Learn how to build great Windows Store apps! Figures and code appear as they do in Visual Studio. In just 24 sessions of one hour or less, Sams Teach Yourself Windows 8.1 Apps with XAML and C# in 24 Hours will help you build compelling apps for Windows 8.1 devices of all kinds. Using this book’s straightforward approach, you’ll learn to design and build apps, create flexible user interfaces, handle inputs, integrate controls, and more. Step by step, you’ll discover how to leverage XAML’s visual richness and the immense power of Windows 8.1. Every lesson builds on what you’ve already learned, giving you a rock-solid foundation for real-world success! Step-by-step instructions carefully walk you through today’s most common XAML and C# development tasks. Quizzes at the end of each chapter help you test your knowledge. Notes present interesting information related to the discussion. Tips offer advice or show you easier ways to perform tasks. Cautions alert you to possible problems and give you advice on how to avoid them. Learn how to… Create user interfaces that adapt to any device, from tablets to high-def TVs Handle input from touch, mouse, pen, and keyboard Manage the entire Windows 8.1 app lifecycle and all execution states Master powerful XAML controls for text, images, audio, video, and more Integrate vector graphics that scale perfectly to any size Apply rich animations Work with styles, templates, and visual states Exploit the Windows charms within your apps Take full advantage of data binding and contracts Read data from sensors and control external devices Provide dynamic updates via live tiles, notifications, and the lock screen Discover the many ways to monetize your Windows Store apps

Table of Contents:
Introduction     1 Part I: Getting Started HOUR 1: Preparing for Development     5 Creating, Deploying, and Profiling an App     5 Understanding the App Package     8 Submitting to the Windows Store     18 Further Exploration     20 Summary     20 Q&A      21 Workshop     22 HOUR 2: Discovering the XAML Language     23 What Is XAML, Exactly?      23 Elements and Attributes     25 Namespaces     25 Property Elements     27 Type Converters     28 Markup Extensions     29 Children of Object Elements     31 Mixing XAML with C#     35 Updating the Hour1 Project     35 Making Your App World-Ready     42 Making Your App Accessible     48 Further Exploration     53 Summary     54 Q&A     54 Workshop     54 Exercises     55 Part II: Building an App HOUR 3: Arranging UI Elements     57 Controlling Size     58 Controlling Position     60 Applying 2D Transforms     64 Applying 3D Transforms     70 Further Exploration     73 Summary     73 Q&A     73 Workshop     77 Exercises     77 HOUR 4: Mastering Layout     79 Discovering Your Window Size and Location     80 Panels     84 Handling Content Overflow     97 Further Exploration     110 Summary     110 Q&A     110 Workshop     112 HOUR 5: Handling Input: Touch, Mouse, Pen, and Keyboard     113 Touch Input      114 Mouse Input     138 Pen Input     141 Keyboard Input     150 Further Exploration     156 Summary     156 Q&A     156 Workshop     158 HOUR 6: Managing the App Lifecycle     159 Killing     161 Suspending     162 Resuming     164 Terminating     165 Launching     165 Activating     169 Managing Session State with SuspensionManager     171 Programmatically Launching Apps     174 Further Exploration     177 Summary     178 Q&A     179 Workshop     180 HOUR 7: Threading, Windows, and Pages     181 Understanding the Threading Model     181 Displaying Multiple Windows     186 Navigating Between Pages     190 Further Exploration     198 Summary     198 Q&A     198 Workshop     199 Part III: Understanding Controls HOUR 8: Content Controls     201 Button     204 AppBarButton     207 HyperlinkButton     214 RepeatButton     215 ToggleButton     215 AppBarToggleButton     216 CheckBox     217 RadioButton     217 ToolTip     219 App Bars     222 Summary     229 Q&A     229 Workshop     231 Exercises     231 HOUR 9: Items Controls     233 Items in the Control      234 Items Panels     