Hello Program in Silverlight using Expression Blend & Visual Studio

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Install Expression Studio (it includes Blend, Encoder, Design, Web applications) for Visual Studio so that we can start developing Silverlight by using either Visual Studio or Expression Blend. Finally, what we have here is, Expression Blend adds the features to existing Visual Studio.Creating "Hello" Program using Expression Blend

Let's start Expression Blend; you will get the following splash screen at first.

Blend1.gif

This screen loads all necessarily program files to memory for building Silverlight Application. After a couple of seconds, you will get the following screen.

Blend2.gif

In this screenshot, look at the items in the red circle.

Projects

This tab lets us open any recently used projects from a list, create a new project or open any existing projects.

Help

This tab lets us open the User Guide by visiting online tutorials or web communities.

Samples

This tab provides sample projects developed by Expression Blend development team from Microsoft or somebody else.

Now, let's click on the "New Project" option; you will get the following screen.

Blend3.gif

As marked in screenshot.

Project Types

In the above screenshot, look at the red rectangle. There are two project type options available; Silverlight and WPF. Here are some major differences between them.

Silverlight and WPF (Windows Presentation Foundation) are two different products from Microsoft, but they have lots of overlap. WPF is a Microsoft technology meant for developing enhanced graphics applications for desktop platform. In addition, WPF applications can be hosted on web browsers which offer rich graphics features for web applications, but it is limited to Operating Systems. Web Browser Applications (WBA), developed on WPF technology uses XAML (read as Zameel) to host user interface for browser applications. XAML stands for eXtended Application Markup Language which is a new declarative programming model from Microsoft. XAML files are hosted as discrete files in the Web server, but are downloaded to the browsers and converted to user interface by the .NET runtime in the client browsers. WPF runs on .NET runtime and developers can take advantage of the rich .NET Framework and WPF libraries to build really cool windows applications. WPF supports 3-D graphics, complex animations, hardware acceleration etc.


  • Silverlight is simply a subset of WPF.
  • Silverlight is meant to be used online, while WPF is for local use.
  • You can use Silverlight applications regardless of the operating system you use, while WPF applications are restricted to later versions of the Windows operating system.
  • Silverlight lacks access to local resources, while WPF can utilize local resources.
  • Silverlight only has perspective 3D support, while WPF is capable of full 3D images.

Now come back to our topic, after selecting Silverlight from "Project Types", you will see five project categories.

Silverlight Application + Website

A project with an associated website for creating rich cross-platform, web-based applications.

Silverlight Application

A project for creating rich cross-platform, web-based applications but without an associated website.

Silverlight Databound Application
A project that uses data and command bindings to support loose coupling between View and ViewModel.

Silverlight Control Library

A project for creating custom controls that can be reused across other Silverlight applications.

Silverlight SketchFlow Application

A project for prototyping rich cross-platform, web-based applications.

Finally, use the first one that is "Silverlight Application + Website" and select Name, Location, Language and Version whatever you wish. Using here the default. Ok...look at the screen when we click ok button.

Blend4.gif


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