Simple trick for getting right the DataGrid’s SelectedItem July 28, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in Business Applications, DataGrid, Silverlight, Uncategorized.3 comments
I have been developing a Silverlight business application and one of the problems I have found is the “inconsistency” of the DataGrid… at least of some of its behaviors, when I click on a row, I expect that the SelectedItem (the clicked one) is set on the corresponding DataGrid property.
But it does not. at least not “always”, lets be clear maybe I’m doing something wrong but this randomness on this behavior is driving me crazy, if I click on a Grid row, it should select it and mark the SelectedItem on the corresponding property, right?
I have been doing so in the MouseLeftButtonUp of the DataGrid, so that’s what I expected but… sometimes it had it, sometimes not… bummer!
So I have been trying to detect why is this happening but could not discover it… maybe I’m wrong in any of the assumptins but meanwhile, I got a workaround that does really work 
.
The following code explains it all…
void datagrid_MouseLeftButtonUp(object sender, MouseButtonEventArgs e) {
}
}
Basically I check first If I have the SelectedItem set, sometimes it is, so then I avoid doing the following trick.
The “trick” mainly gets the originalsource that is launching the event, that is the control inside the cell of the grid, most of times it will be a TextBox. Second I get the Parent, with this I am getting to the Cell.
Note that if you have a complex structure you should set up a recursive function to go “up” until you get a reference for the cell.
From the cell you have the datacontext which is the item whe should have got from the SelectedItem property. you should cast it to the inherent type and get any value you need from it.
Also, please note that the DataContext could be caught from the first element (OriginalSource) but it’s more ellegant to get it from the Cell, and if it is a complex custom cell this also asures that it gets the DataContext properly.
And yes, it works 100% 
Happy coding!
PS: If somebody knows what I have done wrong or why the DataGrid.SelectedItem Property does not return the clicked item, I would be happy to hear.
Trick for solving WCF RIA Services issue.. July 23, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in Business Applications, Silverlight, WCF RIA Services.3 comments
I am having the following issue: Sometimes, when I am issuing a DomainService call using WCF RIA Services, I got the callback right but the loadoperation I have assigned has no results, meaning no entities are returned and the “IsComplete” property is false.
The following code resumes what I am doing, including the LoadOperation definition, the calling function and the callback function:
LoadOperation lo;
private void CallDomainService(){
DomainContext dc = new DomainContext();
lo = dc.Load(dc.GetDataQuery());
lo.Completed += new EventHandler(lo_Completed);
}
And it executes well and calls properly lo_completed…
void lo_Completed(object sender, EventArgs e){
}
}
The issue is that I am getting properly the details of the load Operation, but some random times, it does not return the object properly, it is not null but its .IsComplete property is False and the Entities collection is empty, though that it has had been processed properly by the server.
The trick or workaround here is to get, in this exact case, the loadoperation from the server, which is a reference to the right load operation. The code should be like this:
LoadOperation<EntityType> lo2 = (LoadOperation<EntityType>)sender;
}
And with this, problem solved.
Are you having this random issue or others? anybody found why this is happening?
Windows phone performance trick July 22, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in Uncategorized.add a comment
The WP7 emulator can be painfully slow if you don’t check two simple things,
1. One, is check the DDI version and the driver model, for doing this you should go to Windows button and on the search/execute area type dxdiag & pulse return. There should appear the DirectX diagnostic tool, once there click one of the Display tabs and on the controllers, validate the DDI version. It should be 10 or better. Also check the Dirver model, should be WDDM 1.1 or better – if it appears, as it does on one of my laptops but on my desktop it does not – note that I have a three monitor display working with two GPU, so I guess that’s why…
2. Second, enable the BIOS virtualization support, as this is set to disabled on most motherboards. This can significantly increase the emulator speed as it will run directly on the CPU which is better than a layer of software – as a “man in the middle” which is logically slower.. this will mean getting into your BIOS and rebooting your system.
For more insight on WP7 performance, this talk is a must : http://live.visitmix.com/MIX10/Sessions/CL60
Have fun!
