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WPF Data-Binding – Walt Ritscher
Thursday, December 13th, 2007 - 6:15 PM
Once again Microsoft has created a new data-binding model for developers. This new binding framework permeates every corner of WPF and provides a simple and consistent way to synchronize elements and data. Any WPF element that implements a dependency property is bindable to a datasource. This means you can easily bind a 3D cylinder to an XML file or link a slider control to the current location in a media file. In WPF most of your binding can be written declaratively with XAML which greatly reduces the clutter of UI code in your code behind files. In this session you’ll learn the four cornerstones of WPF binding and how to sort, filter and group your data with CollectionViews. I’ll explain how to convert your data with native or custom type converters and explore triggers and the new binding events. Plus you’ll see how data-templates and styles simplify the creation of harmonious user interfaces. If you think you know data-binding, wait until you see what the WPF team has created for you.Speaker Bio
Walt Ritscher hopped on the .NET roller coaster after seeing the first .NET preview back in 2000. Instantly realizing that .NET is a fundamental shift in the way developers produce code he set to work to show programmers the merits of this emerging platform. Prior to his .NET enlightenment he spent six years persuading Visual Basic and COM to work together. Walt has trained thousands of corporate developers during the last ten years. His teaching schedule has taken him throughout the world providing developer training at corporations, universities and software conferences. He has collaborated on several books and videos produced for the developer market including early adopter .NET courses at Microsoft Press. He is also deeply involved in the local developer community — founding the .NET Developers Association in Redmond, WA. Walt has accumulated plenty of experience as a developer — he is fluent in database, component, and Win-Forms technologies. As a web programmer he has built numerous websites including: EPA sites and the Microsoft Community Starter Kit. Walt joined Wintellect in 2006 as a trainer and consultant and produced and teaches Wintellect’s WPF course. Before software development moved to center stage in his life, Walt enjoyed a lively career as a professional keyboard player. Once he cleared the stardust from his eyes, he realized that he loved programming as much as music except writing code was a lot more lucrative. Walt lives in Poulsbo Washington, a quaint waterfront town just a short ferry ride from Seattle. He still loves music, likes to travel with his family and is avidly planning his new dream house.Visual Studio 2008 Installathon
Just in time for the holidays, Peter Laudati (our local Developer Evangelist from Microsoft) will be coming to talk about the Visual Studio 2008 launch (RTM’d two weeks) at the beginning of the meeting. His team was able to score free licenses of Visual Studio 2008 Professional Edition for the users groups in our area.Here’s the rules:· We have 35 licenses to give away. It will go to the first 35 people to come to the meeting. (We will have a sign-up sheet at the table in the back.)· Peter will come up to talk about the VS 2008 launch and a contest they’re putting on. After that, we’ll start our normal talk and you’ll be able to install VS 2008 during the meeting on your laptop. Be sure to bring your laptop!· You will receive a PIN number on the CD to register online and receive your product key which you’ll be able to use to “activate” your trial copy.· If you have a pre-release version (Beta or RC) of Visual Studio installed, you’ll want to make sure you have that uninstalled. You can see ScottGu’s blog post about “cleansing” your system.