Windows 8 App Projects - XAML and C# Edition

220 Pages·2013·9.46 MB·English

by  Nico Vermeir

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Windows 8 App Projects
XAML and C# Edition
Nico Vermeir
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Windows 8 App Projects: XAML and C# Edition
Copyright © 2013 by Nico Vermeir
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Contents at a Glance
About the Author .................................................................................................................xi
About the Technical Reviewer ...........................................................................................xiii
Acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................xv
(cid:78) Chapter 1: Introduction .....................................................................................................1
(cid:78) Chapter 2: Getting Started .................................................................................................5
(cid:78) Chapter 3: Building a First Project ..................................................................................21
(cid:78) Chapter 4: Consuming Data .............................................................................................43
(cid:78) Chapter 5: Build a Charming Application ........................................................................67
(cid:78) Chapter 6: Using Live Tiles ..............................................................................................97
(cid:78) Chapter 7: Notifications .................................................................................................119
(cid:78) Chapter 8: Building an Adaptable App ...........................................................................131
(cid:78) Chapter 9: Sensors ........................................................................................................151
(cid:78) Chapter 10: Games ........................................................................................................173
(cid:78) Chapter 11: The Windows Store ....................................................................................195
Index .................................................................................................................................205
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Contents
About the Author .................................................................................................................xi
About the Technical Reviewer ...........................................................................................xiii
Acknowledgments ..............................................................................................................xv
(cid:78) Chapter 1: Introduction .....................................................................................................1
History ...........................................................................................................................................1
Windows Application Programming Interface ...............................................................................3
About This Book ............................................................................................................................4
(cid:78) Chapter 2: Getting Started .................................................................................................5
Setting Up the Environment ..........................................................................................................5
Starting a First Project ..................................................................................................................8
Class Library ..........................................................................................................................................................8
Windows Runtime Component ..............................................................................................................................8
Unit Test Library .....................................................................................................................................................9
Blank App Template ...............................................................................................................................................9
Grid App Template ................................................................................................................................................10
Split App Template ...............................................................................................................................................15
A Closer Look at the Simulator ....................................................................................................17
Summary .....................................................................................................................................20
(cid:78) Chapter 3: Building a First Project ..................................................................................21
Adding Pages ..............................................................................................................................21
GridView ..............................................................................................................................................................22
StackPanel ...........................................................................................................................................................25
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(cid:78) CONTENTS
Grid ......................................................................................................................................................................26
Canvas .................................................................................................................................................................27
Our Project ...........................................................................................................................................................27
Adding a Page ......................................................................................................................................................28
QuizPage ..............................................................................................................................................................31
MVVM and MVVM Light ...............................................................................................................32
Getting Started with MVVM Light .........................................................................................................................32
ViewModelLocator ...............................................................................................................................................34
ViewModels .........................................................................................................................................................36
Navigation in MVVM .............................................................................................................................................38
Where Are My Behaviors? ...........................................................................................................41
Summary .....................................................................................................................................42
(cid:78) Chapter 4: Consuming Data .............................................................................................43
SQLite in Windows 8 ....................................................................................................................44
Creating a Basic SQLite App ................................................................................................................................44
Adding the Child and Observation Classes ..........................................................................................................45
Building the Database and Its Connection ...........................................................................................................46
App Functionality .................................................................................................................................................47
Observation Page.................................................................................................................................................48
AppBar .................................................................................................................................................................49
Add Child Form ....................................................................................................................................................51
Displaying Data on MainPage ..............................................................................................................................52
Running the App ..................................................................................................................................................53
Consuming REST Services ..........................................................................................................53
Twitter Search App ..............................................................................................................................................53
The Tweet Class ...................................................................................................................................................53
Windows Azure Mobile Services .................................................................................................56
Creating a Mobile Service....................................................................................................................................56
Creating the Windows Store App .........................................................................................................................62
Summary .....................................................................................................................................65
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(cid:78) CONTENTS
(cid:78) Chapter 5: Build a Charming Application ........................................................................67
Search Charm ..............................................................................................................................67
Filters ...................................................................................................................................................................71
Search Suggestions from a List ...........................................................................................................................75
Search Suggestions from Known Folders............................................................................................................77
Search Suggestions Through Open Search .........................................................................................................79
Share Charm ...............................................................................................................................82
Sharing Text .........................................................................................................................................................82
Sharing Links .......................................................................................................................................................84
Sharing HTML ......................................................................................................................................................86
