Pro Business Applications with Silverlight 4

Transcription

1 Pro Business Applications with Silverlight 4 Chris Anderson

2 Pro Business Applications with Silverlight 4 Copyright 2010 by Chris Anderson All rights reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the copyright owner and the publisher. ISBN-13 (pbk): ISBN-13 (electronic): Printed and bound in the United States of America Trademarked names may appear in this book. Rather than use a trademark symbol with every occurrence of a trademarked name, we use the names only in an editorial fashion and to the benefit of the trademark owner, with no intention of infringement of the trademark. President and Publisher: Paul Manning Lead Editor: Jon Hassell Technical Reviewer: Editorial Board: Clay Andres, Steve Anglin, Mark Beckner, Ewan Buckingham, Gary Cornell, Jonathan Gennick, Jonathan Hassell, Michelle Lowman, Matthew Moodie, Duncan Parkes, Jeffrey Pepper, Frank Pohlmann, Douglas Pundick, Ben Renow-Clarke, Dominic Shakeshaft, Matt Wade, Tom Welsh Coordinating Editor: Tracy Brown Copy Editors: Julie Hammond, Damon Larson, Heather Lang, Kim Wimpsett. Compositor: Bytheway Publishing Services Indexer: Toma Mulligan Artist: April Milne Cover Designer: Anna Ishchenko Distributed to the book trade worldwide by Springer-Verlag New York, Inc., 233 Spring Street, 6th Floor, New York, NY Phone SPRINGER, fax , orders-ny@springersbm.com, or visit For information on translations, please rights@apress.com, or visit Apress and friends of ED books may be purchased in bulk for academic, corporate, or promotional use. ebook versions and licenses are also available for most titles. For more information, reference our Special Bulk Sales ebook Licensing web page at The information in this book is distributed on an as is basis, without warranty. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this work, neither the author(s) nor Apress shall have any liability to any person or entity with respect to any loss or damage caused or alleged to be caused directly or indirectly by the information contained in this work. The source code for this book is available to readers at You will need to answer questions pertaining to this book in order to successfully download the code.

3 For my grandmother Connie, a great role model for will power, optimism, generousity, patience, and love. I miss her dearly.

4 Contents at a Glance Contents at a Glance...iv Contents...v About the Author... xix Acknowledgments... xx Chapter 1: Introduction...1 Chapter 2: Getting Started with Silverlight...13 Chapter 3: An Introduction to XAML...35 Chapter 4: The Navigation Framework...73 Chapter 5: Exposing Data from the Server: Using WCF RIA Services...93 Chapter 6: Implementing Summary Lists Chapter 7: Building Data Entry Forms Chapter 8: Securing Your Application Chapter 9: Styling Your Application Chapter 10: Advanced XAML and Data Binding Chapter 11: Creating Custom Controls Chapter 12: The Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) Design Pattern Chapter 13: Printing and Reporting Chapter 14: Out of Browser Mode, and Interacting with the Operating System Chapter 15: Application Deployment Index iv

5 C Contents Contents at a Glance...iv Contents...v About the Author... xix Acknowledgments... xx Chapter 1: Introduction...1 Who This Book Is For...1 About This Book...2 About the Author...3 Silverlight Overview...4 What Is Silverlight?... 4 A Short History of Silverlight... 6 What Can Silverlight Bring to Your Business Application?... 7 When Should You Not Use Silverlight?... 8 Comparing Silverlight to Other Microsoft Platforms... 9 Comparison with Adobe Flash/Flex Business Applications Overview...11 Summary...12 Chapter 2: Getting Started with Silverlight...13 Required Tools...13 Visual Studio Expression Blend 4 and SketchFlow v

