Hello.

I've just updated the comment tagging styles. Hopefully, they improve the look and feel of the comments section. Read More

Thanks to Scott Rafer for the comment! I'm experimenting with providing topic search results rather than keyword searches to offer broader perspectives on a topic. RSS feeds are there because I like staying up-to-date, sort of like a personalized PubSub. I'm open to change though, so I'll experiment with adding color-coded boxes at the bottom of each post linking to Technorati tags, Feedster, and MSN Search results, all related to the post's topic to avoid tag spam. Read More

I explored the idea of C# 3.0 XML Generics based on Matt War's blog post. I'm questioning the practicality of defining a generic from an XML Schema within the code itself, as it seems redundant compared to simply creating a class. However, the concept becomes more intriguing if the generic type could be derived from a streamed XML schema, offering dynamic type creation possibilities. Read More

I'm trying to increase readership for my blog. I'm adding links to Technorati Tag RSS feeds at the end of each post, hoping it'll connect readers with others interested in similar topics. Read More

This short, humorous post suggests the seriousness of the topic of C# Generics 3.0 despite its light-hearted tone. It hints at a deeper dive into the topic, perhaps planned for the future, while acknowledging its complexity and importance. Read More

I'm exploring the concept of generics in C# 3.0, particularly how they might relate to XML types. I'm having trouble grasping the connection described in MattWar's blog, which suggests generics and XML are fundamentally linked. While I understand how generics allow parameterized specialization of classes (like a list of ints, longs, or custom objects), the example of XML generics like "Foo<int x="...">" confuses me. Is it parameterization, an attribute, element constraint, or class conversion? I don't see the advantage over generating classes from XSDs. I'm curious about how XML generics might be tied to schemas for constraining parameter values and eager to learn more about this potentially paradigm-shifting concept. Read More

I've been discussing how to load styles and new UI designs into an Avalon application, specifically focusing on the challenge of connecting the UI to the code-behind class when loading XAML at runtime. While the XAML loader can parse properties, it doesn't automatically handle event delegate generation and element naming like compiled code/BAML. One idea is to have UI designers create BAML, allowing the app to load new compiled XAML and use the same code-behind class. Another approach involves designing multiple layouts sharing the same code-behind class. I'm also exploring loading a XAML file with resources at runtime and assigning them dynamically. More to come on my findings! Read More

I found a way to dynamically load resource files for skinning XAML apps! It's surprisingly easy. One method involves simply loading a resource and assigning it to the application. Another example demonstrates loading "Style" resources at runtime, allowing for dynamic visual trees and other customizations. Check out the links for more details and code examples. Read More

I'm exploring ways to dynamically change the layout and styles of my Avalon application at runtime, allowing users to switch between different UI themes. I'm considering several approaches:

1. Stylesheets: Can styles be stored externally and loaded dynamically? I've looked at DynamicResource but I'm unsure if it supports loading XAML from external files.
2. Dynamic XAML Loading: Can I reload the XAML used by a window at runtime using LoadComponent? The _contentLoaded flag suggests this might not be possible.
3. Restart on Style Change: A simpler but less desirable option is to require the application to restart when the user changes the UI style.
4. Localization Analogy: Could the localization framework be adapted for loading different XAML files? I'm unsure if there's a connection between Resource Files and XAML resources.

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DoubleAnimation crashes in XAMLPad (May CTP) when animating Width or Height without specifying both "From" and "To" values, or when a base value isn't set. This is because the animation infers these values from the base value, which may not be available until layout execution. Setting the Width or Height on the element or in a style usually resolves the issue. However, I encountered a case where animating a MenuItem's width failed even after attempting to set a default width through a style. A suggested solution involved explicitly setting the width on the element, as the animation infers the 'To' value from the base value, which needs to be available for a smooth transition. I then tried setting a default Width on the MenuItem Style and the crash still occurs in XAMLPad. My next step is to test this in a WinFX application. Read More

I just completed all the questions on Start.com, and they gave me a link to their new beta site: http://www.start.com/myw3b/. It's supposed to be an all-in-one platform for RSS, search, info, and more. I'm really excited about this and the new Google services – they're making websites so much more interactive! Read More

I've found answers to my XAML menu throbbing questions! Using RoutedEvents in ControlTemplates (and DataTemplates!) lets me start and stop timelines for animations. I can place these triggers inside styles, and it turns out TargetName isn't always required. A cool discovery: storyboards inside ControlTemplates/DataTemplates can be accessed by any control matching the style's TargetType. My wobbly menu example demonstrates these techniques. Read More

I've encountered a crash in XAMLPad (May CTP) when animating the width of a MenuItem. Specifically, if I remove the "From" attribute in a DoubleAnimation within a SetterTimeline, XAMLPad crashes. I expected the animation to start from the MenuItem's default width. Is this the correct way to use DoubleAnimation without specifying "From"? The crash occurs in a specific context: the Timeline is defined within a Style applied to a HeaderTemplate's DataTemplate element for a custom-drawn control. See the linked XAML for a complete example. Read More

I had this cool idea to add some throbbing action to my GelButton menu items in XAML. I wanted them to subtly pulse when hovered over. Turns out, it's harder than I thought! I've learned some limitations in XAML (May CTP): you can't start/stop storyboards from triggers, apply a single animation to all controls of a type, and TargetID is deprecated in favor of TargetName. Points 1 & 2 are especially problematic as they blur the lines between UI and application logic. I'm going to look for workarounds and see if others have solutions. Might even post my (probably wrong) ideas on how things should work. Read More

I've been experimenting with the Microsoft Avalon CTP (Community Technology Preview) Framework and wanted to share a simple XAML menu example. This example demonstrates how to create a custom style for menu items to make them look like GelButtons. Initially, I tried using a ControlTemplate but later realized a HeaderTemplate within the style was the correct approach. The XAML code provided creates a menu with styled menu items, showcasing how to customize the appearance and behavior of menu items in Avalon. Read More

A quick follow-up to my last post about the XAML menu example: It no longer uses the Animated Gel Button animation, and the GelButton code modification I mentioned actually came from a different page on the same site I linked previously. Read More

During the development of a custom IHttpModule, it's important to be aware of the timing of context access. Avoid accessing HttpContext properties directly within the Init method, as the context isn't fully initialized yet. Instead, handle events like BeginRequest. Within those event handlers, the HttpContext object provided will be fully populated, allowing access to properties such as HttpMethod, QueryString, and Form. Read More

I've been pondering an ASP.Net security concern: while it blocks potentially harmful querystring characters by default, turning this off puts the onus of validation on developers. I'm exploring the idea of a declarative approach to query parameter validation, where developers define predicates (like data types) for expected parameters within the Page Class definition itself. This could simplify validation and ensure data is HTML-safe before reaching the developer. This would streamline validation compared to using custom validators. I'm considering the benefits and implementation details of such an approach. Read More

I've updated my fish-eye effect code with added comments. The effect is based on Jason Waltman's work, which in turn references a paper by Devernay and Faugeras on correcting distorted images. The paper details a method for determining distortion and converting images to a standard pinhole camera model. My code produces the desired fish-eye effect, and I've provided the C# source code for download. While I haven't fully delved into the paper, it seems to offer more in-depth analysis of image distortion correction. Read More

It appears I'm unable to update my old account. Consequently, I'll be maintaining my presence here. Read More