MSDN Unleashed: WPF Demystified

Dave BostDeveloper Evangelisthttp://davebost.com/blog

http://thirstydeveloper.comhttp://thirstydeveloper.com

“Looking at someone’s code, but with audio”

Essential concepts of Windows Presentation FoundationHow to create a data-bound, service based WPF application

Level 100

User Interface development.NET language

VBC#

Familiar with XMLVisual Studio 2008

Discover the top WPF benefits Creating a WPF applicationXAMLLayoutStylesUsing services and databasesData TemplatesUser ControlsControl Templates

Composable ElementsFlexible layout enginePowerful data-binding architectureImpressive print, font and document capabilities

Lookless controlsStyles and TemplatesFull integration of all UI disciplines

Manhattan Associates: Integrated Logistics Solutions (ILS)Supply Chain OptimizationStatus: Shipping Info: http://www.manh.com/ils_net/

http://www.manh.com/ils_net/

SilverWareSilverWare Avrio is a powerful hospitality industry solution with a highly intuitive GUI that makes it one of the most accessible P.O.S. solutions that restaurateurs and staff can use.Status: Shipping

Eikos Partners: OpenTick Opentick is an open-source data provider that delivers free real-time and historical market data for trading systems and trading platforms.Status: Shipping

Asahiyama Zoo Portal for the virtual exploration of one of Japan’s largest zoos.Status: Shipping Live Site: http://www.asahiyamazoo-aict.jp/asahiyamazoo.xbap

http://www.asahiyamazoo-aict.jp/asahiyamazoo.xbap

YahooNext-generation instant messaging clientStatus: Public Beta

Scripps HealthcareAllowing cancer researchers to collaborate in the search for a cureStatus: Late Beta (Shown at Windows Vista BV Launch)PR: .NET Developer’s Journal

http://dotnet.sys-con.com/read/204815.htm

Electric Rain STANDOUTHigh-end tool for delivering visually stunning presentationsStatus: Beta


Create WPF application withVisual Studio 2008Expression Blend

A WPF application is managed codeIt runs on the .NET 2.0 runtime

Some classes similar to the WinForms modelApplication class Has Window class instead of Form classUse .Show() or .ShowDialog to display Page class for forward/back navigation

Host WinForms controls on WPF windowHost WPF controls on Winform forms


XAML is a declarative programming languageTool friendly: Easy to persist UI structure in XAML

Expression Blend, ZAM 3D, Visual Studio

XAML is parsed by dedicated parserParser converts the tree of XML into a instances of objectsMost .NET types can be stored in XAML tree

Most likely that these will be Visual itemsWPF, Silverlight, XPS & Silverlight use XAML

Silverlight is a sub-set of WPF XAML


WPF includes a flexible, panel based layout engineWhat is layout?

Measuring and arranging a region of WPF UIAll layout is handled by panelsPanel has ultimate control over every child

Child size, location, ZOrderChild location relative to other children

Frees you from hard coding sizes/locationsMix and combine panels

Child communicates with host panel via Attached propertiesInform their containing panel of desired layoutExample: Grid.Column = "3"Each panel handles one type of layoutGrid: Create rows/columns for childrenCanvas: Absolute positioningStackPanel: Children stacked horizontal/verticalDockPanel: Attach child to side of panelWrapPanel: Stacked, with multi children per line

Panel model is extensible with your own panels

<Grid/><Grid/>

<Canvas/><Canvas/>

<StackPanel<StackPanel/>/>

<StackPanel<StackPanel/>/>

<DockPanel/<DockPanel/>>by lee.mccain.photorama

http://flickr.com/photos/mccain007/2218878568/

<WrapPanel/<WrapPanel/>>


Styles provide a convenient way to itemize a set of property values for an element type

Example: Set font attributes for all textboxesTo define a Style

Styles are defined in a Resource elementAny element in XAML can have a resource sectionUsual locations are Page, Window and Application levelEvery Style in resource must have a x:Key valueUse TargetType to limit style to one element type

To apply a Style to an ElementReference the Style by setting the Style attributeUse the Markup Extension syntax '{}'


Accessing data from WPFXMLDatabases

Ado.NETLinq to SQLLinq to EntitiesEntity Framework

Invoking Services from WPFWCFSoap, REST, WS*

ADO.NET Data ServiceCode name Astoria Data ServicesExposes SQL data over HTTP via REST endpointsExamples: http://localhost/CohoDS.svc/Wines…Northwind.svc/Customers?$filter=contains(City,'Kent')

Authoring the Data ServiceWebsiteADO.NET EntityData modelADO.NET Data Service

Consuming the DataServiceGenerate proxy with DataSvcUtil.exeAdd proxy code to WPF application


Binding overviewWPF synchronizes a data source and data targetAdd binding to target element with {Binding ***}

Change notificationWPF dependency system updates target upon source changes provided:

Source must implement change notificationVia IPropertyNotifyChanged and other mechanisms

Single bindingBind a target to a single property on sourceExample: TextBlock.Text to Customer.Age

List bindingBind a target to a array, collection etc.Example: Treeview. ItemsSource to XML source

Templates provide a convenient way to centralize the replacement UI for:Tabular dataHierarchical dataControls

Data TemplateDefine the UI for one Type

Example: Customer classRender UI with six TextBlocks and one Image


Custom elementsLess need for custom elements in WPFFirst consider getting custom look via

Composed UIStylesTemplates

If you must create custom element choose base:Existing controlControlUserControl

User control benefitsSimpleEasy to compose sub-elements into new classEasily add custom element to UI tree

Control library authorCreate custom User ControlCompiled into assembly

Control consumerAdd reference to assemblyBring your namespace into scope with xmlns attribute


All controls in WPF are looklessEach has a default UI templateWe can replace default template with our own control templateAny valid UI element can be part of templateTemplates also support bindingTemplates do not change behavior of element

WPF is a rich UI programming frameworkSince WPF is managed code, working with .NET APIs is easy and familiarCore concept is the composable UI model

Create UI out of any valid WPF elementMix and merge elements Formalize these replacement parts with Styles and Templates

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Dave [email protected]

thank you!

http://davebost.comhttp://twitter.com/davebost

© 2007 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.

The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after

the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.

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MSDN Unleashed: WPF Demystified