Microsoft Visual Basic 2013 Step by Step: Using XAML Styles

Summary

In this chapter, you learned how to create and use XAML styles in your Windows Store apps. XAML styles allow you to set a wide range of formatting properties for controls and then reuse those settings to build a more consistent user interface. I recommend that you create your first styles in a project’s App.xaml file so that you can use them throughout the program. As you learn more about styles and develop favorites that you want to use often, I recommend that you place them in a resource dictionary that you can share across multiple applications.

In the exercises in this chapter, you learned the syntax necessary to create XAML styles, how to use explicit and implicit styles, and how to build new styles from existing styles through the process of style inheritance. You also learned shortcuts in the Visual Studio IDE for applying styles to objects on the page.

In the next chapter, you’ll continue designing the user interface of Windows Store apps. In particular, you’ll learn how to use some essential Windows 8.1 design features for applications, including the new CommandBar and Flyout controls, how to customize “live” tiles on the Windows Start page, planning for touch and gestures in Windows Store apps, and using the Manifest Designer to set program permissions and capabilities.