Are we expected to hand code XAML Layouts

[Guest]

Hi,

Im just getting into the beutifull world of .NET framework 3.0. But im a
little confused about the sample codes i have seen so far. Im particularly
interested in document layout and auto flows in WPF. It seems MS expects us
to use XAML to layout our documents, which does not seem productive to me.
Can Blend handle this? If so can i use it to edit my news articles extract
the corresponding XAML codes, save codes to a database and load my document
or news reader with articles from my database. Hope that wasnt confusing.

 

[Laurent Bugnion [MVP]]

Hi,

Hi,

Im just getting into the beutifull world of .NET framework 3.0. But im a
little confused about the sample codes i have seen so far. Im particularly
interested in document layout and auto flows in WPF. It seems MS expects us
to use XAML to layout our documents, which does not seem productive to me.
Can Blend handle this? If so can i use it to edit my news articles extract
the corresponding XAML codes, save codes to a database and load my document
or news reader with articles from my database. Hope that wasnt confusing.

I expect people to deal with XAML just like they deal with HTML now in
ASP.NET: Some will use tools, some will hand code it. Handcoding it is
actually quite nice with the XML editor in VS2005 and a good
Intellisense support, it's my personal preferate but I am very anal when
it comes to my code, I like total control over it. Others (especially
designers, I think) will most definitely use tools and will rarely touch
the XAML.

For the moment, both major tools able to produce XAML code (Expression
Blend and Visual Studio's next generation Cider) are in CTP only, so not
finished yet. But they will be released soon.

HTH,
Laurent