Category Archives: Version: RC

Technical  /  Tutorial  /  Version: RC  /  XAML

Running User Code in the XAML Designer: Blend and VS 2012

The XAML designer in Blend & VS is a projection of a running application (see Mysteries of XDesProc–Revealed!), but unlike a full-fledged app, usage of certain programming constructs and resources might cause the designer to crash or behave in an unexpected manner.

Note: This post and the examples shown are written in the context of the XAML Metro style app designer, but some of them apply to Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Silverlight, and Windows Phone designers as well.

First, a quick overview of what code runs in the designer and what doesn’t. Continue Reading

HTML  /  Technical  /  Version: RC

Introducing the Blend Class Attribute Editor for HTML

Managing the complexity of interwoven HTML and JavaScript can be a demanding task for designers.  One way Blend supports designers is by providing a visual indication in the CSS Properties and HTML Attributes panes when JavaScript values have been set or have overwritten values assigned

Technical  /  Tutorial  /  Version: RC  /  XAML

Video Demo: Working with the XAML AppBar in Blend and VS 2012

AppBars provide the user with easy access to commands when required. The user can swipe up from the bottom edge of the screen to make app bars appear and can interact with their content to make app bars disappear. App bars can also be used

Technical  /  Tutorial  /  Version: RC  /  XAML

Video Demo: Editing GroupStyles in Blend and VS 2012

A number of Metro style apps use a hierarchical system of navigation. This is an intuitive and common pattern used by app developers.  In this video tutorial, I’ll show you how to style and customize GroupStyles using Blend and VS. Get information about navigation design

HTML  /  News  /  Technical  /  Version: RC  /  XAML

Designing Metro style Apps in Blend and VS: What’s New in the RC?

It’s been a busy spring. After a lot of “yard work”, we are shipping an updated version of all the visual authoring tools for Metro-style apps: Expression Blend with support for both HTML and XAML authoring, and the visual designer in Visual Studio 2012, based