3D (2.5D) Interaction Experimental site July 15, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, behavior, INETA, INETA Europe, Silverlight.add a comment
If you have followed me on my latest posts you should have seen some of my Behavior experiments for 3D interaction, trying to emulate already existing Real world & 2D interaction design patterns as MouseOver, Click, etc… in 3D (or Silverlight’s actual 2.5D, for Desktop & Windows Phone).
I have put the site www.bcndev.net as a sample or playground thinking on nothing but on providing a 3D interactive experience, with the points that I am not being paid for (it’s a volunteer work for promoting the Barcelona Developers User’s group event) and I have thought on nothing (I repeat myself but I want this clear) apart from the experience, so do not expect a great degree of indexability, accessibility, usability or even performance… the Matrix background effect is a killer of CPU resources …
Disclaimers: If I had the time, hopefully I will do it “when I can” I will implement a “effect adjuster” for adapting it to reduce depth layers & elements on each layer and, maybe, even the falling speed… to adapt it to get a decent framerate… I’ve got on mind other optimizations but sadly not the time, so sorry in advance if this is going too slow for you to appreciate the 3D interactions.
I have added GPU acceleration & left all the debugging on for you to be able to see the performance. It should not go very bad if you have a decent GPU so please leave me a message if it does not, and include the FPS. Thanks!!!
This site is using the 3D behaviors I have published at the Expression Gallery and some others that I have yet to polish before publishing, some of the new ones are part of an experiment of providing 3D effects to 2D elements (usercontrols in fact) and allowing them to nest their DataContexts and thus providing an interesting way of navigating the information. This has yet to be polished but you can see it working when you press the “+ Info” button and then the “Ver Detalles” button…” then just also press over a session or speaker…
As for the behaviors, you can see & get them here:
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Project3DToMouse
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Slide3DToMouse
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/MouseOver3D
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Loop3d
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Animate3D
I would greatly appreciate any feedback you can provide, thanks!!
And, as always, have fun!
Note: The matrix effect is an evolved version of the original code from Terence Tsang, http://www.shinedraw.com – thanks Terence for all those great samples .
Animate3D, another Silverlight behavior July 2, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, behavior, Silverlight.add a comment
Animate3D is a a Silverlight Design Interaction Pattern for making easier to implement 3D Interaction – In this case the effect provided is 3D animation that launches in response to a concrete event providing a PlaneTransform animation which can animate a target object with the three Axis, X, Y, Z and its Global and Local offsets. It also allows us to decide an initial and a final alpha for the animation.
We can also indicate if we want the actual state of the object to be the Final state of the animation, providing on the behavior only the first animation state. We can of course add both states, (initial and final). But, for the sake of displaying a not projected control with text (if it has any projection Silverlight 4.0 actually shows it blurred no matter what we do) this option has been added.
It is inspired trying to implement an easy way of defining & executing very quickly 3D animations that respond to user actions.
It has been designed to be used together with the other 3D Behaviors, that have been published at the Expression Gallery, including this one:
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Project3DToMouse
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Slide3DToMouse
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/MouseOver3D
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Loop3d
• http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Animate3D
You can also check how this and the other mentioned effects look used together here: http://www.bcndev.net (it is not published right now but will be in short…)
Also I would love to see places where this behavior(s) are being used or any design/implementation you might have done with them.
If you like the behavior, I’d be appreciated if you could vote some stars for this behavior, my thanks!
Have fun
Loop3D, a new Silverlight 3D Behavior June 23, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, behavior, Silverlight.add a comment
Loop3D is a a Silverlight Design Interaction Pattern for 3D Interaction – In this case the effect/behavior provided is a3D Loop – a continuous – animation on the three Axis, X, Y, Z which enables us to turn an element on a certain speed and easing over a concrete axis.
It is inspired trying to implement a planet and its satellites movement which turn around the planet at different speeds and angles. Anyway it can be used to whatever effect you consider, a halo system, etc..
