A practical guide to developing Windows Store apps with C++ and XAML **Overview** * Details the most important features of C++, XAML, and WinRT for building fantastic Windows Store apps * Full of detailed and engaging code samples that can be used as a basis for your own projects * Provides a clear overview of Windows Runtime and C++/CX **In Detail** Windows 8 provides an unprecedented opportunity for developers to create applications for a new and exciting platform, for an entirely new market. Leveraging modern C++ and the new Windows Runtime, this book guides you through the many facets of WinRT whilst using modern C++ features for ultimate power and performance. "Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development" shows you how to create Windows Store apps that use many of the new features and functionality available for Windows 8. You'll discover how you can harness the power of the new Windows Runtime with C++ combined with XAML for the creation of fantastic user experiences. Starting with coverage of C++/CX (a set of extensions that make working with WinRT easier) and user interface design with XAML, this book shows you how to use major Windows 8 features, including Live Tiles and Contracts, while leveraging common patterns such as data binding and the Model View ViewModel (MVVM). You'll discover how WinRT works, its various capabilities, and how it can best be leveraged using C++11 and Visual Studio 2012. **What you will learn from this book** * Leverage your existing C++ skills with this new and exciting platform * Discover how to effectively use C++/CX to call Windows Runtime APIs * Integrate XAML for fast and fluid user interfaces * Create custom controls for special UI scenarios * Learn how to integrate your application with Windows 8 by implementing contracts * Build data-driven apps with XAML, data binding, and MVVM **Approach** Specifically designed to be an engaging and practical tutorial, Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development will augment your skills and help you create high quality Windows Store apps. **Who this book is written for** If you are a C++ developer who wants to utilize the combined power of COM, WinRT, C++/CX, and XAML to build Store apps for the new Windows 8 platform, then this book is for you. Prior experience with XAML-based technologies is not required. Cover......Page 1 Copyright......Page 3 Credits......Page 4 About the Author......Page 5 About the Reviewers......Page 6 www.PacktPub.com......Page 8 Table of Contents......Page 10 Preface......Page 16 Introducing Windows 8......Page 22 The Start (Home) screen......Page 23 The AppBar......Page 24 The Charms bar......Page 25 Desktop apps versus Store apps......Page 26 The Windows Runtime......Page 27 Language projections......Page 29 Creating your first Store application......Page 30 Closing an application......Page 34 Application deployment......Page 35 Where did int.ToString come from?......Page 36 Project structure......Page 37 Summary......Page 40 COM and C++ for Windows 8 Store Apps......Page 42 nullptr......Page 43 auto......Page 44 Lambdas......Page 45 Smart pointers......Page 48 Conclusion......Page 51 COM and WinRT......Page 52 The IUnknown interface......Page 56 IInspectable interface......Page 57 Creating a WinRT object......Page 58 WinRT metadata......Page 64 The Windows Runtime Library......Page 67 Creating and managing objects......Page 69 Accessing members......Page 71 Methods and properties......Page 72 Delegates......Page 73 Events......Page 75 Defining types and members......Page 76 A WinRT component project......Page 77 Adding properties and methods......Page 78 Adding an event......Page 81 Building a C++ client......Page 82 Building a C# client......Page 84 The Application Binary Interface......Page 85 Asynchronous operations......Page 86 Using tasks for asynchronous operations......Page 90 Cancelling asynchronous operations......Page 91 MFC......Page 92 Win32 API......Page 93 C++ AMP......Page 94 Strings......Page 95 Collections......Page 96 Exceptions......Page 97 Summary......Page 98 XAML......Page 100 XAML basics......Page 101 Complex properties......Page 103 Dependency properties and attached properties......Page 104 Content properties......Page 105 Collection properties......Page 107 Markup extensions......Page 108 Connecting events to handlers......Page 109 XAML rules summary......Page 110 Introducing the Blend for Visual Studio 2012 tool......Page 111 XAML compilation and execution......Page 112 Connecting XAML, H, and CPP files to the build process......Page 113 Binary resources......Page 115 Logical resources......Page 117 Managing logical resources......Page 119 Styles......Page 121 Implicit (automatic) styles......Page 123 Style inheritance......Page 124 Summary......Page 126 Introducing layout......Page 128 Layout panels......Page 130 Grid......Page 131 Canvas......Page 133 VariableSizedWrapGrid......Page 137 Panel virtualization......Page 139 Working with elements and controls......Page 140 Content controls......Page 141 Buttons......Page 145 Other content controls to note......Page 147 Collection-based controls......Page 149 ListBox and ComboBox......Page 150 FlipView......Page 151 Text-based elements......Page 152 TextBlock......Page 153 TextBox......Page 155 RichTextBlock and RichEditBox......Page 156 Images......Page 157 The SemanticZoom control......Page 159 Summary......Page 160 Understanding data binding......Page 162 Element-to-element binding......Page 163 Object-to-element binding......Page 165 Change notifications......Page 168 Binding to collections......Page 170 Value converters......Page 172 Data template selectors......Page 177 Commands......Page 178 MVVM constituents......Page 180 Building an MVVM framework......Page 181 Summary......Page 185 Windows Runtime Components......Page 186 Converting C++ to WinRT......Page 187 Crossing the ABI......Page 192 Consuming Windows Runtime Components......Page 193 Other C++ library projects......Page 196 Custom control templates......Page 197 Building a control template......Page 198 Using the control's properties......Page 200 Handling state changes......Page 201 Customizing using attached properties......Page 204 Custom