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This is an Advanced UI SDK for developing finger-friendly Application UIs.
The reason for developing this SDK was mainly to learn about programming for Windows Mobile and the Compact Framework 3.5. I also developed this SDK because I could not find good UI controls that gave total display control to the programmer while taking care of all of the Physics, windowing, and frame buffering AND was open source.
Finally, this SDK was originally developed as part of the XDAFacebook application that I am currently developing.
I am releasing this SDK and its source so that people can have a good foundation to build finger-friendly Windows Mobile applications, and so that programmers starting off in the Windows Mobile world won't have to start from scratch when creating useful UI Controls.
Here are some of the features and uses of this SDK.
Features:
Fully customizable
Easily create custom UI Controls
Resolution independent
Full physics for rendering smooth scrolling
Uses:
Quickly create UI controls
Develop full UI SDKs
Learn basic UI programming for .net CF 3.5
I ask that if you use these controls, please provide feedback so that everyone can benefit!
Thank you and I hope you find these controls useful!
SDK Documentation
Even though the controls are easy to implement, they can seem intimidating at first. Here is an over-view of the core pieces to the SDK:
The IXFItem Interface:
Here are Properties of the interface
PHP:
XFPanelBase Parent { get; set; } // The item's List container
XFItemState State { get; set; } /* An Enum to describe the current item's state
This could include things like [B]Selected[/B] or [B]Normal[/B]*/
Bitmap Buffer { get; set; } // This is the item's cache buffer. Allows for speedy rendering
XFItemStyle Style { get; set; } // CSS like style object. Allows for easy customization
XFItemType ItemType { get; set; } /* Enum to label the type of the current object.
For example, [B]Clickable[/B] or [B]Display[/B] meaning the item won't change*/
The following are the methods that need to be implemented
PHP:
int GetHeight(); /* This returns the height of the item. This value is usually calulated
but in some instances is static. The value should be cached because this method
is called several times during the rendering process.*/
void ResetHeight(); // What ever needs to be done to reset the height cache
void ItemPaint(Graphics g, int x, int y); // Where the magic happens. More on this later
XFItemClickResult GetClickResult(); // An enum is return with what the action of clicking this item was.
The main part of the interface is the ItemPaint method. This method is called from the XFPanelList and passes a Graphics object created from the Buffer Bitmap of the Item. In this method, you do all of your graphics logic, drawing it with the supplied graphics object. The x and y are any offset numbers that should influence when the objects are based. Most of the time, these numbers will be 0, 0.
Because the programmer has total control over how the item is rendered, special care must be used when creating the items, to draw all the features with respect to the XFItemStyle object. This object usually is created in CTOR. An example of the XFItemStyle object being created in one of the SenseUI XFItem's CTORs:
PHP:
public SenseItem()
{
ItemType = XFItemType.Clickable;
Style = new XFItemStyle()
{
BoarderBottomColor = Color.FromArgb(189, 182, 189),
DashStyleBottom = System.Drawing.Drawing2D.DashStyle.Dash,
TextColor = Color.Black,
TextFont = new Font(FontFamily.GenericSansSerif, 8, FontStyle.Regular),
SelectedTextFont = new Font(FontFamily.GenericSansSerif, 8, FontStyle.Regular),
SecondaryTextFont = new Font(FontFamily.GenericSansSerif, 7, FontStyle.Regular),
SelectedSecondaryTextFont = new Font(FontFamily.GenericSansSerif, 7, FontStyle.Regular),
SecondaryTextColor = Color.FromArgb(57, 52, 57),
SelectedTextColor = Color.White,
SelectedBackgroundColor = Color.FromArgb(43, 36, 43),
SelectedSecondaryTextColor = Color.FromArgb(182, 178, 182),
Padding = 11,
PaddingBottom = 12,
PaddingLeft = 10,
PaddingRight = 16
};
}
You will also notice that the ItemType is also set here.
