JavaFX: Binding expression in FXML document

Question

In JavaFX 8 is it still possible to bind a control property directly in FXML to a property of the controller? Something like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<?import java.net.*?>
<?import javafx.geometry.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.control.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.layout.*?>
<?import javafx.scene.text.*?>

<GridPane xmlns:fx="http://javafx.com/fxml"
   fx:controller="application.PaneController" minWidth="200">
   <Label id="counterLabel" text="${controller.counter}" />
   <Button translateX="50" text="Subtract 1"
      onAction="#handleStartButtonAction" />
</GridPane>

The above seems not to work.

Answer 1

Yes this is possible assuming you implement the correct methods in the controller:

public class PaneController {

    private final IntegerProperty counter = new SimpleIntegerProperty(100);

    public IntegerProperty counterProperty() {
        return counter;
    }

    // this is also required
    public int getCounter() {
        return counter.get();
    }

    public void handleStartButtonAction() {
        counter.set(counter.get() - 1);
    }

}

Also I'm not sure if placing both Nodes in the same cell is the best decision...