236 ComboBox     239 ListBox     241 ListView     242 GridView     246 FlipView     248 SemanticZoom     251 MenuFlyout     255 Summary     256 Q&A     256 Workshop     257 Exercises     258 HOUR 10: Text     259 TextBlock     259 RichTextBlock     272 TextBox     277 RichEditBox     284 PasswordBox     287 Further Exploration     289 Summary     289 Q&A     289 Workshop     291 Exercises     291 HOUR 11: Images     293 The Image Element     294 Multiple Files for Multiple Environments     302 Decoding Images     308 Encoding Images     318 Rendering PDF Content as an Image     326 Further Exploration     331 Summary     331 Q&A     332 Workshop     332 Exercises     333 HOUR 12: Audio, Video, and Speech     335 Playing Media     336 Capturing Media     347 Transcoding Media     359 Speech Synthesis     364 Further Exploration     366 Summary     367 Q&A     368 Workshop     369 HOUR 13: Other Controls     371 Range Controls     371 SearchBox     374 Popup Controls     381 Hub     391 Date and Time Controls     397 ProgressRing     400 ToggleSwitch     400 WebView     402 Further Exploration     408 Summary     408 Workshop     408 Part IV: Leveraging the Richness of XAML HOUR 14: Vector Graphics     411 Shapes     411 Geometries     419 Brushes     427 Further Exploration     443 Summary     443 Q&A     444 Workshop     445 Exercises     445 HOUR 15: Animation     447 Theme Transitions     448 Theme Animations     459 Custom Animations     464 Custom Keyframe Animations     475 Easing Functions     480 Manual Animations     484 Further Exploration     486 Summary     488 Q&A     488 Workshop     490 Exercises     491 HOUR 16: Styles, Templates, and Visual States     493 Styles     494 Templates     503 Visual States     512 Summary     522 Q&A     522 Workshop     523 Exercises     523 HOUR 17: Data Binding     525 Introducing Binding     525 Controlling Rendering     533 Customizing the View of a Collection     541 High-Performance Rendering with ListView and GridView     545 Summary     549 Q&A     550 Workshop     550 Part V: Exploiting Windows 8.1 HOUR 18: Working with Data     551 An Overview of Files and Folders     551 App Data     553 User Data     559 Networking     564 Further Exploration     575 Summary     576 Q&A     576 Workshop     576 HOUR 19: Supporting Charms     579 The Search Charm     580 The Share Charm     585 The Devices Charm     592 The Settings Charm     603 Summary     608 Workshop     609 Exercises     609 HOUR 20: Leveraging Contracts     611 Account Picture Provider     613 AutoPlay Content and AutoPlay Device     616 File Type Associations     619 Protocol     621 File Open Picker     622 File Save Picker     626 Contact Picker     627 The Contact Contract     630 The Appointments Provider Contract     634 Background Tasks     636 Further Exploration     645 Summary     646 Q&A     646 Workshop     646 HOUR 21: Reading from Sensors     647 Accelerometer     647 Gyrometer     651 Inclinometer     651 Compass     651 Light Sensor     652 Orientation     652 Location     653 Proximity     660 Summary     663 Workshop     663 HOUR 22: Controlling Devices     665 Fingerprint Readers     666 Image Scanners     666 Barcode Scanners     670 Magnetic Stripe Readers     674 Custom Bluetooth Devices     676 Custom Bluetooth Smart Devices     679 Custom USB Devices     682 Custom HID Devices     686 Custom Wi-Fi Direct Devices     688 Further Exploration     690 Summary     690 Workshop     691 Exercises     691 HOUR 23: Live Tiles, Notifications, and the Lock Screen     693 Live Tiles     693 Badges     708 Secondary Tiles     710 Toast Notifications     713 Setting Up Push Notifications     718 The Lock Screen     726 Further Exploration     729 Summary     730 Workshop     730 Exercises     731 HOUR 24: Earning Money     733 Adding Advertisements to Your App     734 Supporting a Free Trial     740 Supporting In-App Purchases     744 Validating Windows Store Receipts     753 Testing Windows Store Features     755 Further Exploration     760 Summary     761 Q&A     761 Workshop     762 Index     763