How you use the Style is a little more involved. In the ItemPaint, the programmer should base all of the features off of what is in the Style object. Here is an example of how the above Style object was used in the ItemPaint method:
PHP:
public void ItemPaint(Graphics g, int x, int y)
{
int width = Parent == null ? Screen.PrimaryScreen.WorkingArea.Width : Parent.Width;
XFControlUtils.DrawBoarders(Style, g, 0, 0, width, GetHeight());
int currX = Style.PaddingLeft;
int currY = Style.PaddingTop;
int mHeight = 0;
int sHeight = 0;
if (Icon != null)
currX += _iconSize + Style.PaddingLeft;
SizeF mText = new SizeF();
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(MainText))
{
mText = XFControlUtils.GetEllipsisStringMeasure(width - currX - Style.PaddingRight, MainText, Style.TextFont);
MainText = XFControlUtils.EllipsisWord(width - currX - Style.PaddingRight, MainText, Style.TextFont);
}
SizeF sText = new SizeF();
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(SecondaryText))
{
sText = XFControlUtils.GetEllipsisStringMeasure(width - currX - Style.PaddingRight, SecondaryText, Style.SecondaryTextFont);
SecondaryText = XFControlUtils.EllipsisWord(width - currX - Style.PaddingRight, SecondaryText, Style.SecondaryTextFont);
}
mHeight = (GetHeight() / 2) - ((int)mText.Height / 2);
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(SecondaryText))
{
mHeight = (GetHeight() / 2) - _textSpace - (int)mText.Height;
sHeight = (GetHeight() / 2) + _textSpace;
}
if (State == XFItemState.Selected)
{
XFControlUtils.DrawBackgroundSelected(Style, g, x, y, width, GetHeight());
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(MainText))
using (SolidBrush b = new SolidBrush(Style.SelectedTextColor))
g.DrawString(MainText, Style.SelectedTextFont, b, currX, mHeight);
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(SecondaryText))
using (SolidBrush b = new SolidBrush(Style.SelectedSecondaryTextColor))
g.DrawString(SecondaryText, Style.SelectedSecondaryTextFont, b, currX, sHeight);
}
else
{
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(MainText))
using (SolidBrush b = new SolidBrush(Style.TextColor))
g.DrawString(MainText, Style.TextFont, b, currX, mHeight);
if (!string.IsNullOrEmpty(SecondaryText))
using (SolidBrush b = new SolidBrush(Style.SecondaryTextColor))
g.DrawString(SecondaryText, Style.SecondaryTextFont, b, currX, sHeight);
}
if (Icon != null)
XFControlUtils.DrawAlphaFirstPix(g, Icon, Style.PaddingLeft, Style.PaddingTop);
}
That is as complex as it gets. Other than doing normal Event Handling for ClickReturns, this is all that is required to create beautiful UI Controls for your application.
I hope that this helps! Feel free to PM me or post a reply if you need further clarification.
Class List
Form Controls:
XFPanelContainer - The main control that interacts with the Form.
XFPanels:
XFPanelBase - Basic building block. Handles most of the generic functionality
XFPanelList - Can add IXFItem items.
XFPanelHeader - The top header bar for an XFPanelContainer
XFItems
IXFItem - Interface that all XFItems inherate
XFItemSimpleText - Simple item that displays text
XFItemBack - Special item that allows a panel to slide back
XFItemLoading - Item that allows for work to be down in the background.
XFControlUtils: Library of static, useful utilities for this SDK
DrawAlpha - Draws an image with a supplied Graphics object with a specific level of opacity
DrawAlphaFirstPix - Draws an image and renders all pixels that are the same color as pixel (1,1) are 100% transparent
DrawJustifiedString - draws a justified string
GetEllipsisStringMeasure - Takes a string and if it is more than the supplied width, clips the string and adds a trailing "..." at the end
EllipsisWord - same as the GetEllipsisStringMeasure, except it ellipsis at the words and not at the char level.
GetSizedString - Takes a string and adds "\n" so that the string wraps according to the supplied width
Many Others!
Sense UI Example
Here is a working example. I made this Sense UI example in about 3 hours 15 hours. It isn't complete but gives a good example of how to/why use this SDK. There are 3 screenshots of what this demo looks like.
I'll explain some of the pieces of code when I get some time later today.
The other great example of how to use this SDK is the XFAFacebook Application.
The source for this project is located @ http://code.google.com/p/xda-winmo-facebook/source/browse/#svn/trunk/XFSenseUI
There are a few screenshots of the XDAFacebook application included.
Finally, a quick start tutorial.
Start a new Smart Device project.
