4146.  Silverlight 4 Using C#

Rev. 4.0

 

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 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 C# programmer with a thorough foundation in Silverlight 4.

 

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. Layout is discussed in detail, including sizing and positioning of controls and the use of panels. Event handling is covered. There is an introduction to Silverlight animation and the use of video and audio.

 

Networking issues are covered, including caching, asynchronous data transfers, and downloading assemblies and resources on demand. The use of both SOAP and REST based Web services is discussed. Two chapters cover data controls, data binding and data access in detail, including the use of the Entity Data Model and WCF Data Services. The last chapter covers additional topics, such as the HTML Bridge, out-of-browser applications, the use of elevated trust, printing, and clipboard access. An appendix covers transforms in Silverlight, which can be used to achieve various special visual effects.

 

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, including ones with elevated trust

·         Do printing and clipboard access from Silverlight applications

 

Course Duration:  4 days

 

Prerequisites:  A basic understanding of Web application development using HTML and programming experience in .NET using C#. 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 2010 and Silverlight

Visual Studio 2010 Designer Support

Silverlight Controls

Layout Panels

Handling Events

Interactive Web Applications Using C#

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 C#

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

Sizing Elements

Margin and Padding

StackPanel

Grid

Positioning Elements

Z-Order

Clipping

 

8.      Handling Events

Event Handlers

Dynamic Event Handlers

Mouse Events

Rubber Band Drawing

Drag and Drop

Routed Events

 

9.      Animation and Media

Animation using Background Worker

Silverlight Animation

Video and Audio

Resources

 

10. Application Structure and Networking

Silverlight Application Structure

Application Caching

WebClient

Loading Assemblies on Demand

Downloading Content on Demand

 

11. Web Services

Implementing Web Services Using WCF

REST-based Web Services

SOAP-based Web Services

 

12. Data Controls and Data Binding

ListBox

DataPager

DataGrid

Dependency Properties

Change Notification

Binding to a Collection

 

13. Data Access

ADO.NET Entity Framework

Entity Data Model (EDM)

Language Integrated Query (LINQ)

Using Web Services

WCF Data Services

Open Data Protocol (OData)

LINQ to XML

Isolated Storage

 

14. Additional Features

HTML Bridge

JavaScript to Managed Code

Managed Code to JavaScript

Out-of-Browser Support

Elevated Trust

Printing

Clipboard

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

 

Appendix B. Transforms

 

Translate Transform

Rotate Transform

Scale Transform

Skew Transform

Combining Transforms

 

System Requirements

 

·         Microsoft Windows with Internet Explorer

·         Visual Studio 2010

·         Silverlight 4 Tools for Visual Studio 2010

·         SQL Server 2008 Express Edition, which comes bundled with Visual Studio 2010

 

A good hardware profile for this course would have a 2-GHz or equivalent CPU, 1 GB of RAM, and at least 4 GB of free disk. See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.