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Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# Sams Teach Yourself in 24 Hours
- By Adam Nathan
- Published May 21, 2014 by Sams. Part of the Sams Teach Yourself series.
Book
- Sorry, this book is no longer in print.
About
Features
- Full-color guide
- Teaches Windows 8.1 app development, for any level developer
- Written by a principal software architect for Microsoft
Description
- Copyright 2014
- Edition: 1st
- Book
- ISBN-10: 0-672-33836-X
- ISBN-13: 978-0-672-33836-6
Learn how to build great Windows Store apps! Figures and code appear as they do in Visual Studio.
In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# in 24 Hours will help you build compelling apps for Windows 8.1 devices of all kinds. Using this book’s straightforward approach, you’ll learn to design and build apps, create flexible user interfaces, handle inputs, integrate controls, and more. Step by step, you’ll discover how to leverage XAML’s visual richness and the immense power of Windows 8.1. Every lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success!
Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through today’s most common XAML and C# development tasks.
Quizzes at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge.
Notes present interesting information related to the discussion.
Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks.
Cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them.
Learn how to…
- Create user interfaces that adapt to any device, from tablets to high-def TVs
- Handle input from touch, mouse, pen, and keyboard
- Manage the entire Windows 8.1 app lifecycle and all execution states
- Master powerful XAML controls for text, images, audio, video, and more
- Integrate vector graphics that scale perfectly to any size
- Apply rich animations
- Work with styles, templates, and visual states
- Exploit the Windows charms within your apps
- Take full advantage of data binding and contracts
- Read data from sensors and control external devices
- Provide dynamic updates via live tiles, notifications, and the lock screen
- Discover the many ways to monetize your Windows Store apps
Sample Content
Online Sample Chapter
Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C#: Arranging UI Elements
Sample Pages
Download the sample pages (includes Chapter 3 and Index)
Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Part I: Getting Started
HOUR 1: Preparing for Development 5
Creating, Deploying, and Profiling an App 5
Understanding the App Package 8
Submitting to the Windows Store 18
Further Exploration 20
Summary 20
Q&A 21
Workshop 22
HOUR 2: Discovering the XAML Language 23
What Is XAML, Exactly? 23
Elements and Attributes 25
Namespaces 25
Property Elements 27
Type Converters 28
Markup Extensions 29
Children of Object Elements 31
Mixing XAML with C# 35
Updating the Hour1 Project 35
Making Your App World-Ready 42
Making Your App Accessible 48
Further Exploration 53
Summary 54
Q&A 54
Workshop 54
Exercises 55
Part II: Building an App
HOUR 3: Arranging UI Elements 57
Controlling Size 58
Controlling Position 60
Applying 2D Transforms 64
Applying 3D Transforms 70
Further Exploration 73
Summary 73
Q&A 73
Workshop 77
Exercises 77
HOUR 4: Mastering Layout 79
Discovering Your Window Size and Location 80
Panels 84
Handling Content Overflow 97
Further Exploration 110
Summary 110
Q&A 110
Workshop 112
HOUR 5: Handling Input: Touch, Mouse, Pen, and Keyboard 113
Touch Input 114
Mouse Input 138
Pen Input 141
Keyboard Input 150
Further Exploration 156
Summary 156
Q&A 156
Workshop 158
HOUR 6: Managing the App Lifecycle 159
Killing 161
Suspending 162
Resuming 164
Terminating 165
Launching 165
Activating 169
Managing Session State with SuspensionManager 171
Programmatically Launching Apps 174
Further Exploration 177
Summary 178
Q&A 179
Workshop 180
HOUR 7: Threading, Windows, and Pages 181
Understanding the Threading Model 181
