WPF Tutorial for Beginners: Learn in 1 Day

Details

What is WPF?

WPF is a short abbreviation of Windows Presentation Foundation. It is an ideal framework for building Windows applications. The idea behind the introduction of WPF framework was that user could develop a rich user interface comprising of 3D, animation, rich color with minimum code complexity.

WPF can be considered as an evolution over WinForms. It produces easy to operate graphical display system for windows. It offers easy separation between UI and the business logic.

WPF is a vector-based rendering engine uses hardware acceleration of modern graphics cards which makes the Ul faster and highly scalable. WPF applications can be deployed in your system as a standalone desktop program or hosted as an embedded object in a website.

In this training course, you will learn

Why WPF?

There are many reasons for using WPF platform some prominent ones are-

History of WPF

Windows 1.0 was the first GUI environment from Microsoft. It is working as a layer on top of DOS, relying on the GDI and USER systems for graphic and user interface.

DirectX was introduced in the year 1995, as a high-performance graphics system. It was aimed at games and other graphics related environments. Over the years there are many versions released with Directx9 that provides a library to use with mange.Net code.

WPF version Release Year .Net Version Visual Studio Version Features
3.0 2006 3.0 N/A Initial Release.
However, WPF development can be done with VS 2005.
3.5 2007 3.5 VS 2008 Modification and improvements in:
Application model, binding, controls, documents, annotations, and 3-D Ul elements.
3.5 SP1 2008 3.5 SP1 N/A Native splash screen support. New web browser control, DirectX pixel shader support.
4.0 2010 4.0 VS 2010 New controls: Calendar. DataGrid, DatePicker. Multi-Touch and Manipulation
4.5 2012 4.5 VS 2012 Faster setup time and improved performance for Bitmap effects. New controls: Calendar. DataGrid, DatePicker.
Multi-Touch and Manipulation
4.5.1 2013 4.5.1 VS 2013 New Ribbon control
New INotifyDataErrorlnfo interface
4.5.2 2014 4.5.2 NA No Major Change
No Major Change
4.6 2015 4.6 VS 2015 Transparent child window support
HDPI and Touch improvements

Features of WPF

WPF Core Types and Infrastructures

Classes in WPF are divided into four different types:

These classes, known as base element classes. It provides the foundation for a model of composing user interfaces.

WPF user interfaces are composed of elements which are assembled in a tree hierarchy. It is called the element tree. The element tree is an intuitive way to layout user interface. It is a structure which allows you to get the feature of powerful UI services.

XAML

Extensible Application Markup Language which is called "XAML", or "zammel" is a declarative way to define user interfaces.

Here is the XAML definition of a simple button: 

<Button
FontSize="16"
HorizontalAlignment="Center"
VerticalAlignment="Center"
>
Say Hello gtupapers</Button>

Advantage of using XAML language:

Controls

WPF framework supports many useful controls like:

The appearance of controls can be customized with styles and templates without programming. You can also create a custom control by deriving a new class from an appropriate base class.

Appearance

WPF provides a feature for customizing the appearance of your application. It allows you to set objects and value for things like fonts, backgrounds, etc.

The styles feature allows you to standardize on a specific look for the entire product. It allows you to replace the default appearance while retaining its default behavior.

Data template allows you to control the default visualization of the bound data. With the help of themes, you can easily visualize styles from the operating system.

Layout & Panels

Layout helps you in proper positioning and sizing control. It is part of the process of composing the presentation for the user. The WPF framework eases the layout process and offers better adaptability of the UI appearance.

The layout infrastructure is offered by various classes are 1) StackPanel 2)DockPanel 3) WrapPanel 4) Grid and 5) Canvas

Graphics

WPF provides an improved graphics system like

Documents and Printing

WPF framework offers three types of documents:

WPF enables better control over the print system. It includes remote printing and queues. Moreover, XPS documents can be printed directly without converting it into a print format.

WPF Architecture

WPF is a part of the .NET framework. It contains both managed and unmanaged code. The important components of WPF architecture are explained in the below-given figure:

The most important components of part of WPF architecture are −

WPF Installation

Refer this link to install WPF https://www.gtupapers.com/download-install-visual-studio.html

Building Your First WPF

In this section, we will develop a basic WPF application. So, let's start the simple implementation by following the steps given below.

Step 1) In Visual Studio Go to File > Project

Step 2) In the new project window

  1. Select WPF App
  2. Enter Name as "MyWPF"
  3. Click OK

Step 3) Visual Studio creates two files by default

The MainWindow.xaml has

  1. A Design Window
  2. XAML File

In the XAML windows, the following tags are written be the default

The Grid is the first element by default.

The MainWindow.xaml.cs contains the corresponding code behind the XAML design file

Step 4) In toolbox,

  1. Drag TextBox element to the design window
  2. A TextBox will appear in the design window
  3. You will see XAML code for TextBox added

Step 5) Change text to "First WPF Program."

Step 6) Click the Start Button

Step 7) You will see a Window at Output

Congratulations! You have designed and created your first WPF application.

WPF vs. WinForms

WPF

WinForms

It's a newer framework, so it is more in tune with current standards.

It's older, so it is more tried and tested.

It's flexible and features rich. You can design very rich applications without coding or buying controls.

Not so feature rich

Developers of 3rd party controls are focussed on compatibility with WPF as it's the future.

There are many third-party controls that you can buy or get for free.

XAML allows you to create and edit your GUI easily. It allows the work to be split between a designer (XAML) and a programmer (C#, ASP.net, etc.).

In Windows Forms all the code written in one place.

WPF can create user interfaces for both Windows applications and web applications like Silverlight and XBAP.

No such support

WPF's in-box control suite is limited

In-box controls are very powerful

Type of Applications built with WPF

Quick Guide

 

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