Add a reference to the XFControls.dll
Place the following lines of code in the Form1 constructor (after the InitializeComponent()
Code:
XFPanelContainer container = new XFPanelContainer();
container.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
Controls.Add(container);
XFPanelList list = new XFPanelList();
container.SetMainPanel(list);
list.ShowScrollbar(true);
for (int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
{
list.Add("This is item " + i);
}
Run the project and you will get an output like the "SimpleText.png"
It's that easy!
UPDATE: I've added the XFSense to the Google Code page and have made some pretty extensive updates to it. I've added a few controls including sliders, toggles, checkboxes and radio buttons. It still isn't complete but I will be working to make it a full fledge Sense SDK.
Stay tuned!
Releases:
Initial Release - 9/1/10
When major updates occur, the DLLs will be posted here. The best thing to do is pull the source from the Google Code page and use that.
This will guarantee the freshes code will be used for your projects
Instructions:
Download and unzip the latest XFControls.zip from below.
Add the .dll as a reference.
Program!
The source can be found at: http://code.google.com/p/xda-winmo-facebook/source/browse/#svn/trunk/XDAFacebook/XFControls
List of downloads:
10/6/10 - Updated for speed and better scrolling! - XFControls 0.2.zip
9/1/10 - Initial upload - XFControls 0.1.zip
Other things I might have missed
Reserved Other
Sounds interesting! Definitely looking forward to some screenshots.
kliptik said:
Sounds interesting! Definitely looking forward to some screenshots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Screenshots are up!
Only 3 downloads?! Hmmm.... I figured more people would be interested in a finger-friendly and open source UI SDK...
Is there something wrong with my posts? Are they too confusing?
Let me know what I can do to help! This has taken me a good deal of time to write and I would hope that it would be of use to someone else...
joe_coolish said:
Only 3 downloads?! Hmmm.... I figured more people would be interested in a finger-friendly and open source UI SDK...
Is there something wrong with my posts? Are they too confusing?
Let me know what I can do to help! This has taken me a good deal of time to write and I would hope that it would be of use to someone else...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just DL'd a copy. I'm super swamped at the moment trying to get the next release of KD-Font out, but I'll try and check this out when I get a chance.
Thank you for your contribution!
I will definitely give this a test run at some point. Good work!
you have to add you own graphics to this sdk?
janneman22 said:
you have to add you own graphics to this sdk?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, this is a UI SDK. it is used to create user controls. The core code handles all the caching and physics, but the programmer must create the actual controls. including the graphics. look at the sense UI example to see how you can implement your own custom UI controls. like i said in the post, it only took about 3 hours to create those controls. most of which was spent creating graphics.
joe_coolish said:
yes, this is a UI SDK. it is used to create user controls. The core code handles all the caching and physics, but the programmer must create the actual controls. including the graphics. look at the sense UI example to see how you can implement your own custom UI controls. like i said in the post, it only took about 3 hours to create those controls. most of which was spent creating graphics.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh right. but does it place controls in the toolbox, or have you to create the controls hard coded?
i could help you to make some grapics packages for this sdk
Ok, I've updated the binaries to be the latest and greatest. The scrolling is super smooth and things are starting to look pretty good!
I also will be updating the XFSense and I'll probably be extending it a little more because I plan on bringing it into the XDA Facebook app.
As always, let me know what you think!
EDIT: Oh, and to answer the question about adding objects to the toolbox, I have not added the OCX files (or whatever they are) so that they can be added to the tool box. But, after you've added the container and the panels, everything is logic after that, so adding the items to the toolbox really doesn't benefit too much.
As far as graphics, I would love help with graphics! Send me a PM and we'll talk!
joe_coolish said:
Here is a working example. I made this Sense UI example in about 3 hours. It isn't complete but gives a good example of how to/why use this SDK. There are 3 screenshots of what this demo looks like.
I'll explain some of the pieces of code when I get some time later today.
The other great example of how to use this SDK is the XFAFacebook Application.
The source for this project is located @ http://code.google.com/p/xda-winmo-facebook/source/browse/
There are a few screenshots of the XDAFacebook application included.
Finally, a quick start tutorial.
Start a new Smart Device project.