Sharing Images ....................................................................................................................................................87
Sharing Custom Data ...........................................................................................................................................88
Settings Charm ............................................................................................................................91
Summary .....................................................................................................................................95
(cid:78) Chapter 6: Using Live Tiles ..............................................................................................97
Application Tile ............................................................................................................................97
Build Your Own Live Tile ......................................................................................................................................97
The Button Click ..................................................................................................................................................98
Live Tile with Image ...........................................................................................................................................101
Secondary Tiles .........................................................................................................................104
Adding a Secondary Tile ....................................................................................................................................104
Adding Navigation to the Secondary Tile ...........................................................................................................106
Updating a Secondary Tile .................................................................................................................................107
Badges ......................................................................................................................................109
Building the Badges...........................................................................................................................................110
Updating Tiles ............................................................................................................................112
Notification Queues ...........................................................................................................................................113
Background Tasks .............................................................................................................................................113
Summary ...................................................................................................................................117
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(cid:78) CONTENTS
(cid:78) Chapter 7: Notifications .................................................................................................119
Toast Notifications .....................................................................................................................119
Building a Toast-Capable App ............................................................................................................................119
Toast Templates .................................................................................................................................................122
Toasts with Images ............................................................................................................................................123
Scheduling a Notification...................................................................................................................................124
Adding Audio to Toasts ......................................................................................................................................126
Lockscreen Notifications ...........................................................................................................127
Summary ...................................................................................................................................130
(cid:78) Chapter 8: Building an Adaptable App ...........................................................................131
Multiple Resolutions ..................................................................................................................131
Grids ..................................................................................................................................................................131
Testing Multiple Resolutions ..............................................................................................................................138
Dots Per Inch .....................................................................................................................................................139
GridView ............................................................................................................................................................140
Variable-Sized WrapGrid ....................................................................................................................................144
Changing the App Layout ..........................................................................................................144
Visual State Manager.........................................................................................................................................144
Snap That App ....................................................................................................................................................145
Device Orientation .............................................................................................................................................148
Summary ...................................................................................................................................149
(cid:78) Chapter 9: Sensors ........................................................................................................151
Accelerometer Sensor ...............................................................................................................151
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................152
Using the Windows 8 Accelerometer API ...........................................................................................................152
Location Sensor .........................................................................................................................156
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................156
Using the Windows 8 Location API.....................................................................................................................157
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(cid:78) CONTENTS
Simple Orientation Sensor.........................................................................................................159
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................160
Using the Windows 8 Simple Orientation API ....................................................................................................160
Light Sensor ..............................................................................................................................163
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................163
Using the Windows 8 Light Sensor API ..............................................................................................................163
Inclinometer Sensor ..................................................................................................................165
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................166
Using the Windows 8 Inclinometer API ..............................................................................................................166
Gyroscope Sensor .....................................................................................................................168
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................168
Using the Windows 8 Gyroscope API .................................................................................................................168
Compass Sensor .......................................................................................................................170
How Does It Work? ............................................................................................................................................170
Using the Windows 8 Compass API ...................................................................................................................170
Summary ...................................................................................................................................171
(cid:78) Chapter 10: Games ........................................................................................................173
Direct3D ....................................................................................................................................173
Direct2D ....................................................................................................................................175
SharpDX ....................................................................................................................................178
MonoGame ................................................................................................................................178
Installing MonoGame .........................................................................................................................................179
Starting a MonoGame Project ...................................................................................................180
Game Class ........................................................................................................................................................182
Adding the Model ...............................................................................................................................................185
MouseManager class.........................................................................................................................................190
Game Logic ........................................................................................................................................................191
Summary ...................................................................................................................................193
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(cid:78) CONTENTS
(cid:78) Chapter 11: The Windows Store ....................................................................................195
Creating a Developer Account ...................................................................................................195
Prepare to Submit Your App ......................................................................................................198
Submit Your App ........................................................................................................................201
Summary ...................................................................................................................................204
Index .................................................................................................................................205
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