book

Xamarin Mobile Application Development: Cross-Platform C# and Xamarin.Forms Fundamentals

by Dan Hermes

July 2015

Beginner to intermediate

432 pages

10h 8m

English

Apress

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What Is Xamarin?Wrapped Native APIsDevelopment EnvironmentsUI DesignersWhat’s Old: Familiar C# and .NET TechniquesWhat’s New: Mobile Development TechniquesMobile UIXamarin.Forms and Platform-Specific UIMobile UI DesignXamarin.Forms Custom RenderersData Access LayerLocal Data Access Using SQLiteData BindingCross-platform DevelopmentSummary
Understanding Xamarin.FormsXamarin.Forms Solution ArchitectureUnderstanding the Platform-Specific UI ApproachPlatform-specific UI Solution ArchitectureXamarin.AndroidXamarin.iOSWindows Phone SDKChoosing Xamarin.Forms or a Platform-Specific UIUse Both Approaches with Custom RenderersExploring the Elements of Mobile UIsUsing the Xamarin.Forms UIPageLayoutViewCreating a Xamarin.Forms SolutionXamarin.Forms Shared CodeApplication Lifecycle Methods: OnStart, OnSleep, and OnResumeBuilding Pages Using ContentPageXamarin.AndroidXamarin.iOSWindows Phone ApplicationCore LibrarySetting the App’s Main PageAdding Xamarin.Forms ViewsLabel ViewPlacing Views Using StackLayoutBackground Color and Font ColorUsing FontsUsing Platform-Specific FontsButton ViewSetting View Alignment and Size: HorizontalOptions and VerticalOptionsJustification with LayoutOptionsAndExpand Pads with SpaceEntry View for Text InputBoxViewImage ViewSource PropertyLocal ImagesImage Sizing: Aspect PropertyMaking an Image Clickable with a GestureRecognizerFinalizing the StackLayoutScrollViewAssigning the ContentPage.Content PropertyPadding Around the Entire PageCODE COMPLETE: Adding Xamarin.Forms ViewsSummary
Understanding Custom ControlsUsing Xamarin.Forms LayoutsStackLayoutPadding Around the Entire LayoutStacking with Vertical OrientationStacking with Horizontal OrientationNesting LayoutsExpanding and Padding Views by Using LayoutOptionsCODE COMPLETE: StackLayoutRelativeLayoutSetting View Location and SizeUsing ConstraintsCODE COMPLETE: RelativeLayoutAbsoluteLayoutCreating Bounding Objects with SetLayoutBoundsBinding to the Bounding Object by Using SetLayoutFlagsCODE COMPLETE: AbsoluteLayoutGridSizing Rows and ColumnsSizing to Fit ViewsSetting Exact SizeExpanding Views to Fit Available SpaceExpanding Views ProportionallyCreating Multicell ViewsPadding Between CellsCODE COMPLETE: GridContentViewCODE COMPLETE: ContentViewFrameUsing Android LayoutsLinearLayoutUsing Activities to Display LayoutsCreating Layouts in CodeWorking with Nested LayoutsRelativeLayoutTableLayoutGridLayoutFilling Rows Left to Right with Horizontal OrientationFilling Columns Top to Bottom with Vertical OrientationSpecifying Rows and ColumnsCreating Multicell ViewsCreating a Dynamic Grid of ImagesFrameLayoutFragmentsUsing iOS LayoutsUsing AutoLayoutAdd Constraints by Using Visual Format LanguageUsing FramesSummary
Xamarin.Forms ViewsPickerDatePickerTimePickerStepperSliderSwitchScale, Rotation, Opacity, Visibility, and FocusCODE COMPLETE: Xamarin.Forms ViewsAndroid ControlsSpinnerCODE COMPLETE: SpinnerDatePickerCreating a Modal DatePicker by Using DatePickerDialogCODE COMPLETE: DatePickerExampleTimePickerSeekBarCheckBoxSwitchCustomizing with a Title, Switch Text, and StateRadioButtonCODE COMPLETE: Android ControlsiOS ControlsUIPickerViewMaking a UIPickerView into a Pop-upCODE COMPLETE: UIPickerViewUIDatePickerMaking a UIDatePicker into a Pop-upSpecify Which Fields to DisplayCODE COMPLETE: UIDatePickerUIStepperUISliderCheckBox: Use UISwitch or MonoTouch.DialogUISwitchCODE COMPLETE: iOS ControlsSummary
Data AdaptersXamarin.Forms ListViewBinding to a List of StringsSelecting an ItemBinding to a Data ModelCODE COMPLETE: Binding to a Data ModelAdding an ImageCustomizing List RowsCODE COMPLETE: Customizing List RowsAdding ButtonsUsing Button ViewsUsing Context ActionsGrouping HeadersCustomizing the Group HeaderCreating a Jump ListListViews Scroll AutomaticallyOptimizing PerformanceAndroid ListViewUsing ListActivityBinding to an Array of StringsSelecting an ItemMultiple SelectionBinding to a Data ModelData ModelAdapterActivityOptimizing PerformanceUsing the Built-in Row ViewsCustomizing List RowsSelecting an Item in a Customized RowCODE COMPLETE: Customizing List RowsGrouping HeadersiOS UITableViewBinding to an Array of StringsSelecting an ItemMultiple SelectionBinding to a Data ModelData ModelAdapterView ControllerUsing Built-in Row ViewsCell SeparatorsCustomizing List RowsGrouping HeadersCODE COMPLETE: Grouping AdapterCODE COMPLETE: Grouping View ControllerHighlighting Groups Using Table StylesAccessorizing List RowsSelecting an AccessoryOptimizing PerformanceAn Alternative Approach to Lists: UITableViewControllerSummary
