Fundamentals of XAML and Microsoft Expression Blend

This 3-day course covers core and essential XAML skills. The learner will gain valuable experience developing XAML code in both Visual Studio 2010 and Expression Blend 4.

The course teaches the beginner and intermediate tasks that enable the learner to build the foundational skills required to develop professional Silverlight 4 and WPF applications (for the Web, Windows desktops, and Windows Phone 7 devices). The course will include hands-on labs that comprise approximately 50% of the classroom time and enable the student to learn the essential XAML programming tasks that are the building blocks of real-world applications.

Audience Profile
The target audience for this training course is professional developers who have experience creating Windows Forms and ASP.NET Web application with Visual Studio 2010, and who are interested in learning the core and essential XAML programming tasks that are required for professional Silverlight 4 and WPF programming in both Visual Studio 2010 and Expression Blend 4 environments.

This course is intended for developers who have programming experience using either Visual Basic .NET or C# and who understand the concepts of object-oriented programming. This course is designed for developers who need to become comfortable using Expression Blend 4 and Visual Studio 2010.
This course is not designed for entry-level programmers.

At Course Completion
After completing this course, students will be able to:
•Describe XAML-based applications and the tools they can use to build them.
•Create vector graphics with both Expression Blend 4 and Expression Design 4.
•Create a Silverlight application and a user interface by using various layout controls and other controls from the toolbox.
•Work with key parts and logic of a Silverlight application, such as hosting controls, App events, and InitParams.
•Create XAML objects programmatically.
•Work with Resources, Styles, Control Templates, and Behaviors.
•Implement Transforms, Animations, and Visual States in XAML-based applications.
•Prototype applications by using SketchFlow.

Prerequisites
In addition to the professional experience, this course requires that student meet the following prerequisites:
•1-3 months of professional programming experience with Visual Studio 2010.
In addition to the technical knowledge, students who attend this training should have hands-on experience in the following areas:
•Some professional experience in developing either ASP.NET Web applications or Windows Forms desktop applications.

Course Outline

• Module 1: Binding in XAML
• Module 2: Creating Vector Graphics with Expression Studio 4
• Module 3: Laying out a XAML-Based Application
• Module 4: Developing and Debugging XAML-Based Applications
• Module 5: Creating Controls Programmatically and Working with Media Files
• Module 6: Working with Resources, Styles, Control Templates, and Behaviors
• Module 7: Implementing Transforms, Animations, and Visual States
• Module 8: Binding in XAML
• Module 9: Prototyping Applications by Using SketchFlow in Expression Blend 4