Windows_Presentation_Foundation__WPF_

Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)

Overview of WPF

  • Definition: WPF is a graphical user interface (GUI) framework developed by Microsoft.

  • Integration: It is part of the .NET framework, designed to build modern and interactive desktop applications specifically for the Windows platform.

Key Features of WPF

  1. Declarative UI

    • Utilizes XAML (eXtensible Application Markup Language) for designing user interfaces, making it easier to create complex UIs with a clear structure.

  2. Rich Controls

    • Offers an extensive variety of controls such as buttons, textboxes, grids, etc., which can be styled and customized easily to fit application needs.

  3. Data Binding

    • Provides powerful data binding mechanisms, ensuring synchronization between the UI components and underlying data sources, enabling dynamic UI updates.

  4. Styles and Templates

    • Includes a robust styling and templating system, allowing centralized definition of control appearances and behaviors, promoting reusability and consistency.

  5. Graphics and Animation

    • Supports advanced graphics capabilities including vector graphics, 2D and 3D rendering, along with hardware acceleration to enhance performance and visual fidelity.

  6. Layout System

    • Offers flexible layout controls (e.g., Grid, StackPanel) to organize UI elements effectively and respond to different screen sizes and orientations.

  7. Dependency Properties

    • Introduces dependency properties for creating highly configurable and extensible controls, enabling features like data binding and animations to be easily implemented.

  8. Localization and Globalization

    • Built-in support that allows applications to be adapted easily for various languages and cultures, enhancing accessibility and user experience across regions.

  9. Integration with Other Technologies

    • WPF can seamlessly work with other technologies, including Windows Forms and ASP.NET, facilitating the development process and leveraging existing components.

WPF Controls by Function

  • Buttons: Button, RepeatButton

  • Data Display: DataGrid, ListView, TreeView

  • Date Display and Selection: Calendar, DatePicker

  • Dialog Boxes: OpenFileDialog, PrintDialog, SaveFileDialog

  • Digital Ink: InkCanvas, InkPresenter

  • Documents: Various types of document viewers

  • Input: TextBox, RichTextBox, PasswordBox

  • Layout: A variety of layout controls including Grid, StackPanel

  • Media: Image, MediaElement

  • Menus: Menu, ToolBar

  • Navigation: Frame, NavigationWindow

  • Selection: CheckBox, ComboBox, ListBox

Important Components of WPF Development

  1. Solution Explorer: Displays all project files, code, resources, and allows navigation through the project structure.

  2. Properties Pane: Shows property settings that can be configured based on the selected item in the Solution Explorer or Designer.

  3. Toolbox: Contains all the controls that can be added to forms, enabling drag-and-drop functionality.

  4. XAML Designer: Interactive environment for visually composing the user interfaces using XAML with real-time reflection of changes.

  5. XAML Code Editor: Allows developers to write and edit the XAML code manually for more precise control beyond the designer capabilities.

Creating a Basic WPF Application

Setup

  1. Creating Project: Open Visual Studio and create a new WPF App (.NET Framework).

  2. Replace Default Code: Update MainWindow.xaml and MainWindow.xaml.cs with application-specific code.

Sample Layout Code in XAML

<Window x:Class="Names.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="MainWindow" Height="450" Width="800">
    <Grid>
    </Grid>
</Window>

  • Represents the application main window with a simple Grid layout.

Designing UI Example: Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter

  1. XAML Configuration:

<Window x:Class="CelsiusToFahrenheitWPF.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        Title="Celsius to Fahrenheit Converter" Height="250" Width="350">
    <Grid>
        <Label Content="Celsius (°C):" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="30,30,0,0" FontSize="14"/>
        <TextBox x:Name="txtCelsius" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Height="30" Margin="140,30,0,0" Width="120"/>
        <Button Content="Convert" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="115,80,0,0" Click="Convert_Click"/>
        <Label Content="Fahrenheit (°F):" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="30,140,0,0" FontSize="14"/>
        <TextBlock x:Name="lblResult" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Margin="160,140,0,0" FontSize="16" FontWeight="Bold"/>
    </Grid>
</Window>

  • Describes the UI with input for Celsius and a button to initiate the conversion.

C# Logic for Conversion

  • Attached to the button's click event to handle conversions:

private void Convert_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e) {
    double celsius = Convert.ToDouble(txtCelsius.Text);
    double fahrenheit = (celsius * 9 / 5) + 32;
    lblResult.Text = fahrenheit.ToString();
}

Conclusion

  • WPF provides a comprehensive framework to build rich, interactive desktop applications with extensive customization, powerful data handling capabilities, and seamless integration options. Understanding its components and capabilities allows developers to create better user experiences while ensuring application performance and maintainability.