WPF

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WPF

• what is it, what can you do with it and how do
  you get started

Sue Chard 11 April 2006 Dot Net User Group
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WPF

• What is it
• How does it fit in with winforms directx etc
• How do you get it
• How do you build with it

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Windows Presentation Foundation

• Used to be called Avalon
• Graphics subsystem in Vista Managed Graphics
• Does not use GDI/GDI32/GDI - essentially
  replaces win32
• Can be installed as part of WinFX runtime
• Windows XP SP 2
• Windows Server 2003 SP1
• Also a mobile version WPF/E (everywhere)
• New buzz word UX

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Applications
Controls
Styling
Layout
Data
Content
Action
Presentation Framework
PresentationCore.dll
MilCore.dll
DirectX
Driver
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What type of Applications can be built

• WPF intended to replace both webforms and windows
  forms apps can be built to run in a browser or
  a standalone window
• Windows forms and WPF pages/windows can co-exist
  in the same application
• One WPF page/window can have both types of
  controls on it
• A new type of web application called XAML Browser
  Application XBAP (formerly Web Browser
  Application WBA)

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What do the applications look like

• XAML to define interface
• Declarative
• Xml based
• Has actions as well
• Separates design from code allowing graphics
  designers and coders to work together on the same
  project
• Explanation of structure
• http//msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/default.asp
  x?pull/library/en-us/dnlong/html/wpf101.asp

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State of development

• February CTP was feature complete
• Still a bit slow to run, expect performance
  improvements with next releases especially if
  software rendering
• Need a compatible graphics card (GPU)
• http//www.microsoft.com/technet/windowsvista/eval
  uate/hardware/entpguid.mspx
• May need to update GPU drivers
• Not for twitch games where polygon counts matter
• Good for complex data visualisation and dynamic
  interactive experiences

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Get WPF
http//msdn.microsoft.com/windowsvista/downloads/g
etthebeta/default.aspx
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Designer tools

• MS Expression Graphic Designer (Acrylic)
• MS Expression Interactive designer (Sparkle)
• MS Expression Web Designer (Quartz)
• MS Visual Studio Designer (Cider)

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Designer tools
http//www.microsoft.com/products/expression/en/de
fault.mspx
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Demo