6 Silverlight 4 Tools WCF RIA Services Silverlight Toolkit SQL Server 2008 Express Edition Silverlight Spy (and.net Reflector) Creating a Silverlight Application...16 Silverlight Application Silverlight Navigation Application Silverlight Business Application Silverlight Class Library WCF RIA Services Class Library Silverlight Unit Test Application Running and Exploring the Default Silverlight Business Application Project...19 Exploring the Initial Silverlight Project Structure...22 Project Links The Web Application Project Structure The Silverlight Application Project Structure Recommended Project Template Modifications...31 XAP Files...32 Summary...33 Chapter 3: An Introduction to XAML...35 Overcoming XAML s Steep Learning Curve...35 Why Learn XAML?...36 XAML Syntax, Document Structure, and Features...37 Core XAML Syntax Creating an Object Hierarchy Namespaces Assigning Property Values to Controls vi

7 Attached Properties XAML Namespace Properties Design-Time Properties Markup Extensions Namescopes Controls...50 Base Control Classes Layout Controls XAML vs. Windows Forms Controls Property Names Assigning Event Handlers Creating a Simple User Interface Resources and Resource Dictionaries...62 Styles...64 Templates...65 Data Binding...65 Binding to an Object Binding to a Collection Designing User Experiences...70 The Designer/Developer Workflow...71 XAML User Interfaces: A Different Perspective...71 Summary...72 Chapter 4: The Navigation Framework...73 Getting Started with the Navigation Framework...73 Components of the Navigation Framework...75 The Frame Control The Page Class The NavigationService Object The NavigationContext Object vii

8 Navigating Between Views...77 View URIs Navigation Methods on the Frame Control Navigation Methods on the NavigationService Object Using a HyperlinkButton Control Using the Source Property of the Frame Control User-Initiated Navigation Passing Data Between Views...80 Passing Data Using Query String Parameters Reading Query String Parameters Passing Complex Data Types Between Views...82 Deep Links...82 URI Mapping to Enable Friendly URIs...83 Integrating with the Browser History...85 Handling Navigation Events...87 Frame Events View Events Caching Views...89 Visual Transition Effects...90 Alternative User Interface Frameworks...91 Summary...91 Chapter 5: Exposing Data from the Server: Using WCF RIA Services...93 What Is WCF RIA Services?...94 How the WCF RIA Services Code Generator Works...95 How Do You Use WCF RIA Services?...96 Linking Your Silverlight and Web Projects Creating Your Domain Services Creating Domain Operations on Your Domain Services viii

9 Consuming the Domain Services Getting Started...98 Creating a Data Access Layer Using the Entity Framework Configuring the Database About the Entity Framework Creating an Entity Model Domain Services Understanding the Domain Service Life Cycle Creating a Domain Service Domain Operations Query Operations Insert/Update/Delete Operations Invoke Operations Custom Operations Decorating Entities Metadata Classes Controlling Client Entity Generation Validation Presentation Miscellaneous Data Annotations Presentation Model Types Creating the Presentation Model Class Populating and Exposing Your Presentation Model Types Updating Your Presentation Model Types Sharing Code/Logic Across Tiers Inspecting the Generated Code in the Silverlight Project Encapsulating Logic in a Separate WCF RIA Services Class Library Handling Server Errors ix

10 Handling Data Concurrency Violations Methods of Identifying Concurrency Violations Configuring the Entity Model to Check for Concurrency Violations Testing Your Solution Resolving Conflicts in the Domain Service Transactions WCF RIA Services Toolkit Alternative Communication Technologies WCF Services WCF Data Services HTTP Requests Sockets Summary Chapter 6: Implementing Summary Lists Exposing a Summary Collection from the Server Collections and Collection Views ObservableCollection<T> Views Consuming Data from the Server Understanding the Domain Context XAML-Based Approach Code-Based Approach Choosing the Right Approach Explicitly Specifying a Domain Service Host Using the BusyIndicator Control Displaying the Summary List Retrieving the Data from the Server Configuring and Customizing a Control for Displaying Data x