Add a reference to the XFControls.dll
Place the following lines of code in the Form1 constructor (after the InitializeComponent()
Code:
XFPanelContainer container = new XFPanelContainer();
container.Dock = DockStyle.Fill;
Controls.Add(container);
XFPanelList list = new XFPanelList();
container.SetMainPanel(list);
list.ShowScrollbar(true);
for (int i = 0; i < 50; i++)
{
list.Add("This is item " + i);
}
Run the project and you will get an output like the "SimpleText.png"
It's that easy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very nice control. I downloaded the sample (had problem with missing XFControl project but downloaded it from code.google).
Have a couple questions, how would i go about adding image to a child panel?
What I'm trying to so is have about 75 items on the main screen and each item will have sub-panel, when clicking on sub-panel I need to have label x2 and image.
Also when compiling the project I get error:
"Error 1 'XFControls.XFPanels.XFPanelHeader' does not contain a definition for 'BackgroundImage' and no extension method 'BackgroundImage' accepting a first argument of type 'XFControls.XFPanels.XFPanelHeader' could be found (are you missing a using directive or an assembly reference?) C:\downloads\C#\XFSenseUI\XFSenseUIDemo\Form1.cs 39 24 XFSenseUIDemo"
Alright, I'll post an example if I get some time in a bit. But as for the error, it is because the Core XFControls has been modified since the last time I updated this thread. You can download the freshes code from the google code page or use the attached DLL. I'd suggest the Google Code page, since it gets updated more frequently. But then you get all the XDAFacebook with it, so it can also be negative.
Basically to add an image to an XFItem to be added to the XFPanelList, you can either create your own item by inheriting from the IXFItem and doing all the image manipulation in the ItemDraw() method.
For an example of how to do that, look at the XFItemImageDisplay item in the XFControls.XFPanels.XFPanelItems namespace.
If you need something specific, let me know and I'll see if I can whip up an example
I'm new to C# and the compact framework so sample would be good...
Thanks
JarekG said:
I'm new to C# and the compact framework so sample would be good...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, could you describe how you want the control to look? Also, what you want to supply to the constructor? IE a path for an image, upper text, lower text, maybe even some style things. ETC
I have a simple benchmark that I have been running on Windows Mobile devices for years. I don't have a Windows Phone 7 device myself, so I'm wondering if someone has a few minutes to run a test. I think the results may be interesting.
Here's the snippit: (in VB.NET, but C++ equivalent is fine):
Code:
Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click
Dim limit, counter
limit = DateAdd("S", 10, Now)
counter = 0
Do Until Now > limit
counter = counter + 1
Loop
MsgBox(counter / 10, 0, "iterations")
End Sub
As benchmarks goes, it's as simple as it gets.
Post your results here - and I'll add them to the table and give a link.
I'm too lazy to convert it to C#, and windows phone 7 only runs C#. If you convert it to C# I will run it on two different phones.
athompson said:
I'm too lazy to convert it to C#, and windows phone 7 only runs C#. If you convert it to C# I will run it on two different phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Code:
private void Button1_Click(System.Object sender, System.EventArgs e)
{
dynamic limit = null;
dynamic counter = null;
limit = DateAndTime.DateAdd("S", 10, DateAndTime.Now);
counter = 0;
while (!(DateAndTime.Now > limit)) {
counter = counter + 1;
}
Interaction.MsgBox(counter / 10, 0, "iterations");
}
Developer Fusion has a converter. I can't link to it because I don't have good enough reputation yet.
Cheers!
DateAndTime doesn't seem to be available on windows phone 7 (Interation isn't either but I can work around that easily enough. Not sure what you'd want me to do with the DateAndTime problem).
Hmm, just posted it into a windows phone project. There are quite a few errors. I'll see if I can get it working
Code:
private void button1_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
double counter;
DateTime limit = DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(10.0);
counter = 0;
while (!(DateTime.Now > limit))
{
counter = counter + 1;
}
MessageBox.Show(counter / 10 + " iterations");
}
I think this is what he was trying to accomplish, but in C#?
In the Samsung SGH-i917 I got 31702.2. Sorry, I forgot my other phone has something messed up and I can't load apps on it right now.
FWIW the emulator gets 55272.4 on my 64 bit 3.2GHZ computer.
Great progress! If you get a chance to post your project somewhere so other can run it to see if there is much variation between devices.
Meanwhile, try this out on your device:
nsbasic.com/speedtest.htm
It's the same test in JavaScript. I managed to run it on some sort of Samsung Windows Phone 7 device: it scored 40,000. Hmmm... JavaScript is faster than C#?
