| This book is organized into four sections. Each section focuses on a particular set of topics that are grouped together logically. Part I, Introducing XAML This part of the book introduces the basics of XAML. It details the prerequisites necessary to begin building user interfaces in XAML and introduces MSBuild, Microsoft's new unified build system. Because XAML supports many new features such as animation and resources, Part II has been devoted to covering these unique concepts. The basics will be covered here, but new concepts such as animation and transformations are given in-depth attention later on.
Chapter 1, Introducing XAML This chapter provides you with a quick introduction to XAML and includes a list of references to tools available for developing XAML applications.
Chapter 2, Getting Started with XAML This chapter details the system prerequisites and basics necessary to begin developing and building XAML applications. It introduces Microsoft's new unified build system, MSBuild, and describes how to use it to build XAML applications. The chapter also walks you through an example of using Microsoft's Visual Studio tools to create and build an application. Part II, XAML Concepts This part of the book delves into the details of XAML. You'll learn about elements, controls, styles, and animations, and how to use them to create your own user interface. There are many specific elements not discussed directly in other sections of this book. These elements, in conjunction with all core XAML elements, are detailed here for quick and easy access.
Chapter 3, The Basics of XAML This chapter describes the core XAML syntax and delves into the types of elements used to create XAML applications. Attributes, attached properties, and event handler coding techniques are explained and accompanied by examples of how to use them.
Chapter 4, Layout and Positioning This chapter details how to position individual elements using a variety of techniques, including panels and absolute positioning.
Chapter 5, Resources This chapter provides an overview of resources, focusing on the use of global resources to create a customized look and feel for your interface. It describes how to define and reference resources and details the use of triggers to apply styles based on events.
Chapter 6, Storyboards and Animations This chapter details the mechanisms available for animating XAML elements. It includes examples of animating properties, such as position and size of elements. Part III, Core XAML Reference This part of the book details syntax rules and attributes for XAML in a series of quick-reference chapters. This section divides XAML elements into logical categories of elements, controls, shapes and geometry, layout, animations, and transformations.
Chapter 7, Elements This reference chapter details and provides examples for the basic elements used within XAML, including Brush and Pen, ListItem, and elements used for text decoration, such as Inline, Bold, and Italic.
Chapter 8, Controls This reference chapter details the control elements available within XAML, such as Button, CheckBox, ImageViewer, and Expander. It also contains a reference to common events.
Chapter 9, Shapes and Geometry This reference chapter explains the differences between shape and geometry classes and details the Shape and Geometry elements available within XAML.
Chapter 10, Layout This reference chapter details the XAML elements used to lay out user interfaces such as Grid and Panel, and describes supporting elements such as trigger, Style, and Border.
Chapter 11, Animations and Transformations This reference chapter details the types of animations and transformations available to XAML elements.
Chapter 12, Events This reference chapter explains the WPF event system and details the events available to XAML elements. Part IV, Appendixes The appendixes detail the CLR classes in the WinFX runtime that are available through XAML, list all of the predefined Color values supported by XAML, and present a complete code-only example of building a XAML application.
Appendix A, System.Windows.Controls Lists the elements found in the System.Windows.Control namespace
Appendix B, System.Windows.Documents Lists the elements found in the System.Windows.Documents namespace
Appendix C, System.Windows.Shapes Lists the elements found in the System.Windows.Shapes namespace
Appendix D, System.Windows Lists the elements found in the System.Windows namespace
Appendix E, System.Windows.Media Lists the elements found in the System.Windows.Media namespace
Appendix F, System.Windows.Input.ApplicationCommands Lists the elements found in the System.Windows.Input.ApplicationCommands namespace
Appendix G, Predefined Colors Lists the available predefined colors supported by XAML
Appendix H, XAML Interface in Code Contains a XAML declaration used to build a simple application |
