Windows Store apps for Absolute Beginners with C# (HD) - Channel 9

The Windows 8 charms can be tightly integrated into our app.  Here, we implement the Share Contract, allowing users to select a recipe and share the recipe text and images with other apps like email, etc. Download the entire series' source code 

In this lesson, we allow users to use the reverse-pinching motion to see a high-level overview of the different groups of recipes we offer, referred to as "Semantic Zooming".  This allows the user to get context and drill into those items on our start page that interest them.  Download the entire series' source code

Similar to the previous lesson, here we investigate the LayoutAwarePage and the VisualStateManager and learn how we can provide alternate layouts for snapped and filled states. Download the entire series' source code

We head back to the LayoutAwarePage and discuss how it works with the VisualStateManager to allow us to declarative respond to changes in orientation on our user's device. Download the entire series' source code

In order to make our declarative controls and data binding work smoothly, we look at implicit XAML type converters, type converters added to our project template, then implement our own custom type converter and explain its purpose. ResourcesQuickstart: Adding FlipView controls Download the entire series' source code

Continuing to work with the layout of our pages, we tweak the DataTemplates that are responsible for the presentation of individual data items in our data source. Download the entire series' source code

Our focus turns back to the layout of the three main pages in our app.  In this lesson we learn about the major properties of the GridView and how they affect the flexible layout and presentation of the data on our pages. ResourcesImage.Stretch property Stretch enumeration Download the entire series' source code    

The new C# 5.0 async features are explained in this lesson, including the pattern we can follow to utilize the Windows Runtime async methods to keep our apps fast and fluid. ResourcesAsynchronous Programming with Async and Await Download the entire series' source code     

In this lesson we talk about the JSON data format and look at the code in the RecipeDataSource.cs that loads and parses through that data to create instances of our RecipeDataItem and RecipeDataCollection objects. ResourcesOrganizing and Simplifying JavaScript with Object Literals - 12 Download the entire series' source code   

Several times up until now we've talked about the special relationship between the data and the user interface and in this lesson we talk about how change notification works and the how the interfaces, like the INotifyPropertyChanged and ICollectionChanged provide a contract that data source classes can implement and user interfaces can rely on to be notified of changes. ResourcesObservableCollection<T> Class  Data Binding Overview  (Yeah, it's for WPF, but the ideas are similar Download the entire series' source code

In this lesson we follow the instructions of the Hands On Lab to add and wire up the RecipeDataSource.cs and its images and data to make sweeping changes to the app. Download the entire series' source code

In this lesson we take a short aside and learn about the design time experience in Visual Studio and learn how it is able to render sample data.  This gives us insights into binding syntax, data collections, schemas and more. Download the entire series' source code

In this lesson, we begin the process of understanding how to utilize data in our app.  We begin by looking at this from the GroupedItemsPage.xaml's perspective, and how it utilizes the CollectionViewSource to bind to a View Model provided in the LayoutAwarePage.cs.  We talk about the DefaultViewModel object which implements IObservableMap<K, V> and what that really means.  Finally, we pick apart the SampleDataSource.cs and observe it's inheritance hierarchy and the purpose of each of the classes defined in that file.   Download the entire series' source code 

In this lesson we follow the Hands On Labs to modify the branding elements of the app by adding images and configuring our app to use them.  We learn about the Package.appxmanifest and how it introduces our app to Windows 8 and finally discuss the purpose of the App.xaml.   Download the entire series' source code 

In this lesson Bob walks through the major sections of the GroupedItemsDetail.xaml page explaining the purpose of the elements.  He explains the purpose of the LayoutAwarePage, how binding syntax works in XAML, resource dictionaries, styles, data templates, and more.   Download the entire series source code