The same test on an Android device gets 400,000. The clock speed of the devices is the same.
We can't run C++ on these devices. If we could, I expect the result would be in the 2,000,000 range.
Wow, you're right. On my SGH-i917 I got 35,903 on the nsbasic.com/speedtest.htm . The IE team must feel proud of themselves.
But the times are fairly close, so it probably has more to do with the precise functions we are using than with the speed of javascript or C# in general applications.
Checking the DateTime each and every loop is a killer for performance. I'm not able to test a WP7 solution right now, but simply dropping the DateTime system and replacing it with an Async Timer running in it's own thread in a .NET 4.0 Console app running on my netbook made it jump from 720287 loops/sec, to a huge 241633375 loops/sec. A performance increase of 33546%.
In JS, the date functions are more optimised than in .NET, mainly because date and date manipulation functions make up a reasonable portion of Sunspider, which developers use, among other benchmarks, to track performance improvements in JS. In .NET, besides not really being tracked in the same way, DateTime's rarely used in performance-critical situations, particularly to track the passage of time, which is where MS recommend the usage of timers where suitable.
Code of C# implementation with Timers:
Code:
class Program
{
static bool loop = true;
static void Main(string[] args)
{
int count = 0;
DateTime finish = DateTime.Now.AddSeconds(10);
System.Timers.Timer time = new System.Timers.Timer(1000);
time.Elapsed += new System.Timers.ElapsedEventHandler(time_Elapsed);
time.Start();
while (loop)
count++;
Console.WriteLine("{0} Iterations", count);
}
static void time_Elapsed(object sender, System.Timers.ElapsedEventArgs e)
{
loop = false;
}
}
athompson said:
Wow, you're right. On my SGH-i917 I got 35,903 on the nsbasic.com/speedtest.htm .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got 40,995 on my HD7
Hounsell makes a good point, one which exposes the weakness of any benchmark: they really do not tell you how your own app will perform.
I urge everyone reading this to treat it as just for fun. If you need a benchmark that applies to your app, you should construct something that is relevant to your situation.
ghenne said:
Meanwhile, try this out on your device:
nsbasic.com/speedtest.htm
It's the same test in JavaScript. I managed to run it on some sort of Samsung Windows Phone 7 device: it scored 40,000. Hmmm... JavaScript is faster than C#?
The same test on an Android device gets 400,000. The clock speed of the devices is the same.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my HD2 running an mdeejay build of android sense with the s6.1 kernel just scored 385000 in the regular windows mobile it ranked only 98317.
I got a 40,995 on my Samsung SGH-i917 Focus.
Here is a WP7 Benchmark tool
Hi there,
I have a ListBox bounded to a query (linq to xml)
Dim CASDAs XDocument = XDocument.Load("./Data/CASD.xml")
Dim CAS_Query As System.Collections.IEnumerable = From query In Cartridge_Doc.Descendants("Cartridges") Order By _
CStr(query.Element("AA")) Descending, CStr(query.Element("AA"))
Select New Cartridge_Data With {.AA1 = CStr(query.Element("AA")), _
.BB1= CStr(query.Element("BB")), _
.CC1 = CStr(query.Element("CC"))}
Me.ListBox_1.ItemsSource = CAS_Query
Now, what I need to do is to select an item and have the option to delete it.
So far, I always got a run-time exception when trying this
Me.ListBox_1.Items.Remove(Me.ListBox_1.SelectedItem)
System.InvalidOperationException was unhandled
Message=Operation not supported on read-only collection.
So far I have tried a lot of options without any luck.
Any help will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks in advance.
Stick your Linq result in an ObservableCollection, bind this to the Listbox and delete the item directly from the underlaying collection.
emigrating said:
Stick your Linq result in an ObservableCollection, bind this to the Listbox and delete the item directly from the underlaying collection.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please, can you poost a little code to do that? I'm fairly new to this collections world.
On the other hand, once the item got deleted, how the Listbox gets refreshed?
Thanks!
You have to set up an NotifyPropertyChanged class to keep the listbox updated with your collection. The default phone list application template that comes with Visual Studio shows you how to do this. I think its's in c# though and it looks like you're coding in VB. I'm sure there's examples in VB you can find on the web with a little searching.
