4135.  Windows Presentation Foundation Using C#

Rev. 4.0

 

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 4.0 and Visual Studio 2010.

 

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 new concepts such as XAML, flexible layout, logical resources, dependency properties, routed events, and the loosely-coupled command architecture of WPF. Data binding is discussed in detail, including visual data binding using Visual Studio 2010 and accessing databases using the Entity Data Model. The course also covers styles, templates, skins and themes.

 

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 more advanced features of WPF such as dependency properties, routed events, logical resources, styles, templates, and data binding

·         Access databases using Visual Studio 2010 and the Entity Data Model

 

Course Duration: 4 days

 

Prerequisites: A working knowledge of C# and the .NET Framework

 

1.      Introduction to WPF

Why WPF?

What Is WPF?

.NET Framework 4.0

WPF Overview

Application and Window

A Simple WPF Application

Using Visual Studio 2010

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.      Dependency Properties and Routed Events

Dependency Properties

Change Notification

Property Value Inheritance

Support for Multiple Providers

Routed Events

Routing Strategies

 

9.      Resources

Resources in WPF

Binary Resources

Logical Resources

Static versus Dynamic Resources

 

10. Data Binding

Binding Sources

Sharing Sources with DataContext

Data Templates

Value Converters

Collection Views

Data Providers

Visual Data Binding Using Visual Studio 2010

Database Access Using Entity Data Model

 

11. Styles, Templates, Skins and Themes

Styles

Style Sharing

Triggers

Validation

Templates

Templated Parent’s Properties

Skins

Themes

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

System Requirements

 

Course exercises require Microsoft .NET 4.0 and Visual Studio 2010 Professional Edition or higher. The recommended operating system is Windows XP with Service Pack 3 or Windows 7. See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.

 

A good minimal hardware profile for this course consists of a 2 GHz or better CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and at least 4 GB of free disk space for tools installation and courseware.