It has been designed to be used together with the other 3D Behaviors, that have been published at the Expression Gallery, including this one:
- http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Project3DToMouse
- http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Slide3DToMouse
- http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/MouseOver3D
- http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Loop3d
You can see how it helps implement different effects at the Expression gallery.
You can also check how this and the other mentioned effects look when used together in a consistent way here: http://www.bcndev.net
I’d like to see or hear if you do like this behavior(s) and if you have used them in any design/implementation or whatever you might have done with them
Also, if you like this behavior it would be appreciated if you give me some stars at the expression gallery. My thanks!
As for the code, you have it at the Expression Gallery, http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Loop3d
Slide3DToMouse June 14, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, Silverlight.add a comment
A Design Interaction Pattern for 3D Interaction – In this case the effect provided is a “companion effect” for the Project 3D to Mouse, this, enables us to slide horizontally and vertically a FrameworkElement regarding the calculated X & Y Angle variation based in a determined X & Y axis amplitude. Simply said moves a UIElement accordingly to how is it turning towards the mouse using the other effect.
Also you can use it to dynamically adjust the position of an element regarding another object angle, so please if you happen to think of another effect this behavior can be applied, let me know..
It has been designed to be used together with Project3DToMouse, behavior that can be located here: http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Project3DToMouse
The configuration is easy, and very similar to Project3DToMouse:
The only thing we add here is the amplitude for the X & Y, named AmplitudeSlideX and AmplitudeSlideY
This is good for faking reflections and flares, which you can look how it does look like at http://www.brainsiders.com/playground/slide3dtomouse/default.html.
You can also check how this and other effects look used together here: http://www.bcndev.net
And you can get this behavior here: http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Slide3DToMouse
As for credits, the original idea of adjusting the position regarding the object’s angle to emulate a light effect is from my friend Edu Couchez, which by the way is a pretty good designer – hopefully he will get a blog soon – do you hear me, Edu? – and hopefully (again) you will see some work from him in short…
Hope you like this one and, in short will publish some more 3D Behaviors, based on Interaction Design Patterns I have thought for 3D. By now you have seen three of them .
To mention that I am pretty open to hear your suggestions on new interactions you might think of .
Happy coding !
MouseOver3D – a 3D Silverlight Interaction Design Pattern June 12, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, Silverlight.add a comment
MouseOver3D
A Design Interaction Pattern for 3D Interaction – In this case the effect provided is a 3D Mouse MouseOver that will make the object with the behavior attached to increase or decrease its Z axis if the mouse is over or outside it.
When the mouse is over, it will raise.
When the mouse goes out, it will lower down…
The configuration is easy:
The usual on a TargetedTriggerAction behavior, a general hover offset which indicates how much it will adjust over the Z axis to provide the hover effect and then two configurable animations, for when it goes up and when it goes down.
For having a funny test, I’ve added some logos of my user group inside a WrapPanel and – of course – an attached FluidMoveBehavior just because I love this new functionality and going to what matters here, one MouseOver3D behavior to each logo. i have toyed a bit with each one, so when you execute you can see the effect there, various Z offsets, 80, 120 and more.. and also I’ve applied some easings as Cubic, Bounce, Elastic… also, some of the logos have its axis a bit changed so you can see it respects their rotation and moves accordingly.
you can test it here: http://www.brainsiders.com/playground/mouseover3d/default.html
And you can get the code here: http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/MouseOver3D
Hope you like it and, in short will publish more 3D Behaviors, based on Interaction Design Patterns I have thought for 3D.
If you want to see some of them applied together, please go see http://www.bcndev.net and – I’d love to get your feedback… To note that I plan to release all of the behaviors implemented there and even some more that I still haven’t showed up there or even implemented… also I’m pretty open to hear your suggestions on new interactions you might think of .
Ah, for the curious ones, the site www.bcndev.net is the Barcelona’s user group and now it is showing off an event for next month.. so if you want to come, this event will be for updating the developers firmware for the .net Framework 4.0, visual studio 2010, EF4.0, Silverlight 4.0 and ASP.NET 4.0… the only thing is it will be in Barcelona and in Spanish 
.