elements......Page 206 Creating a color picker user control......Page 207 Defining dependency properties......Page 208 Building the UI......Page 211 Using the ColorPicker......Page 212 Custom controls......Page 213 Creating a ColorPicker custom control......Page 214 Binding in code......Page 216 Custom panels......Page 217 Custom drawn elements......Page 218 Summary......Page 219 Application lifecycle......Page 220 Saving and restoring the state......Page 223 State store options......Page 225 Live tiles......Page 226 Setting application tile defaults......Page 227 Updating the tile's contents......Page 228 Tile expiration......Page 229 Creating secondary tiles......Page 230 Using toast notifications......Page 232 Push notifications......Page 233 Push notification architecture......Page 234 The application server......Page 235 Registering for push notifications......Page 239 Issuing the push notification......Page 241 Push notifications for secondary tiles......Page 242 Creating and registering a task......Page 243 Implementing a task......Page 245 Task progress and cancellation......Page 247 Playing audio......Page 249 Maintaining background audio......Page 250 Lock screen apps......Page 253 Background tasks limits......Page 255 Example – downloading a file......Page 256 Summary......Page 259 Capabilities......Page 260 Contracts......Page 261 Share source......Page 262 Share target......Page 264 Sharing page UI generation......Page 269 FileOpenPicker contract......Page 270 Implementing a FileOpenPicker contract......Page 271 Extensions......Page 276 Settings extension......Page 277 Summary......Page 279 Packaging and the Windows Store......Page 280 The application view state......Page 281 Implementing view state changes......Page 283 Packaging and validating......Page 286 Using the Windows App Certification Kit......Page 289 Summary......Page 291 Index......Page 292 A practical guide to developing Windows Store apps with C++ and XAML Overview Details the most important features of C++, XAML, and WinRT for building fantastic Windows Store apps Full of detailed and engaging code samples that can be used as a basis for your own projects Provides a clear overview of Windows Runtime and C++/CX In Detail Windows 8 provides an unprecedented opportunity for developers to create applications for a new and exciting platform, for an entirely new market. Leveraging modern C++ and the new Windows Runtime, this book guides you through the many facets of WinRT whilst using modern C++ features for ultimate power and performance. "Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development" shows you how to create Windows Store apps that use many of the new features and functionality available for Windows 8. You'll discover how you can harness the power of the new Windows Runtime with C++ combined with XAML for the creation of fantastic user experiences. Starting with coverage of C++/CX (a set of extensions that make working with WinRT easier) and user interface design with XAML, this book shows you how to use major Windows 8 features, including Live Tiles and Contracts, while leveraging common patterns such as data binding and the Model View ViewModel (MVVM). You'll discover how WinRT works, its various capabilities, and how it can best be leveraged using C++11 and Visual Studio 2012. What you will learn from this book Leverage your existing C++ skills with this new and exciting platform Discover how to effectively use C++/CX to call Windows Runtime APIs Integrate XAML for fast and fluid user interfaces Create custom controls for special UI scenarios Learn how to integrate your application with Windows 8 by implementing contracts Build data-driven apps with XAML, data binding, and MVVM Approach Specifically designed to be an engaging and practical tutorial, Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development will augment your skills and help you create high quality Windows Store apps. Who this book is written for If you are a C++ developer who wants to utilize the combined power of COM, WinRT, C++/CX, and XAML to build Store apps for the new Windows 8 platform, then this book is for you. Prior experience with XAML-based technologies is not required.
In Detail
Windows 8 provides an unprecedented opportunity for developers to create applications for a new and exciting platform, for an entirely new market. Leveraging modern C++ and the new Windows Runtime, this book guides you through the many facets of WinRT whilst using modern C++ features for ultimate power and performance.
"Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development" shows you how to create Windows Store apps that use many of the new features and functionality available for Windows 8. You'll discover how you can harness the power of the new Windows Runtime with C++ combined with XAML for the creation of fantastic user experiences.
Starting with coverage of C++/CX (a set of extensions that make working with WinRT easier) and user interface design with XAML, this book shows you how to use major Windows 8 features, including Live Tiles and Contracts, while leveraging common patterns such as data binding and the Model View ViewModel (MVVM). You'll discover how WinRT works, its various capabilities, and how it can best be leveraged using C++11 and Visual Studio 2012.
Approach
Specifically designed to be an engaging and practical tutorial, Mastering Windows 8 C++ App Development will augment your skills and help you create high quality Windows Store apps.
Who this book is for
If you are a C++ developer who wants to utilize the combined power of COM, WinRT, C++/CX, and XAML to build Store apps for the new Windows 8 platform, then this book is for you. Prior experience with XAML-based technologies is not required.
A fast paced, example driven approach to learning Pixelmator.'Learning Pixelmator'is great for photographers of any level who are looking to learn to take advantage of Pixelmator to edit images. Without any prior knowledge of image editing software needed, we will start with the basics and move onto more advanced image editing techniques. No matter what your current artistic level is, this book will give you the power to unleash the artist within!
