Pro Expression Blend 4 [electronic resource] /
Troelsen, Andrew.author.
Pro Expression Blend 4 is for .NET developers and graphical artists who want to learn the ins and outs of the Expression Blend integrated development environment. You may know already that this tool can be used to build Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Silverlight, and Windows Phone 7 applications; however, this book will take you well beyond the basics and provide you with a detailed examination of key Blend topics, including workspace customization, graphics, layout, styles, themes, data binding, and the use of SketchFlow, giving you an excellent understanding of the Blend product and what it can do for you. Over the course of these eight chapters, you will learn numerous techniques to simplify the authoring of XAML using Blend. These include:   Transforming a vector graphic into a custom control template with a few clicks of the mouse Generating complex animations using an integrated timeline editor Visually designing interactive data templates Creating prototypes (via SketchFlow) that can be transformed into production-level code     Throughout Pro Expression Blend 4, you'll work with both Blend and .NET code to finalize fully-functional projects that will provide both valuable insights and a sound foundation for your future WPF and Silverlight projects. Each chapter will give you ample opportunity to build .NET software using Blend. However, this is not a programming book, per se. While some examples will require a manageable amount of C# code, this book is squarely focused on helping you gain mastery over the numerous tools, editors, designers, and wizards of the Microsoft Expression Blend IDE.
Title Page; Copyright Page; Contents at a Glance; Table of Contents; About the Author; About the Technical Reviewer; Acknowledgments; Introduction; Confessions of an XAML Jockey; Chapter Overview; Obtaining the Sample Projects; Obtaining Updates for This Book; Contacting Me; CHAPTER 1 Learning the Core Blend IDE; The Microsoft Expression Family; The Expression Blend Project Templates; A Guided Tour of the Core Blend IDE; Customizing the Options of the Blend IDE; The Expression Blend Documentation System; Summary; CHAPTER 2 Vector Graphics and Object Resources; The Realm of Vector Graphics
Exploring the Core Drawing ToolsCombining Geometries and Extracting Paths; Interacting with Shapes; Configuring "Pens"; Revisiting Visual Effects; The Role of Expression Design; Applying 2D Graphical Transformation; Applying 3D Graphical Transformation; The Role of Object Resources; Summary; CHAPTER 3 The Animation Editor; Defining the Role of Animation Services; The Blend Animation Workspace; Interacting with Storyboards in Code; WPF-Specific Animation Techniques; Understanding Animation Easing Effects; Controlling Storyboards in XAML via Behavior Objects; Summary
CHAPTER 4 Controls, Layouts, and BehaviorsA First Look at GUI Controls; Understanding the Control Content Model; Understanding the Items Control Model; Working with Layout Managers; Building a User Interface with Blend; Introducing Blend Behavior Objects; Summary; CHAPTER 5 Styles, Templates, and UserControls; The Role of Styles; Creating New Styles Using Blend; The Role of Control Templates in Styles; Creating Control Templates Using Expression Blend; Building Templates Using the Silverlight API; Generating UserControls Using Blend; Summary; CHAPTER 6 Blend Data Binding Techniques
The Role of Data BindingControl-to-Control Data Binding; Converting Data Types; Understanding Data Binding Modalities; Binding to Properties of Non-UI Objects; Working with Data Templates; Defining a WPF XML Data Source; Creating a List Details Data Binding; Exploring the Role of Sample Data; Data Binding: A Brief Word on Final Topics; Summary; CHAPTER 7 Designing for Windows Phone 7; Installing the Windows Phone 7 SDK; Exploring the Windows Phone Application Project Type; Exploring the Panorama Application Project Type; Exploring the Pivot Application Project Type
Learning More About Windows Phone DevelopmentSummary; CHAPTER 8 Prototyping with SketchFlow; The Role of Application Prototyping; Examining a SketchFlow Prototype Sample; Creating a Silverlight Prototype; Packaging a Prototype; Moving a Prototype into Production; Summary; Index
Includes index.
Pro Expression Blend 4 is for .NET developers and graphical artists who want to learn the ins and outs of the Expression Blend integrated development environment. You may know already that this tool can be used to build Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Silverlight, and Windows Phone 7 applications; however, this book will take you well beyond the basics and provide you with a detailed examination of key Blend topics, including workspace customization, graphics, layout, styles, themes, data binding, and the use of SketchFlow, giving you an excellent understanding of the Blend product and what it can do for you. Over the course of these eight chapters, you will learn numerous techniques to simplify the authoring of XAML using Blend. These include:   Transforming a vector graphic into a custom control template with a few clicks of the mouse Generating complex animations using an integrated timeline editor Visually designing interactive data templates Creating prototypes (via SketchFlow) that can be transformed into production-level code     Throughout Pro Expression Blend 4, you'll work with both Blend and .NET code to finalize fully-functional projects that will provide both valuable insights and a sound foundation for your future WPF and Silverlight projects. Each chapter will give you ample opportunity to build .NET software using Blend. However, this is not a programming book, per se. While some examples will require a manageable amount of C# code, this book is squarely focused on helping you gain mastery over the numerous tools, editors, designers, and wizards of the Microsoft Expression Blend IDE.
Microsoft Expression blend.
Microsoft software.
Microsoft .NET Framework.
Software engineering.
Microsoft and .NET.
Software Engineering/Programming and Operating Systems.