Navigation PatternsHierarchicalModalState ManagementXamarin.Forms NavigationHierarchical Navigation Using NavigationPagePushing and Popping Screens on the Navigation StackSetting the Page TitleCustomizing the Navigation BarHandling the Back ButtonCreating a Drop-down MenuModalFull-Page Modal Using NavigationPageUser Notification Using AlertsPop-up Menu Using Action SheetsManaging StatePassing Data into Page ParametersDisk Persistence Using the Properties DictionaryUsing a Static Global ClassUsing a Static Property on the Application ObjectDrill-down ListsUsing ListView by ItemCODE COMPLETE: Drill-down ListUsing ListView by PageUsing TableView for Grouping PagesNavigation Drawer Using MasterDetailPageTabs Using TabbedPageCreating Data-Bound TabsPutting NavigationPages Inside a TabbedPageSpringboardMaking Icons Tappable by Using Gesture RecognizersCarousel Using CarouselPageAndroid NavigationStarting New Activities Using IntentsHierarchical Navigation Using the ToolbarHandling the Up ButtonAdding a Pop-up MenuCustomize the ToolbarUsing the Navigation BarHandling the Back ButtonFragmentsModal NavigationCreating Modals Using DialogFragmentCreating Alerts Using DialogFragmentModal Layouts Using AlertDialogPopupMenuManaging State Using BundlesPassing StringsPassing Objects
Using Static Global Classes and StartActivityForResultDrill-down ListUsing ListView by PageUsing ListView by ItemUsing ListView with a ToolbarNavigation DrawerTabs Using ActionBarCODE COMPLETE: TabMenuActivity.csiOS NavigationUsing Storyboards, Scenes, and SeguesUsing NibsHierarchical NavigationUsing UINavigationControllerUsing the Push Segue or PushViewControllerCustomizing UINavigationControllerModal NavigationUsing the Modal Segue or PresentViewControllerAlerts and User Notifications Using UIAlertControllerPop-up Menus Using UIAlertControllerManaging StateUsing the PrepareForSegue MethodUsing UIViewController Public PropertiesUsing the UIViewController Constructor ParametersDrill-down List Using UINavigationControllerNavigation Drawer Using ComponentsTabs Using UITabBarControllerSummary
What Is SQLite?What Is SQLite.NET?Data BindingXamarin.Forms Data BindingBinding to a Data ModelUsing INotifyPropertyChangedCODE COMPLETE: Using INotifyPropertyChangedUnderstanding ViewModels and MVVMBinding to ViewModels and Data ModelsCreate a ViewModel That Implements INotifyPropertyChangedImplement INotifyPropertyChanged in Your Data ModelBinding a Read-Only ListViewBinding an Editable ListViewAdding and Deleting RowsEditing PropertiesBinding to a View ModelCODE COMPLETE: Binding an Editable ListViewBinding a View to Another ViewUsing SQLite.NETInstalling SQLite on Windows PhoneCreating a DatabaseBuilding the Database PathConnect by Using Shared ProjectsConnect by Using Portable Class LibrariesConnect in AndroidConnect in iOSConnect in Windows PhoneCreating a TableUsing AttributesInserting and Deleting RowsGetting RowsUpdating RowsLocking RowsCreating the Data Access LayerCreating a RepositoryManaging the RepositoryAdding Methods to the RepositoryCODE COMPLETE: Creating a DAL by Using SQLite.NETUsing ADO.NETCreating a DatabaseCreating a TableExecuting SQL StatementsCODE COMPLETE: Using ADO.NETDatabase Creation OptionsWeb ServicesEnterprise Cloud Data SolutionsMicrosoft AzureIBM MobileFirst Platform FoundationAmazon Web Services (AWS)Summary
When to Use a Custom RendererCreating and Using a Custom RendererPreparing the Custom ElementCreating the Custom RendererAndroid Custom RendererCODE COMPLETE: Android Custom RendereriOS Custom RendererCODE COMPLETE: iOS Custom RendererWindows Phone Custom RendererCODE COMPLETE: Windows Phone Custom RendererWhich Renderer and View Do You Customize?Summary
Shared Code and Platform-Specific CodeHandling DivergenceXamarin.Forms Solution ArchitecturePlatform-Specific Solution ArchitectureCore LibraryPortable Class Libraries (PCL)Dependency InjectionUsing DependencyServiceCreating an InterfaceAndroid ImplementationiOS ImplementationWindows Phone ImplementationInvocation of the Platform-Specific ClassCODE COMPLETE: Using DependencyServiceThird-Party and Open Source DI ContainersShared ProjectsConditional CompilationFile LinkingPartial Classes and MethodsHandling Version DivergenceSummary

