4235.  Introduction to WPF Using Visual Basic

Rev. 1.1

 

This course introduces Windows Presentation Foundation or WPF (“Avalon”), the new .NET technology from Microsoft for building rich Windows applications. It was originally part of .NET 3.0, previously called “WinFX” by Microsoft. WPF includes an XML-based markup language for defining program elements, Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML). WPF applications can be created using only code or a combination of code and XAML pages. This course covers the essentials of WPF, providing an orientation to this technology and a firm foundation for creating applications. The course is current to .NET 3.5 and Visual Studio 2008.

 

WPF is a complex technology that can have a steep learning curve. This course approaches the subject in a practical manner, introducing the student to the fundamentals of creating Windows applications using the features of WPF. It includes coverage of both traditional concepts such as controls and binary resources and new concepts such as XAML, flexible layout, logical resources, dependency properties, and the loosely-coupled command architecture of WPF.

 

The course is hands-on with many example programs and lab exercises.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

·         Gain an understanding of the philosophy and architecture of WPF

·         Create Windows applications using the classes provided by WPF

·         Understand the principles of XAML and create applications using a combination of code and XAML

·         Use the layout features of WPF to create flexible and attractive user interfaces

·         Implement event and command-driven applications with windows, menus, dialogs, toolbars, and other common user interface features

·         Use resources in your WPF applications

 

Course Duration: 3 days

 

Prerequisites: A working knowledge of Visual Basic and the .NET Framework

 

1.      Introduction to WPF

Why WPF?

What Is WPF?

.NET Framework 3.5

WPF Overview

Application and Window

A Simple WPF Application

Using Visual Studio 2008

Brushes

Panels

 

2.      XAML

Role of XAML

Elements and Attributes

Namespaces

Property Elements

Type Converters

Content Property

Collections

XAML and Procedural Code

 

3.      WPF Controls

Button

Label

TextBox

ToolTip

RadioButton

CheckBox

ListBox

ComboBox

 

4.      Layout

Sizing

Positioning

Transforms

Canvas

Drawing Shapes

StackPanel

WrapPanel

DockPanel

Grid

Scrolling

Scaling

 

5.      Dialogs

Message Boxes

Win32 Common Dialogs

Custom Modal Dialogs

Custom Modeless Dialogs

 

6.      Menus and Commands

Menus

Context Menus

Icons on Menu Items

Commands

Keyboard Shortcuts

Disabling Menu Items

Checking Menu Items

 

7.      Toolbars and Status Bars

Toolbars

Toolbars and Commands

Status Bars

 

8.      Resources and Dependency Properties

Resources in WPF

Binary Resources

Logical Resources

Static versus Dynamic Resources

Dependency Properties

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

System Requirements

 

The following software is required:

·         A version of Windows that supports the .NET Framework 3.5. This includes Windows XP with at least Service Pack 2 and Windows Vista.

·         The .NET Framework 3.5.

·         Visual Studio 2008 Standard Edition or higher. Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition can also be used.

 

A good minimal hardware profile for this course would have a 1 GHz or better CPU, 512 MB of RAM, and at least 4 GB of free disk space for tools installation and courseware.

 

See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.