Ren13B said:
You have to set up an NotifyPropertyChanged class to keep the listbox updated with your collection. The default phone list application template that comes with Visual Studio shows you how to do this. I think its's in c# though and it looks like you're coding in VB. I'm sure there's examples in VB you can find on the web with a little searching.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My ListBox takes its data from an XML file via query.
Which strategy do you think is the best?
To first delete the Xelement then refresh the ListBox?
Or deleting from the item from the ListBox, then update the XML file?
Sorry but I have all the samples from MS and didn't find any phone list one.
Any code will be greatly appreciated!
Oops. It's called "Windows Phone Databound Application". Attached is a screenshot of the project if it makes it easier for you to find it.
It's hard to post code because I don't know what your xaml looks like and bindings have to be set there for it to work. The best thing you can do is load the above project and play around with it.
You never have to refresh the items in the listbox. A bound listbox updates itself when an item in the collection changes. Change the collection and your listbox will reflect those changes. The NotifyPropertyChanged class is what triggers the listbox to update itself.
I do C#, not VB but the following should give you some idea.
Code:
public class Model : INotifyPropertyChanged
{
public string Title { get; set; }
public string Blurb { get; set; }
public event PropertyChangedEventHandler PropChanged;
public void NotifyPropertyChanged(String _propName)
{
if (null!=PropChanged)
{ PropChanged(this, new PropertyChangedEventArgs(_propName)); }
}
}
The above is your model, create any properties you need there - i.e. one per item of data in your XML file.
Next, you need to create an ObservableCollection somewhere, for the sake of simplicity let's stick it in your MainPage.xaml.cs file for now, so;
Code:
public partial class MainPage : PhoneApplicationPage
{
public ObservableCollection<Model> Items { get; set; }
public MainPage()
{
InitializeComponent();
this.Items = new ObservableCollection<Model>();
MyListBox.ItemsSource = this.Items;
WebClient wc = new WebClient();
wc.OpenReadCompleted += wc_OpenReadCompleted;
wc.OpenReadAsync(new Uri("http://your.server.here/datafile.xml");
}
public void wc_OpenReadCompleted(object sender, OpenReadCompletedEventArgs e)
{
using (Stream s = e.Result)
{
XDocument xd = Xdocument.Load(s);
var XMLdata = (from q in doc.Descendants("Item") select new Model()
{
Title = (string)q.Element("Title"),
Blurb = (string)q.Element("Blurb")
}
foreach (Model m in XMLdata)
{
this.Items.Add(m);
}
}
}
public MyListBox_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)
{
ListBox lb = (ListBox)sender;
if (lb.SelectedIndex == -1)
return;
this.Items.Remove(lb.SelectedItem)
}
}
This will create a collection named Items as well as tell your ListBox (named MyListBox) to get it's data from said collection. Then it will read (asynchroniously) the XML file from the web and copy each item of data into your collection.
When you select an item in your ListBox it will be deleted from the ObservableCollection which in turn will remove it from the view (ListBox). At this stage you want to include code to also remove this from your actual XML file and so on of course. But the idea is that you work on your Collection only and your View will update based on what is changed - automagically.
Please note, the above code may or may not work out of the box. Written directly here on the forums so it hasn't gone thru VS2010's excellent IntelliSense. Also, the above code is in no way the most efficient way of doing certain things, but it gives you an idea as to what code you need to write to handle your scenario.
While I wrote this I see you've got an answer above which directs you to the VS template - use that and everything should become clear. All you have to remember is that perform operations on the Collection - not directly on the ListBox and you'll be fine.
Emigrating and Ren13B,
Thanks to both of you for the help. Very appreciated!
Will take both advices to see what comes up.
Thanks!
I've been banging my head against this one all morning and now i have a head ache so i decided to stick it out to you lot.
I want to make all my user controls (labels, checkbox's etc) transparent - well the text at least. I found this thread on MSDN but i'll be honest and say i'm not entirely sure what i'm supposed to do with it.
Thanks for your thoughts.
Works a treat. Lifted the code from the site and dropped it straight into the form class.
