I have this as the data provider for my AdvancedDataGrid:
private var dpList:ArrayCollection = new ArrayCollection([
{Ref:true, Name:"Garnet",
ReadTime:400}]);

In timer routines I want to
dpList[0].ReadTime++

But the grid won't update. I tried all of these, and none of them work to cause an update:
dpList.refresh();
adgList.validateNow();
adgList.executeBindings(false);

The one thing that does work is doing
dpList.addItem(…)

Guess I need to trace into the source for addItem and figure out what it is doing.

I haven't tried it, but I'd be willing to bet that a custom itemRenderer that manually binds itself to the specific property (but is otherwise a "normal" renderer) would fix the issue. Then you could just use that in all your DataGrids and have it taken care of "automatically".

1.

[Bindable]
PersonVO
{
public var firstName:String;
public var lastName:String;
public var address:AddressVO;
}

Using an ArrayCollection that's full of PersonVO's, your DataGrid would have each column bound to 1 of the properties. In this case, it's assumed that your AddressVO has a toString() method to return a nicely formatted Address string.

2. Use a label function. When a variable changes on your VO, your label function will run and you can format it how you wish.

3. Use an itemRenderer. While it's implied you are building the itemRenderer per column, you basically get your data function which is fed the object from the ArrayCollection, so you don't necessarely have to use the column name in question.

In all scenarios above, if you change the "firstName" property, the field will update in the DataGrid (whether on its own, via your labelFunction getting called again, or your itemRenderer's data setter getting run). If it's not, you are either not using the Bindable tag up top, or not strongly typing your variables.

I'm doing that in an app of mine. :)

HTH