11 Choosing the Right Control Manipulating Summary Lists Querying Data Exposed by a Domain Operation Filtering the Summary List Sorting the Summary List Grouping the Summary List Paging the Summary List Drilling Down on a Record Opening Details in a New View Opening Details in a Pop-Up Window Displaying Details Using the DataGrid s Row Details Implementing a Master/Details View Handling Errors Summary Chapter 7: Building Data Entry Forms Creating the Data Entry User Interface Laying Out the Data Entry Form Refining the Data Entry Form s Functionality Using the DataGrid for Data Entry Structuring Objects for Use by Data Entry Forms Implementing the INotifyPropertyChanged Interface Implementing the IEditableObject Interface Adding Calculated Properties to Your Classes Data Validation Displaying Validation Errors Types of Data Validation Defining Validation Rules Exposing Validation Errors to the User Interface xi

12 Notifying the User Interface of Object-Level Validation Errors The Validator Class Customizing Validation Attribute Error Messages Submitting Changes to the Server Change-Tracking Submitting Changes via the DomainDataSource Control Submitting Changes via a Domain Context Handling Errors Handling Concurrency Violations Summary Chapter 8: Securing Your Application Implementing Server-Side Security Using RIA Services The ASP.NET Membership API Configuring Your Database for Forms Authentication Authentication Requiring Authentication Role-Based Operation Access Restrictions Returning a Subset of Data Based on the User s ID or Role Permitting Update/Delete Operations According to Data Exposing Custom User Profile Data User Registration Avoiding SQL Injection Attacks Sanitizing Errors Sent to the Client Implementing Client-Side Security Authenticating and Registering Users Accessing and Updating User Information Implementing Client-Side Restrictions Storing Data Locally Encrypting Data Passed Between the Server and the Client xii

13 Cross-Domain Access Policies Implementing Cross-Domain Policies for HTTP-Based Communication Implementing Cross-Domain Policies for Socket-Based Communication Implementing Cross-Scheme Access Policies Restricting Access to Your Application Summary Chapter 9: Styling Your Application The Designer/Developer Workflow Defining Style Resources Defining a Style Resource Defining Style Resources at Various Locations Naming Style Resources Inheriting Style Resources Styling Constraints Control Templates Default Control Templates Templating a Control Control Template Structure Theming Creating a Custom Theme Silverlight Toolkit Themes Silverlight Navigation/Business Application Themed Project Templates Icons and Images Animation Pixel Shaders / Effects Miscellaneous Styling Tips Defining Constants in XAML Restoring a Control s Default Style xiii

14 Summary Chapter 10: Advanced XAML and Data Binding Advanced XAML Comments in XAML Defining Constants Using OR to Combine Enumerated Values in XAML Triggers, Actions, and Behaviors Blendability Creating Consolidated Namespaces MoXAML Power Toys Advanced Data Binding Assigning the Source of a Binding Binding to a Resource Defining Resources in the Code-Behind (For Binding To) Binding to Nested Properties Binding to Indexed Properties Binding to Collection Views Enhancing Data Binding Data Binding in Code Getting and Setting Attached Property Values in Code Additional Tips Summary Chapter 11: Creating Custom Controls Adding Functionality to an Existing Control Creating User Controls Creating a Simple User Control Exposing Properties Exposing Methods xiv

15 Exposing Events Determining If in Design-Time or Runtime Mode Constraining the User Control s Size Creating Custom Controls Creating the Custom Control The Control Structure Defining the Control s Default Template Defining the Control s Behavior Content Controls Containing a Single Control as Content Containing Multiple Controls as Content Attached Properties Summary Chapter 12: The Model-View-ViewModel (MVVM) Design Pattern The Purpose of Implementing MVVM Why You Should Implement MVVM MVVM Theory The Layers View / View Model Configurations MVVM in Practice Creating the Layers Connecting the Layers View and ViewModel Interactions Layer Interaction Summary Hotly Debated Implementation Details MVVM and RIA Services Implementing the Model Implementing the View Model xv

16 Implementing the View Frameworks Summary Chapter 13: Printing and Reporting The Importance of Implementing Reporting Potential Solutions for Implementing Reporting Generating a PDF Generating HTML Generating Office Documents Using Silverlight 4 Printing Functionality Third-Party Report Viewers Office Integration Using COM Choosing a Reporting Strategy Printing Functionality in Silverlight Generating and Displaying a PDF Report Generating a Report on the Server Displaying the Report on the Client Summary Chapter 14: Out of Browser Mode, and Interacting with the Operating System Out of Browser Configuring OOB Mode Installing the Application to Run Out of Browser Determining Installation Status Determining Whether Running Inside or Outside the Browser Where/How is the Application s.xap File Stored and Run? Interacting with the OOB Window Checking for Updates xvi

