Windows manager like mesh.com - c#

I would like to create a basic webdesktop in silverlight 4.
How can I do a windows manager ?
I want to move, resize, minimized, maximized each windows like http://mesh.com...
Does it exist something to create easily a windows manager ?
Do I have to create everything from scratch ?
How ?

Creating a desktop-like environment inside of Silverlight is definitely possible (there are examples out there) but it is not something that is included in the framework. You will need to build each of these features yourself or use a third party library.
You might want to look at projects such as the C64 emulator
Are you looking to do something similar to this Vectorlight sample?
Also, take a look at this blog post about simulating a windows desktop in Silverlight.

Related

How to allow a C# UWP app manage another UWP app?

I want to do some things, which I feel are very simple, but I cannot do. I have looked at numerous websites and StackOverflow questions. One question has helped me a bit by pointing me in the right direction, but I feel I need more than just that.
Here is what I want to do (basically):
I would like to make a UWP app that can be managed by another app.
By "managed" I mean:
Should be able to install the app.
Should be able to uninstall the app.
Should be able to check for updates and update the app.
It should also be able to launch the app.
Optional requirements:
While launching the app, I would like to have it set the page of a panel to a certain page. Also fine with it clicking on the navbar and change the panel's page
This would be an example of my app would be like (the one with the panel/nav): Question
I would also like an installer (something like a .exe file or .msi file) for the installing app. Not the .appinstaller that visual studio 19 produces. Something like Inno Setup produces.
Is any of this possible?
If so, please give me some sample code/instructions/links. I would be very thankful for any advice/points in the right direction as well!
If not, please suggest what other language/framework I should use to accomplish these tasks (Is "tasks" the right word?). I don't mind learning anything and have unlimited time. Don't care about the learning curve either. (If I need C++, I will do it. ONLY IF I NEED IT!!!)
Thanks all!
P.S. I know about WPF or WinForms. I don't want to use them because of their age.
As the Rob Caplan said, PackManager class doesn’t support uwp app, it is suitable for desktop app. So maybe you need to create a wpf app and use Desktop bridge to package it into uwp app so that you could use this api. In addition, you could find the sample here about installing appx package, its parent directory Windows-classic-samples/Samples/ also contains other samples you need, such as PackageManagerRemovePackage, etc, please check it.

Make ToolBar look like Windows Vista/7 instead of classic

I want to make my application look more like a native app than a .NET app and I use .NET because of Visual Designer and C#.
I've seen some native apps using a toolbar that looks very similar to Vista/7 menus.
Check out the example:
Some native apps like Notepad++, Codeblocks, etc. uses the same Vista/7 style for toolbars. How can I do the same in C#? I know P/Invoke, so, I need to know the methods to be used or an example.
I don't use ToolBarStrip, I use ToolBar because of the nativeness. What P/Invoke can I use for make the Toolbar look like the above image (Vista/7 look)?
EDIT: Based on this question, I need to do the same in P/Invoke instead of Win32.
Notepad++ uses both versions of the native toolbar controls in its source code. I'd assume it chooses between the two based on the Windows version. You already tried the .NET wrapper for the legacy one (ToolBar class) so that's probably not the one you like.
The other one is the more recent Rebar control, also known as "Coolbar". Beware that its look-and-feel depends on the Windows version so don't go off the (dated) screenshots in the linked MSDN article. There is no official .NET wrapper for it, but programmers has written some. There is a Codeproject.com project that proposes one, I don't normally recommend any such projects but you sound quite capable of getting the bugs out.
I see that the windows vista toolbar has fade settings applied which is easier to do with brushes in Xaml.
However here is a downloadable theme in codeproject that you can reference on how it is done there.
https://www.codeproject.com/Articles/18858/Fully-themed-Windows-Vista-Controls

Windows.UI.Popups.ContentDialog Class for Windows?

I'm making a universal Windows app that uses the Windows.UI.Popups.ContentDialog class in the Windows Phone section. What I need is that class for Windows (it is only supported in Windows Phone). I can't seem to find anything about it, so I was wondering if any of you did.
Thanks!
I'm sure there's plenty of information available about this, see this and this.
There is no equivalent control available for Windows. You'll have to implement it yourself. You can use a Flyout.

Desktop Metro applications

I wonder how to create Zune-like apps (I mean Metro style). But I don't want them to be Windows Store apps (I have already installed Windows 8 platform with VS2012). Could you tell me if I should download some style pack or something like that? Maybe there are some libraries implementing Metro? If yes, plese make me know which one is the best.
Thanks in advance.
There is a Theme for WPF called Cosmopolitan that emulates the Metro style. Now it just gives you the flattened look on the controls for free. You're on your own with Layout, Animations, and Navigation.
Consider WPF UI framweork for building apps like zune
http://mahapps.com/MahApps.Metro/
Due to naming issues (read: MS didn't want to get sued and apparently couldn't properly trademark the word Metro, go figure) there is no such thing as Metro anymore.
That style was renamed to be "Windows Store". So I'm not 100% certain of what it is you are asking for.
Also, contrary to the name and potentially misleading marketing speak on their site, a Windows Store App does not have to be published and sold through the Windows Store.
You might read this for some "clarification":
http://www.zdnet.com/microsoft-finally-comes-cleaner-on-post-metro-naming-plans-7000004151/

Building C#/.NET Apps that Use Windows 7 TaskBar Features

The new Windows 7 taskbar features, like jump lists, previews, etc. are really cool, and I want to allow my C# applications to use them. I have two questions:
First of all, how can I use these functions (in general)? I found two articles by Microsoft about this, but I'm not really sure what to do. Could you provide links to a library, as well as some sample code?
Next, let's say that I figure out how to use these Taskbar functions. My question is, is there some built-in way of checking whether the OS is Windows 7, and thus enabling the taskbar functions? If I didn't have this logic in my app, would it have problems if it was run on a non-Win7 machine?
Thanks!
In the first article you link to there is a sample library that you can download that makes use of the new Windows 7 features.
This article shows how to check the version of Windows your application is running on.
As always, if you call an API that isn't in existence, then yes, your app will experience some turbulence. Remember, it's (almost) always better to check for a condition and act accordingly once (as in application startup) than to try something over and over in code and catch exceptions.
Windows API Code Pack for .NET Framework is your one stop shop for a ton of .NET API for Windows programming, including Taskbar. This library gives you a complete API set to work with Windows 7 Taskbar and then some. It also includes samples for WPF, and Winform.
Another good source for Windows 7 content is the Windows Team Blog

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