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Part 1: Series Introduction
In this lesson Bob kicks off the series talking about the organization, required setup and goals of the lessons, and provides some motivation and guidance for getting started. ResourcesC# Fundamentals:...
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Part 2: Getting Started with the Grid App Template
In lesson Bob takes the first steps towards building the Contoso Cookbook by creating and walking through a new Grid App Template project and modifying the project name displayed on the start page....
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Part 3: Introduction to XAML
Now that we have a project, it's time to learn XAML for user interface layout and interaction. Bob provides a fast but gentle introduction -- as he calls it, the "cheater's guide" -- to learning this...
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Part 4: Introduction to XAML - Continued
Bob continues by talking about default properties, the Content property utilized by most controls, property element syntax, and then talks about the various schemas utilized in XAML and what they are...
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Part 5: Familiarizing Ourselves with the Grid App Template
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...
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Part 6: Modifying the Grid App Template with Branding Elements
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...
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Part 7: Data Binding and the SampleDataSource.cs
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...
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Part 8: Understanding how Data Binding Works at Design Time
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...
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Part 9: Data Binding to the RecipeDataSource.cs
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...
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Part 10: Understanding Change Notification
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,...
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Part 11: Working with JSON Data
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...
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Part 12: Working with Async Methods in the Windows Runtime
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...
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Part 13: Working with the GridView
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...
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Part 14: Modifying DataTemplates
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
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Part 15: Implementing Type Converters
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...
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Part 16: Responding to Device Orientation Changes
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'...
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Part 17: Accommodating the Snapped State
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...
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Part 18: Enabling Semantic Zooming
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...
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Part 19: Implementing the Share Contract
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,...
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Part 20: Implementing the Search Contract
In this lesson, we learn how to respond to the user's request to search using the Search charm in Windows 8. We see all of the changes to our app that are automated by including a search results page...
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