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Create a new project (Windows Store apps)

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Windows Store apps are based on one of two markup languages: Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) or HyperText Markup Language (HTML). Regardless of the technology that you choose, the visual design experience in Blend for Visual Studio 2012 is the same.

To create a new HTML project

  1. On the File menu, click New Project (Ctrl+Shift+N).

    JJ155092.f60e8b59-50de-4da1-9ba8-722dc5394d9d(en-us,VS.110).png

  2. In the New Project dialog box, click HTML (Windows Store).

    New Project

  3. From the list on the right side of the dialog box, select one of the following:

    • Blank App (HTML)   A project template that has no predefined layout or controls.

    • Grid App (HTML)   A multi-page project template that navigates among groups of items. A starting grid-based layout links to dedicated pages that display group and item details.

    • Split App (HTML)   A two-page project template that displays a navigation page alongside a detail page.

    • Fixed Layout App   A project template with a scalable, fixed aspect ratio.

    • Navigation App   A project template that has predefined controls for navigation.

  4. Next to Name, type a name for your project. This will become the name of the project folder and the name of your application's namespace.

  5. Next to Location, verify the path of the folder in which you want to save your project. To select a different folder, click Browse.

  6. In the Language drop-down list, select the programming language for your application logic. Your only choice for a Windows app built using HTML is JavaScript.

  7. Click OK.

    An HTML project is created and opened for editing. You can now begin creating content in the main page (default.html) of your project.

    For a list of the files that are generated by Blend and a description for each file, see Managing solutions, projects, and files (Windows Store apps).

To create a new XAML project

  1. On the File menu, click New Project.

    JJ155092.f60e8b59-50de-4da1-9ba8-722dc5394d9d(en-us,VS.110).png

    In the New Project dialog box, click XAML (Windows Store).

    New Project

  2. Select one of the following types of project templates:

    • Blank App (XAML)   A project template that has no predefined layout or controls.

    • Grid App (XAML)   A project template that showcases groups of data in a grid format. This template is excellent for shopping apps, RSS readers, photo or video apps.

    • Split App (XAML)   A project template that showcases a master-detail list and is suitable for an app that navigates among grouped items, for example, an email app.

    • Class Library (Windows Store apps)   A project that creates a class library for Windows Store apps or Windows Runtime components.

    • Windows Runtime Component   A project for a Windows Runtime component that can be used in Windows Store apps, regardless of the programming languages in which the application are written.

  3. In the Name box, type a name for the project.

  4. In the Location box, type the name of or browse to the folder where you want to store the project. By default, this is a folder named "Blend Projects" in your "My Documents" folder.

  5. On the Language menu, select a programming language (C#, Visual Basic or C++).

    Note

    In general, you can bypass selecting a programming language and use the default, which is C#. (Using C# creates .cs files.) However, there may be times when the developer may want to indicate a specific programming language (for example, Microsoft Visual Basic, which creates .vb files) for ease of use, because of familiarity, to integrate the project files more easily with legacy code, or for another reason.

  6. Click OK.

    Blend creates a new project and opens it for editing. You can now begin creating content in the main page of your project.

    For a list of the files that are generated by Blend and a description for each file, see Managing solutions, projects, and files (Windows Store apps).