Communications Sector Conversations https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/feed.xml Rob Cameron, Industry Architect Evangelist (Twitter: @Robcamer) Tue, 16 Apr 2019 05:27:44 GMT en-US hourly 1 How to add support for the back button in the TitleBar - XAML https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/how-to-add-support-for-the-back-button-in-the-titlebar-xaml Fri, 31 Jul 2015 10:51:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2015/07/31/how-to-add-support-for-the-back-button-in-the-titlebar-xaml/ No doubt that if you've spent any time with Windows 10 and the 1st party apps you may have noticed the back button in the TitleBar:

 

You can incorporate this into your Windows 10 UWP app with a few simple changes.  Likely, you have already have similar code in place to support a Back Button in UI but why lose that real estate when you can put it in the TitleBar?

To test this out, I downloaded the Windows 10 UWP samples from GitHub: https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-universal-samples

In many of the samples, pick a XAML sample, there is a NavigationHelper.cs class.  In this class I made a few changes detailed below.

1. Obtain a reference to the current SystemNavigationManager in the sample NavigationHelper or in your own page frame navigation code:

privateSystemNavigationManager systemNavManager = Windows.UI.Core.SystemNavigationManager.GetForCurrentView();

In the constructor of the NavigationHelper class (in your app it would be your nav helper class),  I hook the SystemNavigationManager BackRequested event

if (systemNavManager != null)

{

    systemNavManager.BackRequested += SystemNavManager_BackRequested;

}

2. Add the event handler:

privatevoid SystemNavManager_BackRequested(object sender, BackRequestedEventArgs e)

{

    this.GoBack();

  e.Handled = true; // Important to set to true for phone to prevent the OS from also navigating back.

}

  

3. You need to manage the Back Button visibility, for example when on your home page.  This code, checks  the size of the back stack:

privatevoid UpdateBackButtonVisibility(int BackStackDepth)

{

    if (systemNavManager != null)

    {

         if (BackStackDepth > 0)

        {

            systemNavManager.AppViewBackButtonVisibility = AppViewBackButtonVisibility.Visible;

        }

        else

       {

            systemNavManager.AppViewBackButtonVisibility = AppViewBackButtonVisibility.Collapsed;

       }

    }

}

4. Finally, the code calls the UpdateBackButtonVisibility method in both OnNavigatedTo and OnNavigatedFrom in the sample NavigationHelper.cs file that I am working with.  You could also hook into Navigated as well if that works better for your code.  here's the first few lines of OnNavigatedTo with the call:

publicvoid OnNavigatedTo(NavigationEventArgs e)

{

    var frameState = SuspensionManager.SessionStateForFrame(this.Frame);

    this._pageKey = "Page-" + this.Frame.BackStackDepth;

    // Update visibility of tile bar back button

    UpdateBackButtonVisibility(this.Frame.BackStackDepth);

    if (e.NavigationMode == NavigationMode.New)

   {

5. Put similar code in OnNavigatedFrom if using the sample code and that's it!  Now you can remove the Back Button from your content UI.   One note regarding Mobile.  This code works fine for mobile as long as you set e.handled = true in the BackRequested event as shown above.

 

]]> Back in Developer Experience (DX) and @ //build 2015! https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/back-in-developer-experience-dx-and-build-2015 Mon, 04 May 2015 09:29:23 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2015/05/04/back-in-developer-experience-dx-and-build-2015/ For the previous 3+ years I worked on Xbox 360 and Xbox One media apps as part of the Xbox engineering team and I am very excited to bring over what we've learned working with Xbox partners to the Universal Windows Platform.  I haven't been able to blog much because the majority of the Xbox Apps program is NDA but in my new role as Microsoft moves to the Universal Windows Platform I look forward to posting more on how best to take advantage of the platform and not just around media and Xbox, though I will continue to focus on those as well :-) 

