of View Part 1 Rudi Grobler httpdotnetorgzarudi Session Code WUX205 Agenda A lap around Expression Blend Finding features you know from Visual Studio Exploring features unique to Expression Blend ID: 174906
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Slide1Slide2
Microsoft Expression Blend from a Developer's Point of ViewPart 1
Rudi
Grobler
http://dotnet.org.za/rudi
Session Code
: WUX205Slide3
AgendaA lap around Expression BlendFinding features you know from Visual StudioExploring features unique to Expression BlendWorking with Visual Studio and Expression Blend in tandemSilverlight vs. Windows Presentation FoundationLearning a few designer tricks
Creating a real world user interface for an existing business applicationSlide4
What is Expression Blend?User Interface design tool for WPF and SilverlightThe focus is on next-generation interactive user interfaces and user experiencesThe tool covers the entire range of possible WPF/SL interfaces from desktop business applications to web experiencesThe main focus of Expression Blend has traditionally been on designers
However, it turns out to be a great developer tool as well!Slide5
Expression Blend Versions and HistoryExpression Blend 1 – WPF design toolExpression Blend 2 – WPF and Silverlight 2.0Expression Blend 3 (preview) – WPF and Silverlight 3.0 (beta)My recommendation: Use Expression Blend 3 whenever you can!I have been using Expression Blend 3 (beta) for all my WPF design needs and the product has already been very stableSlide6
Expression Blend and VS SimilaritiesCreating Projects based on templatesExpression Blend supports WPF and Silverlight templates onlyProjects and SolutionsNew Source Control support in version 3.0Design and Editor windowsBlend 3.0 supports code editing and IntelliSense
Toolbox
Properties and events window Slide7
Expression Blend: The FamiliardemoSlide8
Expression Blend and VS DifferencesRicher visual UI editor in Expression BlendUI hierarchy windowStoryboards and TimelinesTrigger and Visual State supportResources (XAML)Design time data
SketchFlow
Adobe integrationSlide9
Expression Blend: New FeaturesdemoSlide10
Blend and Visual Studio TogetherBlend 2.0: Design in Blend, code in Visual StudioSource Control through Visual StudioBlend 3.0:Source code editing is now supportedStill, for heavy duty coding (and debugging!)
Visual Studio is the better choice
Even as a developer, I do all my visual UI editing in Expression BlendSlide11
Expression Blend & Visual StudiodemoSlide12
Some Real-World TipsCreate new projects in Visual StudioThe templates used by both tools are not identicalTest-run your applications from Visual StudioNo debugging support in BlendBetter error information in Visual StudioBeware of having the same file open twice
Save changes before you switch to the other tool, to avoid accidental simultaneous editingSlide13
Differences Between WPF and SLExpression Blend can be used for both WPF and Silverlight, and most things you know apply to bothThe differences in the two technologies change the Blend experienceExample: Triggers vs. Visual StatesExample: Resource Dictionaries vs. Inline Resources
The two technologies move closer together
Visual States are available in WPF (and supported by Blend) as an add-on
Silverlight 3.0 supports Resource DictionariesSlide14
Building a Real-World ApplicationThis example uses an existing middle tier that runs as a production applicationNote: The downloadable example provides a “fake” middle tier so you can easily run it on your systemNote: There are Silverlight and WPF versionsThe example app shows a list of sports teams and the players rostered by each teamThe goal of the example is to create a nice UI with a visual appearance that is both appealing and professional and suitable for a business applicationSlide15
Building an ApplicationdemoSlide16
http://dotnet.org.za/rudiquestion & answerSlide17
Complete a session evaluation and enter to win!
10 pairs of MP3
sunglasses
to be
wonSlide18
Related ContentBuilding Rich Business Clients in WPF (Brian Noyes)What’s New in Microsoft Silverlight 3 (Eben de Wit)
Developing for Windows 7 (
Lynn
Langit
)
Optimizing Your Application for the Windows 7 User Experience (
Lynn
Langit
)
ViewModel
and Application Patterns with Silverlight (
Nikhil Kothari
)
Creating “real
” devices
(
Rudi
Grobler
)
Windows Client Development Discussion (
Rudi, Lynn & Tony
)
Sharing Code between your Microsoft .NET Framework Applications and Microsoft Silverlight (
Stephen Forte
)Slide19
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