book

Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook

Name: Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook
Author: Pavel Yosifovich
ISBN: 9781849686228

by Pavel Yosifovich

September 2012

Intermediate to advanced

464 pages

10h 55m

English

Packt Publishing

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Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook
Table of Contents
Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook
Credits
About the Author
About the Reviewers
www.PacktPub.com
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Free Access for Packt account holders
Instant Updates on New Packt Books

Preface
What this book covers
What you need for this book
Who this book is for
Conventions
Reader feedback
Customer support
Downloading the example codeErrataPiracyQuestions
1. Foundations
IntroductionXAMLXAML and compilationDependency properties
Creating custom type instances in XAML
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a dependency property
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Property value inheritanceWhy "dependency"?Dependency property levels
Using an attached property
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Why an attached property?Does the declaring type "own" the property?See also
Creating an attached property
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Reusing existing attached propertiesSee also
Accessing a static property from XAML
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a custom markup extension
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Don't go overboard
Handling routed events
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Stopping bubbling or tunnelingAttached events
2. Resources
Introduction
Using logical resources
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Adding or deleting resources dynamicallyModifying resourcesResources that use other resourcesNon-shared resourcesOther locations for resources
Dynamically binding to a logical resource
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using user-selected colors and fonts
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using binary resources
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Embedded Resource
Accessing binary resources in code
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Accessing binary resources from another assembly
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Managing logical resources
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Duplicated keys
3. Layout and Panels
IntroductionThe layout processCoordinates systems in WPF
Creating a table-like user interface
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Shared row/column sizePlacement in the same cellThe power of the GridAdding rows/columns dynamicallyThe UniformGrid
Dynamically sizing grid rows/columns
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a scrollable user interface
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a border around panels and elements
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Placing elements in exact positions
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Canvas has no backgroundCanvas is not limited to its bounds
Adding/removing elements to a panel dynamically
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Creating a tabbed user interface
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Implementing drag-and-drop
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Built-in drag-and-dropDrag-and-drop to other applications
4. Using Standard Controls
Introduction
Working with text
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using content controls
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Headered content controlsSee also
Displaying images
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...See also
Creating tooltips
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Deeper tooltip customizationRealistic tooltips
Creating a list of items
Getting readyHow to do it…How it works...There's more...
Creating a standard menu
Getting readyHow to do it…How it works...There's more...Other MenuItem properties and events
Creating a context menu
Getting readyHow to do it…How it works...There's more...
Selecting options with checkboxes and radio buttons
Getting readyHow to do it…How it works...
Manipulating tab order and focus
Getting readyHow to do it…How it works...There's more...Keyboard focus versus logical focus
5. Application and Windows
Introduction
Creating a window
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Selecting the startup window dynamicallyAccessing command line arguments
Creating a dialog box
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Modeless dialogs
Using the common dialog boxes
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...What about colors and fonts?The Windows API Code Pack
Creating ownership between windows
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a custom shaped window
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...What about reusability?
Creating a single instance application
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Handling an unhandled exception
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
6. Data Binding
Introduction
Element to element binding
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Binding modeUpdate source triggerUpdating the source or target manually
Binding to a single object
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...When bindings failOther ways of getting a source binding objectImplementing INotifyPropertyChangedImplementing SetProperty with Visual Studio 2012 and C# 5.0
Binding to a collection
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Synchronizing selected itemsData binding and the Items property are mutually exclusiveWhat about "real" data?
Using data templates
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Data type based data templatesData template selectors
Using value converters
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Using converters for debuggingFormatting stringsCustomizing with data triggers
Creating a master-detail view
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...A simpler selected item binding
Sorting and filtering bound collections
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...More features of ICollectionViewLive shaping
Grouping bound collections
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Grouping by a non-propertySee also
Binding to multiple properties
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Binding hierarchical data to a TreeView
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Presenting data in a grid
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Editing with a template-based columnSelecting, resizing, and sortingOther customization options
Validating data
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Custom validation rulesCustom error templateUsing data annotations
7. Commands and MVVM
Introduction
Using routed commands
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Built-in implementationsCommand sourcesAlternative ICommand implementations
Implementing a basic MVVM application
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Implementing ICommandBlendability
Building a simple MVVM framework
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Non-ICommandSource elements and other eventsWhat about Prism?
Building a complete MVVM style application
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...MVVM implementations
Creating an undo/redo system
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
8. Styles, Triggers, and Control Templates
Introduction
Creating and using styles
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Style inheritanceOther places to set styles
Applying a style automatically
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a property trigger
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Trigger limitationsWhen to use triggersOther locations of triggersTrigger prioritiesSee also
Using data triggers
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Creating an event trigger
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a multi trigger
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using behaviors
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Custom behaviors
Replacing the control template of a progress bar
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...What about the control's properties?Combining a control template with a styleExtending a template with attached propertiesCan we replace just part of a template?What about the Visual State Manager?
Replacing the control template of a scroll bar
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Customizing selection in a Selector control
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
9. Graphics and Animation
Introduction
Creating a custom shape
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...GeometriesBuilt-in shapesShapes versus geometries
Applying transforms on elements
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Other uses for transforms
Manipulating a bitmap programmatically
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...How about higher-level access to WriteableBitmap?See also
Creating adorners
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating property-based animations
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Alternative way to specify the animation propertyMore on storyboardsAnimations with Expression BlendShould I always use animations?
Creating path-based animations
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Animation performance
Creating custom animations
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Adding animation easing to animations
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using custom effects with pixel shaders
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Using the built-in effectsOther shader typesWhat about the BitmapEffect class and its derivatives?
10. Custom Elements
Introduction
Creating a user control
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Optimizing convertersAdding a tunneling event
Handling standard commands in a user control
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Creating a custom (templated) control
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Other things to set in codeWhat is that Generic.xaml?Refactoring of Generic.xaml
Customizing a default template of custom control
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...
Creating a custom panel
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Where are custom panels used?
Creating a lightweight custom element
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Dependency property ownershipMore DrawingContext
11. Threading
Introduction
Updating the UI from a non-UI thread
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Dispatcher alternativeDispatcher enhancements in WPF 4.5More DispatcherWhat about data binding?
Adding cancelation support
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Never cancel by aborting a thread
Using the BackgroundWorker component
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...Did we really have to pass the argument to RunWorkerAsync?What about the Task Parallel Library?
Adding cancellation and progress with BackgroundWorker
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...What about Parallel.For?
Using a timer to do periodic updates
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...
Using C# 5.0 to perform asynchronous operations
Getting readyHow to do it...How it works...There's more...What about non-CPU bound operations?More async
Index

Content preview from Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook

Creating a single instance application

We may sometimes want to limit the number of running instances of some application to just one. Running some executable creates a new Windows process to host that executable, with its own address space, tables, resources, and so on. Sometimes this is not desirable; if the executable tries to run while another instance is already running, it should quit and optionally make the other instance's main window active. A canonical example in Windows is Windows Media Player. An attempt to open a second media player activates the first Media Player window (although it's debatable whether such behavior is desired for Media Player).

Let's see how this can be achieved.

Getting ready

Make sure Visual Studio is up and running. ...

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Windows Presentation Foundation Development Cookbook

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Windows Presentation Foundation 4.5 Cookbook

by Pavel Yosifovich

Creating a single instance application

Getting ready

Become an O’Reilly member and get unlimited access to this title plus top books and audiobooks from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers, thousands of courses curated by job role, 150+ live events each month,
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