Code:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.ComponentModel;
using System.Data;
using System.Drawing;
using System.Text;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using Microsoft.WindowsCE.Forms;
namespace TestDevApp
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
forum.xda-developers.com/search.php?searchid=90851847
private void pictureBox1_Paint(object sender, PaintEventArgs e)
{
DrawLabel(label1,e.Graphics);
DrawLabel(label2, e.Graphics);
DrawLabel(label3, e.Graphics);
DrawLabel(label4, e.Graphics);
}
private void DrawLabel(Label label, Graphics gfx)
{
if (label.TextAlign == ContentAlignment.TopLeft)
{
gfx.DrawString(label.Text, label.Font, new SolidBrush(label.ForeColor), label.Bounds);
}
else if (label.TextAlign == ContentAlignment.TopCenter)
{
SizeF size = gfx.MeasureString(label.Text, label.Font);
float left = ((float)this.Width + label.Left) / 2 - size.Width / 2;
RectangleF rect = new RectangleF(left, (float)label.Top, size.Width, label.Height);
gfx.DrawString(label.Text, label.Font, new SolidBrush(label.ForeColor), rect);
}
else //is aligned at TopRight
{
SizeF size = gfx.MeasureString(label.Text, label.Font);
float left = (float)label.Width - size.Width + label.Left;
RectangleF rect = new RectangleF(left, (float)label.Top, size.Width, label.Height);
gfx.DrawString(label.Text, label.Font, new SolidBrush(label.ForeColor), rect);
}
}
}
}
Devtrans is the view in VS
Transparent is the actual running code.
Cool thanks.
I did try using DrawString but the drawn text doesn't scroll with the form when you... well.... scroll the form.
I'm gonna have the afternoon off but i will check it out properly later. Would this also work for check boxes? If so what are the changes that would need to be made?
Checkboxes might be a different matter. The above method does not work, it only deals with the text caption. There is is an article on The Code Project at
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/TransparentControl.aspx
It appears like they have almost created a control from scratch. You may have to take control/override that much of the object, to get it to work, that you have almost created a new control.
stephj said:
Checkboxes might be a different matter. The above method does not work, it only deals with the text caption. There is is an article on The Code Project at
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/dotnet/TransparentControl.aspx
It appears like they have almost created a control from scratch. You may have to take control/override that much of the object, to get it to work, that you have almost created a new control.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did see that page but i couldn't figure out how the hell to use it
Ok, so now you have found one of the BIGGEST challenges to WM development.
I spent 4+ months trying to get the same thing you are looking for (well, what I assume you are looking for), that is: A transparent label that you can use your finger to scroll.
If that is what you are looking for, I can tell you right now that you need to either look into custom controls that already do this or decide how much time you are willing to invest into something as simple as that.
Here is the basic components that you will need to code to get DrawString to properly scroll with your finger:
You will need to code up some kind of container or panel that holds the current virtual x,y coordinates.
You will need to code up some kind of custom control that can be added to the previously made container
Create logic in the container to take the current virtual x,y coords and determine which custom controls are visible and should be drawn on the screen, pass them their offset coords, and draw the control
Override the OnMouse*ACTION* events on the container to manipulate the virtual x,y coords and then refresh the screen
You also will need to know about double buffering so you don't get any flickering.
It's a very very hard thing to do on WinMo, something that other platforms take for granted. This is one of the reasons that some custom WinMo programs have UIs that are either really terrible, or take tons of resources.
If you want to give it a go (and I would highly recommend doing it, I can't tell you how much I learned about software development by creating my own custom controls) I can help point you in the right directions. Feel free to take a look at the code I've written for my Facebook app (specifically the XFControls and SenseUI projects). I'm not on XDA as often as I'd like, but send me a PM with your questions and I'll respond when I log in.
Good Luck!
So during my break today I added a few more registry paths to check on my HTC Radar and I found HKCU\Software\Microsoft\ConMan\HostLauncher\HostData\. There I found a few Service entries:
Code:
7ABBE0D5-B437-42CA-B57B-CEED61680E4F
11EE50CA-6CD3-45BA-9D65-46E133CFF009
B2FC26AB-D6EC-4426-91FA-9E039F92A639
The first entry did not take me any where but the other two did.
