Book description
Pro Expression Blend 4 is for .NET developers wanting to learn how to use Expression Blend when creating their WPF and Silverlight applications. The book focuses on the Blend IDE and is comprised of two parts.
The first part of the book provides a detailed examination of the key Blend topics, including workspace customization, graphics, layout, styles, themes, data binding, and the use of SketchFlow. At the end of this part you will have an excellent understanding of the Blend product and what it can do for you.
The second part of this book makes it unique. It contains a series of walkthrough 'lab' sessions to build four fully working applications. This part of the book is more detailed and modeled on the tutorial support that you might receive in a good training class or hands-on lab. You'll work with both Blend and .NET code to finalize fully working projects that will provide both valuable insights and a foundation of working code for your future WPF and Silverlight projects.
Table of contents
- Copyright
- About the Author
- About the Technical Reviewer
- Acknowledgments
-
Introduction
- Confessions of an XAML Jockey
-
Chapter Overview
- Chapter 1: Learning the Core Blend IDE
- Chapter 2: Vector Graphics and Object Resources
- Chapter 3: The Animation Editor
- Chapter 4: Controls, Layouts, and Behaviors
- Chapter 5: Styles, Templates, and UserControls
- Chapter 6: Blend Data Binding Techniques
- Chapter 7: Designing for Windows Phone 7
- Chapter 8: Prototyping with SketchFlow
- Obtaining the Sample Projects
- Obtaining Updates for This Book
- Contacting Me
-
1. Learning the Core Blend IDE
- 1.1. The Microsoft Expression Family
- 1.2. The Expression Blend Project Templates
- 1.3. A Guided Tour of the Core Blend IDE
- 1.4. Customizing the Options of the Blend IDE
- 1.5. The Expression Blend Documentation System
- 1.6. Summary
-
2. Vector Graphics and Object Resources
- 2.1. The Realm of Vector Graphics
- 2.2. Exploring the Core Drawing Tools
- 2.3. Combining Geometries and Extracting Paths
- 2.4. Interacting with Shapes
- 2.5. Configuring "Pens"
- 2.6. Revisiting Visual Effects
- 2.7. The Role of Expression Design
- 2.8. Applying 2D Graphical Transformation
-
2.9. Applying 3D Graphical Transformation
-
2.9.1. An Introduction to WPF 3D Graphics
- 2.9.1.1. Mapping a 2D Image to a 3D Plane
- 2.9.1.2. The Elements of Viewport3D
- 2.9.1.3. Transforming the 3D Viewport with the Camera Orbit Tool
- 2.9.1.4. Changing Camera Settings Using the Properties Panel
- 2.9.1.5. Changing the 3D Viewport Using the Artboard Tools
- 2.9.1.6. Changing 3D Lighting Effects Using the Light Editors
- 2.9.1.7. Controlling the Camera in Code
- 2.9.1.8. A Brief Word on ZAM 3D
- 2.9.2. An Introduction to Silverlight 3D Graphics
-
2.9.1. An Introduction to WPF 3D Graphics
- 2.10. The Role of Object Resources
- 2.11. Summary
- 3. The Animation Editor
-
4. Controls, Layouts, and Behaviors
- 4.1. A First Look at GUI Controls
- 4.2. Understanding the Control Content Model
- 4.3. Understanding the Items Control Model
- 4.4. Working with Layout Managers
- 4.5. Building a User Interface with Blend
- 4.6. Introducing Blend Behavior Objects
- 4.7. Summary
-
5. Styles, Templates, and UserControls
- 5.1. The Role of Styles
- 5.2. Creating New Styles Using Blend
- 5.3. The Role of Control Templates in Styles
- 5.4. Creating Control Templates Using Expression Blend
- 5.5. Building Templates Using the Silverlight API
- 5.6. Generating UserControls Using Blend
- 5.7. Summary
-
6. Blend Data Binding Techniques
- 6.1. The Role of Data Binding
- 6.2. Control-to-Control Data Binding
- 6.3. Converting Data Types
- 6.4. Understanding Data Binding Modalities
-
6.5. Binding to Properties of Non-UI Objects
- 6.5.1. Creating a Custom Collection of (Custom) Objects
- 6.5.2. Defining an Object Data Source with the Data Panel
- 6.5.3. Binding the Entire Collection to a ListBox
- 6.5.4. Binding Individual Properties to ListBox Controls
- 6.5.5. Binding the Collection to a DataGrid
- 6.5.6. Manipulating the Collection at Runtime
- 6.6. Working with Data Templates
- 6.7. Defining a WPF XML Data Source
- 6.8. Creating a List Details Data Binding
- 6.9. Exploring the Role of Sample Data
- 6.10. Data Binding: A Brief Word on Final Topics
- 6.11. Summary
-
7. Designing for Windows Phone 7
- 7.1. Installing the Windows Phone 7 SDK
- 7.2. Exploring the Windows Phone Application Project Type
- 7.3. Exploring the Panorama Application Project Type
- 7.4. Exploring the Pivot Application Project Type
- 7.5. Learning More About Windows Phone Development
- 7.6. Summary
-
8. Prototyping with SketchFlow
- 8.1. The Role of Application Prototyping
- 8.2. Examining a SketchFlow Prototype Sample
- 8.3. Creating a Silverlight Prototype
- 8.4. Packaging a Prototype
- 8.5. Moving a Prototype into Production
- 8.6. Summary
Product information
- Title: Pro Expression Blend 4
- Author(s):
- Release date: February 2011
- Publisher(s): Apress
- ISBN: 9781430233770
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