17 Debugging Out of Browser Uninstalling the Application Toast Notifications Caching Data Locally Caching to Isolated Storage Caching to a Client-Side Database Detecting Network Connection Availability File System Open/Save Dialogs The Open File Dialog The Save File Dialog Drag Drop Target Clipboard Full Screen Initiating Full Screen Mode Detecting the Switch to and from Full Screen Mode Retaining Full Screen Mode When Unfocused Keyboard Access Elevated Trust Enabling Elevated Trust File System Access COM Automation Custom Chrome Other Restrictions Lifted By Elevated Trust Restrictions Imposed by Elevated Trust Disabling Elevated Trust Applications with a Windows Group Policy Summary Chapter 15: Application Deployment Deploying the Application to the Server xvii

18 Server Requirements Using Xcopy Publishing Creating a Web Package Creating a Setup Program Deploying the Application to the Client The Default Silverlight Installation Process Customizing the Silverlight Installation Experience Pushing the Silverlight Runtime to Users in the Enterprise Building a Client Desktop Installer Improving on the Default Application Loading Screen Creating the Application Pre-loader Files Designing the Application Pre-loader Updating the Application Download Progress Configuring the Application Pre-loader in the HTML File Testing the Application Pre-loader Partitioning Your Application Initial Steps Assembly Caching Downloading Modules on Demand Digitally Signing Your Application Summary Index xviii

19 About the Author Chris Anderson has been a professional developer for over 10 years, specializing in building desktop, web, and mobile business applications using Microsoft technologies for industries as wide ranging as accounting, property valuation, mining, the fresh produce industry, logistics, field services, sales, and construction. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering in Computer Systems with a Diploma in Engineering Practice. Chris is now a co-owner of Peer Placements (a specialist recruitment firm for software developers), in addition to working as a consultant, author, and Australian representative of the SilverlightShow.net website. Currently specializing in Silverlight Chris has spoken on this topic at conferences such as Code Camp Australia, TechEd Australia, Silverlight Code Camp Australia, REMIX Australia, and numerous Sydney Silverlight Designer and Developer Network (SDDN) meetings (for which he is a co-organizer). Chris maintains a blog at and can be found on Twitter at xix

20 ABOUT THE TECHNICAL REVIEWERS Acknowledgments I had no idea what I was getting into when taking on this book. Writing a book is a long, arduous task that consumes your entire life, but now that this book is complete I would like to thank those who were instrumental in helping it come to fruition. I d like to start by thanking the members of the Apress team with whom I worked closely throughout the writing process. I m grateful for their guidance and encouragement. I d like to thank Jonathon Hassell and Anne Collett, and in particular Tracy Brown, who was extremely patient with me even as deadlines were rapidly approaching. My great thanks also go to my technical editor Ilia Iordanov, who, with an eagle eye, spotted many issues I had missed, and made some great suggestions. I would especially like to thank Greg Harris ( who gave his time to review every chapter in its draft form, and who provided me with extensive feedback. I really appreciate the amount of time and effort Greg voluntarily spent on this project. His contributions are invaluable. I would also like to thank Miguel Madero and Pencho Popadiyn, who provided additional valuable feedback on the Model-View-ViewModel Design Pattern chapter, and Sergey Klementiev for providing a solution to a problem I had with RIA Services. My thanks also go to all the Silverlight bloggers who provided solutions to difficult problems. I ve credited you in the text when you ve provided information that helped me along my way. From a personal perspective, I d really like to thank my sister Michelle, chef extraordinare, for providing me with home-cooked frozen meals that kept me decently fed for a month when I was working furiously on this book and barely leaving the house. It was a huge help. I d also like to thank Mark Wallis, who covered for me with my clients whilst I had my head down writing. I hope they ll forgive my absence. xx