A good approach to learning how to use WPF design tools?
I want to learn WPF, but from all the comment I've heard in Visual Studios, it is weak and I would need to write XAML by hand, which is inefficient. I've seen tools like Expression Blend used to create XAML, however given my complete lack of understanding of WPF, it would be difficult for me to get enough "mileage" from the trial process to know enough to decide if I want to buy the software. ... So my question is, if I want to learn the tool that Microsoft provides for WPF, when I learn WPF, what approach would you suggest? In terms of tooling, is there an express version of Blend that I can use to explore before upgrading to the pro license? Thank!
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Fair,
I felt like I learned WPF best by writing the XAML by hand. I used VS 2010 Beta 1 and the designer is better (with intellisense, etc) and it looks like when Beta 2 comes out it will be even better.
After you learn WPF and enjoy the basics and functionality, it is useful to use Blend to make things "pretty".
I don't know how long the trial version of Blend 3 is, but before 3 came out they kept giving out a version (June preview, August preview, and the like) that lasted 3 months before they expired.
Again, I didn't feel like Blend helped me learn WPF, it just helped make things more visually appealing (gradients and some animations). But to each his own.
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I really enjoyed this tutorial when I first got started. I think they do a good job with WPF and Blend.
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