Happy coding !
A new Brand Silverlight contest – Ball Watch Silverlight Contest June 8, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in Silverlight.1 comment so far
Hey, we love contests and Microsoft knows that. Oh yeah!
What could be better for Silverlight developers & designers than to sharpen their skills while learning the newest tool on the town for showing off their skills… with the goal of winning a fabulous Watch that silently says “Hey I’m a great Silverlight professional” don’t you think that would be great?
The prize watch is the following one, the Engineer Hydrocarbon TMT Watch (retail value $3,399 – wow!)
.jpg "The prize :)")
Well, Microsoft has offered the market this great contest, which you can learn more here http://expression.microsoft.com/es-es/ff714455%28en-us%29.aspx?ocid=ballwatch-ms and here: http://expression.microsoft.com/es-es/ff723792%28en-us%29.aspx.
The only think I’d like to ask is if you could open this contest overseas, I love to participate in contests and I know you respond to feedback .
So, would you kindly mind making this contest global?
Thanks from the Sunny western-European sunny Spain !!
Project3DToMouse, a mouse powered 3D projection behavior June 3, 2010
Posted by Jose Luis Latorre Millas in 3D, Silverlight.add a comment
Behaviors were a great addition for Silverlight 3 and just have become better for Silverlight 4. One of my playgrounds at home have been Projection animation experiments for providing advanced – or crazy – interactions and effects… The main thing is this is not simple to implement and it’s hard to let it be “fine tuned” by a designer or even by yourself, as who wants to recode everything if you can get a great interface for personalizing your effects without much effort?
Thus I’ve made the 3D projection to mouse behavior.
You can try it out here:
http://www.brainsiders.com/playground/Project3DToMouse/default.html
What does it do?
- It animates a the projection of a FrameworkElement on the X and Y axis in the proportion of the position of the mouse regarding another FrameworkElement, normally the main Canvas, LayoutRoot.
- It calculates the projection and applies it with certain amplitude degrees for the X and Y axis. Why not only one amplitude? because you might want your content not to turn the same degrees horizontally as it does vertically, screens aren’t squared and maybe you want a concrete effect (only horizontal, or only vertical).
- Also, it does this as an animation on a configurable time and on a configurable EasingFunction, which is good for a designer, so you can make it move smoothly or in a funny elastic way .
- I have set up a flag to decide if you want to make the orientation of the projection towards the mouse, facing it or against it.
- It also has a nice animation to go back to the starting position if the mouse gets out of the application.
Going to the code, everything is categorized and with descriptions to help it being used, adapts well to FrameworkElements that have a fixed or dynamic height and width and the storyboard is generated on the go in memory so it is not possible to step over other animation, this meaning that this behavior can be applied to more than one element in the same UserControl.
The wiring up is done on the OnAttached and OnDetaching events, the Invoke does nothing so it could be deleted.. I have used the TargetedTriggerAction because I need the pick up the behavior from a control that takes the whole screen and apply the projection effect to another control, preferably smaller to appreciate the effect. It would be good if we could deactivate the “invoke” so that designers would not get confused.. just my 5 cents..
On how to use it, this is easy, copy the Project2Mouse.cs file to your project and that’s it. At least it is easy for a developer, for a designer it would be cool if we could configure a behaviors folder and leave there all the behaviors encapsulated as “dll”, so Blend would load and show up the behaviors blend has, the ones on the project and the ones at the folder… then it would add references as needed at the project.
Other thing I am finding difficult is that the current Behaviors interface is good for having 10 to 20 Behaviors, it turns difficult to locate quickly a behavior. It would be good if they could be categorized or tagged (author, description, category and tags (1 .. n would be great).
To get it, it is published at the Microsoft Expression Behaviors Gallery, here: http://gallery.expression.microsoft.com/en-us/Project3DToMouse
I am thinking on publishing some other interaction behaviors – after cleaning a bit the mess that happens when playing with different behaviors until you get the desired effect, that is..
If you happen to have an idea of an interesting behavior I’d be happy to hear it and try to implement it .