Running those in my test application sent back:
Code:
Int32Type: 0
Int32Type: -2147024809
I know it isnt much and I am not sure what to send to the ConMan so if someone does please tell me:
Code:
private static void ExecutionTest()
{
#region Create Objects
ObjectId DeviceID = new ObjectId("30F105C9-681E-420b-A277-7C086EAD8A4E");
Platform platform = datastoremanager.GetPlatform(PlatformObjectID);
Device device = platform.GetDevice(DeviceID);
#endregion
try
{
//Connect to the device.
device.Connect();
if (device.IsConnected())
{
RemoteAgent ra = device.GetRemoteAgent(new ObjectId("910DCB1B-487B-452b-87FC-73852B5A239C"));
DevicePacketStream ps = ra.CreatePacketStream(new ObjectId(new Guid("11EE50CA-6CD3-45BA-9D65-46E133CFF009")));
// Create and write a packet of data.
Packet packet;
packet = new Packet();
for (int i = 0; i < 4; i++) packet.WriteInt32(i);
packet.WriteString("Hello Smart Device");
ps.Write(packet);
#region While stream is connected, try to read a packet.
while (ps.IsConnected())
{
if (ps.IsPacketAvailable())
{
packet = ps.Read();
while (!packet.IsEndOfPacket())
{
switch (packet.ReadDataType())
{
case DataType.BoolType: bool boolValue = packet.ReadBool(); break;
case DataType.ByteArrayType: byte[] buffer = packet.ReadBytes(); break;
case DataType.ByteType: byte byteValue = packet.ReadByte(); break;
case DataType.CharType: char charValue = packet.ReadChar(); break;
case DataType.Int32Type: Console.WriteLine("Int32Type: " + packet.ReadInt32().ToString()); break;
case DataType.StringType: Console.WriteLine("String: " + packet.ReadString()); break;
default: break;
}
}
break;
}
System.Threading.Thread.Sleep(1000);
}
#endregion
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
throw ex;
}
finally { device.Disconnect(); }
}
Huh, you got the remote "GetRemoteAgent" working. Right?
I think i might know how to resolve what to call in to the packet. VS2010 talks to wp7, and uses one of those GUID's; meaning one should be able do binary search all files (in a rom) to see who owns the GUID (what dll handler), disassemble that dll (to ASM/c), and extract "what it wants".
Or if MS has a hidden caller class somewhere
Ill look further into this, thanks
fiinix said:
Huh, you got the remote "GetRemoteAgent" working. Right?
I think i might know how to resolve what to call in to the packet. VS2010 talks to wp7, and uses one of those GUID's; meaning one should be able do binary search all files (in a rom) to see who owns the GUID (what dll handler), disassemble that dll (to ASM/c), and extract "what it wants".
Or if MS has a hidden caller class somewhere
Ill look further into this, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I did . Yeah I just need to know what to actually send to to the device. I know Visual Studio communicates this way.
MJCS said:
Yes I did . Yeah I just need to know what to actually send to to the device. I know Visual Studio communicates this way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great
I, myself tried 20+ GUID's once (from wp7 that _could_ be); all threw exceptions (aka not a remote agent handler).
It feels better now knowing what GUID's i can use.
Well the reg path was quite obvious; why did i not stumble upon that one earlier..
fiinix said:
Great
I, myself tried 20+ GUID's once (from wp7 that _could_ be); all threw exceptions (aka not a remote agent handler).
It feels better now knowing what GUID's i can use.
Well the reg path was quite obvious; why did i not stumble upon that one earlier..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I only found it since I know have an HTC Radar. My Dell venue pro requires you to manually enter in registry paths to see if they exist or not. I was able to decompile an older HTC registry viewer and then fix it so it didnt require interop unlock.
It should be possible to do registry browsing (but not editing) just fine on a DVP using the standard tools, unless there's a check that specifically blocks them. The browsing uses a native homebrew DLL that doesn't require ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES and has no device-specific dependencies. It's the editing that requires interop-unlock and device-specific DLLs.
GoodDayToDie said:
It should be possible to do registry browsing (but not editing) just fine on a DVP using the standard tools, unless there's a check that specifically blocks them. The browsing uses a native homebrew DLL that doesn't require ID_CAP_INTEROPSERVICES and has no device-specific dependencies. It's the editing that requires interop-unlock and device-specific DLLs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no GetSubKeys method...anyways lets get back on topic.
I've been trying for weeks to get anything out of this. Nothing so far. I did find out that the Developer unlock is just a byte array of a cookie taken from Microsoft's auth server.
Has anyone had any success with this socket method yet? I really don't know enough about sockets to try.
BTW you have to have a core con connection to the device already open either from app debugging or some other method