigation to the details page, the debugger will break at the offending binding-generated code.
- Inspect the Call Stack to see which binding expression caused the exception.
Check for .NET Native metadata issues (if using reflection-heavy bindings)
- If the app is compiled with the .NET Native toolchain and uses reflection-based binding to view models, a MissingMetadataException can occur when metadata for a view model is removed.
- In that case, add the appropriate runtime directive (rd.xml) or apply Windows.UI.Xaml.Data.BindableAttribute to the view model properties so that the metadata is preserved.

By systematically checking the DataContext, verifying each binding path, and using the XAML binding diagnostics and debugger, the specific binding that causes the crash on the details page can be identified and corrected.

References:

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Visual Studio Crashing mysteriously because of Data Binding

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