Overview

Xamarin Mobile Application Development is a hands-on Xamarin.Forms primer and a cross-platform reference for building native Android, iOS, and Windows Phone apps using C# and .NET. This book explains how to use Xamarin.Forms, Xamarin.Android, and Xamarin.iOS to build business apps for your customers and consumer apps for Google Play and the iTunes App Store.

Learn how to leverage Xamarin.Forms for cross-platform development using the most common UI pages, layouts, views, controls, and design patterns. Combine these with platform-specific UI to craft a visually stunning and highly interactive mobile user experience.

Use Xamarin.Forms to data bind your UI to both data models and to view models for a Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) implementation. Use this book to answer the important question: Is Xamarin.Forms right for my project?

Platform-specific UI is a key concept in cross-platform development, and Xamarin.Android and Xamarin.iOS are the foundation of the Xamarin platform. Xamarin Mobile Application Development will cover how to build an Android app using Xamarin.Android and an iOS app using Xamarin.iOS while sharing a core code library.

SQLite is the database-of-choice for many Xamarin developers. This book will explain local data access techniques using SQLite.NET and ADO.NET. Build a mobile data access layer (DAL) using SQLite and weigh your options for web services and enterprise cloud data solutions.

This book will show how organize your Xamarin code into a professional-grade application architecture. Explore solution-building techniques from starter-to-enterprise to help you decouple your functional layers, manage your platform-specific code, and share your cross-platform classes for code reuse, testability, and maintainability.

Also included are 250+ screenshots on iOS, Android, and Windows Phone and 200+ C# code examples with downloadable C# and XAML versions available from Apress.com.

This comprehensive recipe and reference book addresses one of the most important and vexing problems in the software industry today: How do we effectively design and develop cross-platform mobile applications?

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Publisher Resources

ISBN: 9781484202142Purchase book