Displaying Multiple Windows 186
Navigating Between Pages 190
Further Exploration 198
Summary 198
Q&A 198
Workshop 199
Part III: Understanding Controls
HOUR 8: Content Controls 201
Button 204
AppBarButton 207
HyperlinkButton 214
RepeatButton 215
ToggleButton 215
AppBarToggleButton 216
CheckBox 217
RadioButton 217
ToolTip 219
App Bars 222
Summary 229
Q&A 229
Workshop 231
Exercises 231
HOUR 9: Items Controls 233
Items in the Control 234
Items Panels 236
ComboBox 239
ListBox 241
ListView 242
GridView 246
FlipView 248
SemanticZoom 251
MenuFlyout 255
Summary 256
Q&A 256
Workshop 257
Exercises 258
HOUR 10: Text 259
TextBlock 259
RichTextBlock 272
TextBox 277
RichEditBox 284
PasswordBox 287
Further Exploration 289
Summary 289
Q&A 289
Workshop 291
Exercises 291
HOUR 11: Images 293
The Image Element 294
Multiple Files for Multiple Environments 302
Decoding Images 308
Encoding Images 318
Rendering PDF Content as an Image 326
Further Exploration 331
Summary 331
Q&A 332
Workshop 332
Exercises 333
HOUR 12: Audio, Video, and Speech 335
Playing Media 336
Capturing Media 347
Transcoding Media 359
Speech Synthesis 364
Further Exploration 366
Summary 367
Q&A 368
Workshop 369
HOUR 13: Other Controls 371
Range Controls 371
SearchBox 374
Popup Controls 381
Hub 391
Date and Time Controls 397
ProgressRing 400
ToggleSwitch 400
WebView 402
Further Exploration 408
Summary 408
Workshop 408
Part IV: Leveraging the Richness of XAML
HOUR 14: Vector Graphics 411
Shapes 411
Geometries 419
Brushes 427
Further Exploration 443
Summary 443
Q&A 444
Workshop 445
Exercises 445
HOUR 15: Animation 447
Theme Transitions 448
Theme Animations 459
Custom Animations 464
Custom Keyframe Animations 475
Easing Functions 480
Manual Animations 484
Further Exploration 486
Summary 488
Q&A 488
Workshop 490
Exercises 491
HOUR 16: Styles, Templates, and Visual States 493
Styles 494
Templates 503
Visual States 512
Summary 522
Q&A 522
Workshop 523
Exercises 523
HOUR 17: Data Binding 525
Introducing Binding 525
Controlling Rendering 533
Customizing the View of a Collection 541
High-Performance Rendering with ListView and GridView 545
Summary 549
Q&A 550
Workshop 550
Part V: Exploiting Windows 8.1
HOUR 18: Working with Data 551
An Overview of Files and Folders 551
App Data 553
User Data 559
Networking 564
Further Exploration 575
Summary 576
Q&A 576
Workshop 576
HOUR 19: Supporting Charms 579
The Search Charm 580
The Share Charm 585
The Devices Charm 592
The Settings Charm 603
Summary 608
Workshop 609
Exercises 609
HOUR 20: Leveraging Contracts 611
Account Picture Provider 613
AutoPlay Content and AutoPlay Device 616
File Type Associations 619
Protocol 621
File Open Picker 622
File Save Picker 626
Contact Picker 627
The Contact Contract 630
The Appointments Provider Contract 634
Background Tasks 636
Further Exploration 645
Summary 646
Q&A 646
Workshop 646
HOUR 21: Reading from Sensors 647
Accelerometer 647
Gyrometer 651
Inclinometer 651
Compass 651
Light Sensor 652
Orientation 652
Location 653
Proximity 660
Summary 663
Workshop 663
HOUR 22: Controlling Devices 665
Fingerprint Readers 666
Image Scanners 666
Barcode Scanners 670
Magnetic Stripe Readers 674
Custom Bluetooth Devices 676
Custom Bluetooth Smart Devices 679
Custom USB Devices 682
Custom HID Devices 686
Custom Wi-Fi Direct Devices 688
Further Exploration 690
Summary 690
Workshop 691
Exercises 691
HOUR 23: Live Tiles, Notifications, and the Lock Screen 693
Live Tiles 693
Badges 708
Secondary Tiles 710
Toast Notifications 713
Setting Up Push Notifications 718
The Lock Screen 726
Further Exploration 729
Summary 730
Workshop 730
Exercises 731
HOUR 24: Earning Money 733
Adding Advertisements to Your App 734
Supporting a Free Trial 740
Supporting In-App Purchases 744
Validating Windows Store Receipts 753
Testing Windows Store Features 755
Further Exploration 760
Summary 761
Q&A 761
Workshop 762
Index 763
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