I recently re-joined the Developer Experience (DX, formerly DPE) corporate team with a continued focus on apps and devices. For the past 2-3 months in DX, I have been working with the OSG Design team to bring forward what we've learned on those platforms to the Universal Windows platform.  We demonstrated both WinJS and XAML versions of the Media Sample app at //build 2015.  You can check out my session co-presented with Lynnette Reed along with the other great design sessions here:

https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2015?sort=sequential&direction=desc&term=&y=Breakout&tag=design

I was very excited to present what I've been working on like mad with the Operating Systems Group (OSG) design team at //build 2015.  We provided a preview of what we've been working, focusing on the Media App template as the first of many sample apps.  Keep an eye out for updates here on my blog and on #UWPDesign on Twitter as we make progress towards shipping the samples in the near future. 

 

 

 

 

]]> Exciting times at //build 2014 https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/exciting-times-at-build-2014 Sat, 05 Apr 2014 08:14:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2014/04/05/exciting-times-at-build-2014/ I've been heads-down working on Xbox One Apps on the Xbox engineering team working with many partners bringing their content to Xbox.  I was very excited to present at //build on what we've been doing with Xbox One.  My session is available here along with the rest of the Xbox-focused sessions at //build 2014:

https://channel9.msdn.com/Events/Build/2014?sort=sequential&direction=desc&term=&tag=xbox

Stay tuned for more info as we move towards Universal apps on Windows!

 

]]> Moving on to the Xbox Team https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/moving-on-to-the-xbox-team Tue, 01 Feb 2011 07:54:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/02/01/moving-on-to-the-xbox-team/ Hello Everyone, I wanted to let you know that I am joining the Xbox team focused on new platform capabilities and won't be able to blog as much as I did previously.  Thanks for tuning in---I'm sure I'll be back in the future :-)  Best, -Rob

]]> Top 10 Windows Phone 7 Application Design Tips https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/top-10-windows-phone-7-application-design-tips Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:19:10 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/27/top-10-windows-phone-7-application-design-tips/ This new series on the Windows Phone Developer Blog offers tips with step-by-step advice on common issues that can surface when developing a Windows Phone 7 application. Compiled by the Windows Phone Design team, the series tackles ten key areas with information that can help you avoid design pitfalls and strengthen your application.
With the Windows Phone 7 platform increasing in popularity every day, the number of applications is growing rapidly. These tips can help you make your application function even better, so it will stand out well when you submit it to the Windows Phone Marketplace.
Although some issues are quickly fixed, others are a bit challenging. However, the detailed explanations and illustrations are easy to follow. The series kicks off with a look at how to make your start tiles and splash screens great—so your application makes a good first impression.

The other 9 tips covered in the series are:

clip_image002[20] 1. Make sure your buttons are visible even when the keyboard is displayed.

clip_image002[21] 2. Manage themes on WP7. Build your application to respect system color changes.

clip_image002[22] 3. Make sure your finger can hit the target and text is legible.

clip_image002[23] 4. Give feedback on touch and progress within your UI.

clip_image002[24] 5. Be very careful when embedding web content.

clip_image002[25] 6. Place your buttons well... Flying buttons, home buttons, and back buttons... Oh my!

clip_image002[26] 7. Right layout alignment and information hierarchy are key.

clip_image002[27] 8. Use our common controls, and use them right.

clip_image002[28] 9. Understand Pivots and Panoramic views.

Get all 10 tips, and check out the blog weekly for new postings.

]]> Top 7 Items to Check for WP7 Certification https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/top-7-items-to-check-for-wp7-certification Thu, 27 Jan 2011 17:14:56 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/27/top-7-items-to-check-for-wp7-certification/ From the Windows Phone Marketplace team…Top seven items to check in order to pass certification.

1. Technical Support Information. Include technical support contact information, such as an email address or URL, within the application along with the application version number.

2. Content Validation. Be sure that application visual elements are visible and legible in both Windows Phone 7 light and dark themes. The application description, the UI text, and media within the application must be in the corresponding target language the XAP supports.

