M10262: Developing Windows Applications with Microsoft Visual Studio 2010

Prerequisites:

These technology specialists should have at least one year of experience developing Windows-based applications by using a recent version of Visual Studio .NET, at least six months experience with Visual Studio 2010 (including pre-release versions), and should be able to demonstrate the following:

* A solid understanding of the Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 solution stack for WinForms applications
* Experience in creating data-driven user interfaces for WinForms applications
* Experience in programming against the WinForms object models
* Experience in deploying WinForms applications
* Limited experience (100-level) with WPF and Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) using VS2008.

Course Description:

In this course, experienced developers who know the basics of Windows Forms development gain more advanced Windows Client design and development skills. WinForms and WPF programming models, as well as relative strengths and when to use each technology, are covered.

This course is intended for Technology Specialists in the area of Windows Client Development who work in a development environment that uses Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2010 and Microsoft .NET Framework 4.0 to create rich client applications for Windows.

On completion of this course, delegates will be able to:

• Understand how varying business requirements influence the design decisions when planning a Windows Client application.
• Understand the new features of Visual Studio 2010 WPF
• Design and build a UI that provides the expected end-user experience and UI functionality
• Create a consistent and manageable user interface
• Understand best practices when testing and learn how to debug their applications
• Use advanced exception handling in Windows Client application scenarios
• Implement advanced data binding scenarios
• Use coding techniques to improve the responsiveness of their applications
• Implement localization, user assistance, and accessibility features within an application
• Understand the basics of graphics in WPF
• Customize controls and introduce students to custom controls
• Implement application behaviors based on user actions or events by using attached properties and Expression Blend behaviors
• Develop data visualization within their applications in a manner that enables the application user to drill down into data visually
• Manage application state and settings throughout the application lifecycle
• Deploy their applications using the various methods supported by Visual Studio 2010

This course includes the following modules:

Windows Client Application Design

• Windows Client Technologies
• Architectural Patterns
• Interoperability between Windows Forms and WPF
• Lab: Planning Windows Client Applications

Introduction to Visual Studio 2010 and WPF Version 4

• Whats New in Visual Studio 2010?
• Whats New in WPF Version 4
• Lab: Guided Tour of Visual Studio 2010 and XAML

Designing and Developing a User Interface

• Defining Page Layout
• Using Content Controls
• Using Item Controls
• Sharing Logical Resources in a Window
• Lab: Building a User Interface

Taking Control of the User Interface

• Sharing Logical Resources in an Application
• Creating Consistent User Interfaces by Using Styles
• Changing the Appearance of Controls by Using Templates
• Handling Events and Commands
• Lab: Dynamically Controlling the User Interface

Testing, Unit Testing, and Debugging

• WPF Testing Strategies
• Debugging XAML
• Providing User Feedback for Unhandled Exceptions
• Understanding Security Features
• Lab: Testing and Debugging WPF Applications

Simple Data Binding and Validation

• Overview of Data Binding
• Creating a Data Binding
• Implementing Property Change Notification
• Converting Data
• Validating Data
• Presenting Data at Design Time
• Lab: Data Binding

Data Binding to Collections

• Binding to Collections of Objects
• Using Collection Views
• Creating Master-Detail User Interfaces
• Using Data Templates
• Presenting Design Time Data Collections
• Lab: Data Binding to Collections

Enhancing UI Responsiveness

• Implementing Asynchronous Processes
• Implementing Responsive User Interfaces
• Lab: Enhancing Application Performance

Integrating Localization and User Assistance Features

• Localization and Globalization
• Implementing User Assistance Features
• Providing User Accessibility Features
• Lab: Localizing a WPF Application

WPF 2D Graphics, Multimedia, and Printing

• Displaying 2D Graphics
• Displaying Images
• Adding Multimedia to WPF Applications
• Creating and Printing Documents
• Lab: Drawing 2-D Graphics

Control Customization

• Overview of Control Authoring
• Creating User Controls
• Creating Custom Controls
• Managing Control Appearance by Using Visual States
• Integrating WPF and Windows Forms
• Lab: Building a User Control

Attached Properties and Behaviors in WPF

• Implementing Attached Properties
• Implementing Drag-and-Drop User Interfaces
• Implementing Expression Blend Behaviors, Triggers and Actions
• Lab: Implementing Drag-and-Drop Operations

Animations in WPF

• Using Animations
• Using Triggers
• Implementing Data Visualizations
• Lab: Creating Animations

Application State, Settings, and Lifecycle

• Creating Application Settings
• Consuming Application Settings
• Creating Custom Configuration Sections
• Lab: Creating a Settings Dialog

Configure and Deploy Windows Client Applications

• Deployment Options
• Deploying a Standalone WPF Application
• Deploying an XBAP Application
• Configuring Security Settings
• Lab: Deploying Applications