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