3. Application Termination. Applications must provide a user-friendly error message when an application terminates unexpectedly.

4. Application Screenshot. Screenshots must not include any emulator chrome, be graphically enhanced, or use transparent PNG image files.

5. Windows Phone Marketplace Iconography. Icons must closely match the icon provided in the XAP package.

6. Declaring Application Capabilities. Use the method documented on MSDN regarding How to: Use the Windows Phone Capability Detection Tool. Pay close attention when referencing the WebBrowser control and be sure to access it from code-behind.

7. Application Localization. Follow globalization and localization best practices on MSDN and test applications using multiple regional and language settings

]]> WP7 Wireframe Templates for Illustrator https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/wp7-wireframe-templates-for-illustrator Sun, 16 Jan 2011 05:02:45 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/16/wp7-wireframe-templates-for-illustrator/ These are unofficial Adobe Illustrator templates for building Windows Phone 7 wireframes created by Clarity Consulting.  Read more about them and download here:

https://blogs.claritycon.com/windowsphone7/2011/01/12/wicked-wireframes-wp7-vector-ux-kit-3/

Thanks for sharing!

]]> Build a Better Windows Phone 7 UI (and save time) https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/build-a-better-windows-phone-7-ui-and-save-time Wed, 12 Jan 2011 12:49:06 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/12/build-a-better-windows-phone-7-ui-and-save-time/ For Silverlight developers, Expression Blend is old news, however, for most developers Expression Blend is a foreign tool.  If you are an iPhone or Android developer, you are probably very focused on getting your arms around Visual Studio 2010 and may not know that much about Expression Blend.

I can tell you flat-out that Expression Blend WILL make your life easier as a Windows Phone 7 developer.  By far, the best way to learn Blend is to watch someone use it, either in person or via a screencast or webcast because Blend is very visually oriented.  Up on the Design site off of Microsoft.com there is an incredible amount of content available on design and Expression Blend at this link:

https://www.microsoft.com/design/toolbox/school/tutorials.aspx

Spend time with this training and you will absolutely save time in the long run and may even end up with an improved User Experience in your Windows Phone 7 applications:-)

image

]]> Windows Phone site for iPhone Developers https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/windows-phone-site-for-iphone-developers Tue, 11 Jan 2011 09:35:37 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/11/windows-phone-site-for-iphone-developers/ Looking for Windows Phone 7 information to help you port over your iPhone application and expand to a growing market?  Check out the Windows Phone 7 Interoperability site located here:

https://windowsphone.interoperabilitybridges.com/

    The Windows Phone Interoperability site focuses on helping developers who have been creating phone applications on various platforms ramp up quickly on the Windows Phone 7 platform. The goal is to help them leverage existing skills, and provide recipes to successfully design and build applications for the Window Phone.  Here is an example of some of the content available:   

Windows Phone 7 Guide for iPhone Application Developers

Chapter 1: Windows Phone 7 Platform introduced to iPhone application developers

Chapter 2: User Interface Guidelines

 

Chapters on the way….

Chapter 3:  Developer and designer tools introduced to iPhone application developers
Chapter 4: C# programming introduced to Objective-C programmers
Chapter 5: Application Lifecycle differences between Windows Phone 7 and the iPhone
Chapter 6: Windows Phone 7 Notification Service introduced to iPhone application developers

Next Chapters [To be defined] could cover:
Networking, Web services, Data binding, Database and data management

]]> Interview with Ed Schmit from at&t https://docs.microsoft.com/archive/blogs/robcamer/interview-with-ed-schmit-from-att Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:25:00 GMT https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/robcamer/2011/01/06/interview-with-ed-schmit-from-att/ I had the opportunity to interview Ed Schmit while at DevConnections 2010 as part of Bytes by MSDN.  Ed Schmit is a Director with the AT&T Developer Program, where his mission is to provide support and guidance for the developer community. He has been with AT&T for five years.

image

Here is a link to the full interview:

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/gg547370.aspx

]]>