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Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# Sams Teach Yourself in 24 Hours

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Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# Sams Teach Yourself in 24 Hours

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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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