>>>>>Going through the Jump Start WPF Application - C# in the Mere Mortals .NET Developer's Guide (3.6) I came across this line:
>>>>>
>>>>>"In Visual Studio 2008, there is no designer support for data binding WPF user interface elements. However, you can use the data binding tools in Microsoft's Expression Blend instead (note that WPF data binding support has been added to Visual Studio 2010). We are using Expression Blend 3 in the screen shots below."
>>>>>
>>>>>I don't have Expression Blend and am stuck on VS2008. Is there a workaround for doing this?
>>>>
>>>>Looks like I can enter the code manually which is a bit of a pain, but at the moment I guess it's the best I can do
>>>
>>>Given the flexibility of WPF's databinding (binding any DependencyProperty to any object property) it's hard to imagine how a designer interface would be implemented - except for mimicing a basic WinForms approach. Adding to that the three binding modes, validation and, especially, Data Templates then, once you get used to it, writing the XAML directly would probably be the easiest (and certainly the most flexible) anyway.
>>
>>Thanks Viv,
>>
>>the real pain is that the sample I'm following recommends using Expression Blend and gives the instructions on how to bind using that and not how to do it manually. I am managing to muddle my way through it doing it manually though.
>
>Expression Blend - ugh, I'd *rather* do it manually :-}
>
>I guess you've seen this : http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms750612.aspx - well worth taking time to read thru it thoroughly to get a good understanding of the databinding possibilities.....

I had done all this XAML reading/training years ago but never used it in a real life situation and am only now getting the chance to. It's just to get the rusty memory unrusted!