September 2007 Entries

Cleaning up XAML code and improving parsing time (with Blend and Studio)

XAML being XML-based, it needs to be parsed and processed when the code is loaded in the application. WPF allows multiple scenarios, for example pre-compiling the XAML to BAML (binary application markup language), which is usually embedded into an assembly. This speeds up loading time, of course. Another option is to leave the unprocessed, uncompiled XAML file on the server (or in the "bin" folder of the application), and to load that file on demand when it is needed. This step involves the conversion ...
Print | posted on Posted On Saturday, September 29, 2007 12:38 AM | Comments (5)

Blend: Canvas mode vs Grid mode

I stand corrected, the "locks" are still there. Following yesterday's post, I got a comment indicating me the cause of the confusion: Somehow, when I installed the September CTP of Blend 2, my settings were changed (probably by my own doing, in fact), and I unchecked the "Use grid layout mode" checkbox in the "Artboard / Layout" section of the options. This causes the grids to be displayed as a kind of canvas, on which the controls can be positioned in an absolute manner, instead of "fixing" them ...
Print | posted on Posted On Saturday, September 22, 2007 3:37 AM | Comments (5)

WPF/Silverlight: Installed Blend V2 September CTP

Update: I stand corrected, the "locks" are still here. See here! Thanks Christian! My August CTP version of Expression Blend expired just as I was in Italy sitting with developers and doing some integration work, but thankfully when it expired, it gave me an additional 30 days, so I could continue to work. Once back in Switzerland, I downloaded the whole September CTP package and installed everything. It went smoothly, and I can now enjoy Blend 2 September CTP with quite a few cool new features. ...
Print | posted on Posted On Friday, September 21, 2007 6:40 AM | Comments (2)

Free WiFi at Starbucks in Zurich Oerlikon

Having brought my daughter to chinese school as usual on Saturday mornings, I had the good surprise to find out that you can now surf wirelessly for free at the Starbucks in Zurich Oerlikon (opposite the train station). That's a great move, Starbucks. Switzerland is very much advanced for the number of Internet connection per inhabitant, and very behind for the number of free hotspots. You can surf wirelessly in most train stations and many other public places, but the costs are still very high and ...
Print | posted on Posted On Friday, September 14, 2007 8:35 PM | Comments (1)

WPF: Simulating data in design mode in Microsoft Expression Blend

[UPDATE: The link to the VS2008 project was broken. Sorry for that] I just published an article I have been working on for a few days, based on a technique developed over the last few months. I got to say, I am really proud of the result. In one past post and another, I talked about my quest to display test data in Expression Blend. The goal behind this is to enable the graphics designers to work on the controls' look and feel directly in Blend, and if possible directly in the element's context. ...
Print | posted on Posted On Friday, September 14, 2007 9:29 AM | Comments (2)

Website offline due to maintenance work at DiscountASP.Net

My website was offline for a short while today due to maintenance work at DiscountASP.Net. I apologize for the possible incovenience. To compensate for the loss of connection, I will gracefully offer you 3 visits to a page of your choice on my website, all for free! :-)
Print | posted on Posted On Thursday, September 13, 2007 6:50 PM | Comments (0)

WPF: Blend 2 rocks (3D, XML comments)

XML comments and Blend It's great to see how Expression Blend V2 improved over V1. One small thing I noted which makes life easier is the preservation of XML comments entered before a XAML element. This allows documenting an element in a ResourceDictionary, and then moving the element in another ResourceDictionary without losing the comments. That's possible in the Resources tab of Blend, on the right. Note however that only the XML comment located immediately before the resource will be moved around. ...
Print | posted on Posted On Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:08 AM | Comments (1)

WPF: Charles Petzold "3D programming for Windows"

Following Charles Petzold's appel on his blog, I sent him an email, and I had the very nice pleasure to get a dedicated copy of his last book "3D programming for Windows". The title might be a little misleading, so don't get confused, it's really a WPF 3D book. Since I am always eager to learn something new, and very interesting in discovering this new aspect of WPF, I decided to take a very close look at the book, and also try the examples. It's quite challenging, because I didn't do vector algebra ...
Print | posted on Posted On Thursday, September 06, 2007 8:05 AM | Comments (1)

Google search on my website

I've been wanting to add a search box to my website for quite some time, and also wanted to play with Google AJAX Search API. Turns out it's a very easy API to use! I simply wrapped their search control in a PositionedNode and FadedNode, and added a higher-lever object to "hide" Google's syntax and offer a higher level interface. So from today, you can now use the "Search" menu to search the website and also (in the same dialog) this blog. Google Search API also offers the possibility to search for ...
Print | posted on Posted On Saturday, September 01, 2007 11:20 PM | Comments (2)

WPF: There's a new doc in town

If you hang out on the WPF forums, you probably noticed some very, VERY advanced replies recently made by a certain Dr WPF. Well, the doc doesn't only answers on the forum, he also has a blog. Additionally to being one of the best .NET (and thus WPF) programmers around, he also has an amazing sense of humor... just take a look at the Seldomly Asked Questions (With Answers) on his site, it's better for your health than any prescription! Keep posting, Doc! Signed: Your old Pal Jim :-) ...
Print | posted on Posted On Saturday, September 01, 2007 4:40 AM | Comments (0)

WPF talk last Tuesday

The WPF talk about the new collaboration between Designers and Developers took place as planned last Tuesday in front of the .NET User Group of Switzerland. Approximately 25 peoiple showed up, which made me very happy, for a first presentation! The talk went OK, though I was a bit nervous and I think that it showed a little. Thankfully I was feeling quite comfortable with the subject, which helped me when after 40 minutes of demo my computer suddenly shut down! It's so silly I almost don't dare to ...
Print | posted on Posted On Saturday, September 01, 2007 4:39 AM | Comments (0)

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