4246.  Silverlight 3 Using Visual Basic

Rev. 3.0

 

Microsoft’s Silverlight is a new client-side Web technology that enables the implementation of visually stunning Web applications that depend only on a small, easy-to-install plug-in that works in browsers for both Windows and Macintosh. Silverlight 3 provides a cross-platform and cross-browser implementation of the .NET Framework. Out-of-browser support enables Silverlight applications to run disconnected from the Internet. Silverlight applications can be implemented in .NET languages such as C# and Visual Basic as well as in JavaScript. This four-day course provides the Visual Basic programmer with a thorough foundation in Silverlight 3.

 

After introducing the Silverlight plug-in and SDK and the programming model for Silverlight, the course provides a thorough survey of Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML), which is also the foundation of Windows Presentation Framework (WPF). The course then shows how to use Silverlight to draw shapes, lines, text and images. The positioning and transformation of elements is covered. Event handling is covered. There is an introduction to Silverlight animation and the use of video and audio.

The last part of the course covers topics in networking, data controls and data binding, and data access. An appendix covers the interaction between Silverlight and the browser, including out-of-browser support.

 

Numerous programming examples and exercises are provided. The student will receive a complete set of notes and all the programming examples.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

·         Gain a practical knowledge of using Silverlight in Web applications

·         Understand the use of XAML with Silverlight, including the creation of dynamic content

·         Use Silverlight to draw shapes, lines, text and images

·         Implement input-driven Web applications using Silverlight

·         Use advanced Silverlight features such as animation and multimedia

·         Communicate over the network using HTTP and Web services

·         Use data controls and data binding

·         Access data in Silverlight applications

·         Interoperate between JavaScript and managed code

·         Implement out-of-browser Silverlight applications

 

Course Duration:  4 days

 

Prerequisites:  A basic understanding of Web application development using HTML and programming experience in .NET using Visual Basic. Some exposure to JavaScript would be helpful but is not essential. A basic knowledge of ADO.NET is also desirable for the data access chapter.

 

1.      Introduction to Silverlight

Client-side Web Technologies

The Silverlight Plug-in

The Silverlight SDK

 

2.      Programming Silverlight

JavaScript API for Silverlight

Managed API for Silverlight

Visual Studio 2008 and Silverlight

Interactive Web Applications Using Visual Basic

Application Package (.xap)

 

3.      Using XAML

Windows Presentation Framework (WPF)

Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML)

Canvas

Elements and Attributes

Property Elements

Type Converters

Content Property

Collections

Attached Properties

XAML and Visual Basic

XamlReader

 

4.      Shapes and Lines

Rectangles

Ellipses

Polygons

Lines and Polylines

Curves

Paths

Geometries

Strokes

 

5.      Text and Fonts

TextBlock

Fonts

Run

LineBreak

 

6.      Brushes and Images

Color and Opacity

SolidColorBrush

LinearGradientBrush

RadialGradientBrush

Image

ImageBrush

 

7.      Layout and Transforms

Sizing Elements

StackPanel

Grid

Positioning Elements

Z-Order

Clipping

Translate Transform

Rotate Transform

Scale Transform

Skew Transform

Combining Transforms

 

8.      Handling Events

Event Handlers

Dynamic Event Handlers

Mouse Events

Rubber Band Drawing

Drag and Drop

Event Bubbling

 

9.      Animation and Media

Animation using Background Worker

Silverlight Animation

Video and Audio

Resources

 

10. Networking

Silverlight Application Structure

Application Caching

WebClient

Loading Assemblies on Demand

Downloading Content on Demand

REST-based Web Services

SOAP-based Web Services

 

11. Data Controls and Data Binding

ListBox

DataPager

DataGrid

Dependency Properties

Change Notification

Binding to a Collection

 

12. Data Access

Using Web Services

ADO.NET Data Services

LINQ to XML

Isolated Storage

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

 

Appendix B. Silverlight and the Browser

 

HTML Bridge

JavaScript to Managed Code

Managed Code to JavaScript

Out-of-Browser Support

 

System Requirements

 

·         Microsoft Windows with Internet Explorer

·         Visual Studio 2008 with Service Pack 1

·         Silverlight 3 Tools for Visual Studio 2008 SP1

·         SQL Server 2008 Express Edition

 

The course has been tested on Windows XP with Service Pack 2 and Internet Explorer 8.

 

A good hardware profile for this course would have a Pentium 2-GHz or equivalent CPU, 512 MB of RAM, and at least 4 GB of free disk. The installation of Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 requires 5.5 GB of free disk space on the partition on which the operating system is installed.

 

See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.