Re: Simulating modal dialog

[Stephen Price]

It is pretty cool, and nice how much you get for free. :)

We're using it to display unhandled exceptions etc, including a way to show
the full message and allow you to cut and paste it. A few dependency
properties on the usercontrol and you can collect user input and then pull
that out of the object after they have closed it. (on the closed event if
you like).

It was interesting seeing Jordans comment, I hadn't thought of it not being
MVVM. I guess the need it was fulfilling for me initially as a "MessageBox"
and a real messagebox is also not MVVM. The interaction with the usercontrol
works fine with MVVM stuff so happy to use it, I just want to get the user's
input or notify them of something important that they have to know about (ie
stops them doing anything until they acknowledge it).

cheers,
Stephen

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 9:16 AM, Greg Keogh  wrote:

>  *+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
> message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
> show/hide. *
>
>
>
> Holy sh*t! The ChildWindow class is fantastic. It dims and blocks the app
> background and it animates beautifully. I can’t believe this control
> actually works so well with little effort and that it looks so nice.
>
>
>
> It’s a shock on the eyeballs, so I will only use it judiciously in my app
> where the user’s attention is required for something important. In my case
> I’m adding a global error handler to show a “sorry for the inconvenience”
> apology when something unexpected happens.
>
>
>
> Hmmm! Error handling is a whole subject in itself eh! I’d be interested to
> hear from others on the subject if you have strong opinions or snazzy
> tricks.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> ___
> ozsilverlight mailing list
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>
>
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Re: Simulating modal dialog

[Miguel Madero]

Check out the Telerik Controls. I'm sure other 3rd party vendors have
something similar.
However, I would try other navigation paradigms and try to stay away from
MDI for most use cases.

Something I was thinking on doing, but I never got time to (or a real
requirement), was to port AvalonDock  to
Silverlight. It seems impossible, but certainly a lot of work. I already ran
into a couple of apps where we needed something similar. We used simple grid
splitters with tabs and states to show/hide panels. It worked well, but the
user wasn't able to customize their workspace. It wasn't too critical,
but certainly something nice if we would get it for free.


On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 12:06 PM, Paul Du Bois wrote:

>  We built our own windowing components and API in SL2 beta using an early
> version of the Blacklight controls (http://blacklight.codeplex.com/) as a
> base.
>
> Though we added normal windows functions like modality (using the Canvas
> blocking approach mentioned below), resize, maximise, minimise, boundary
> awareness etc.  Oh and mouse gesture functions for the geeks in our user
> base.
>
>
>
> When ChildWindow and FloatableWindow came along, we found we didn’t need to
> transition to these since we were already doing all that in SL2 J
>
>
>
> Would be nice to see a full windowing implementation ala WPF in Silverlight
> 5.
>
>
>
> When building a LOB with Silverlight, the page based approach seems a cop
> out when you can give users a familiar windows based interface that allows
> them to work in multiple screens simultaneously.
>
> Particularly given that SL OOB is now pretty decent with SL4.
>
>
>
>
>
> Paul Du Bois
>
> www.projection-group.com
>
>
>
> *From:* ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com [mailto:
> ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] *On Behalf Of *Scott Barnes
> *Sent:* Monday, 10 May 2010 11:28 AM
>
> *To:* ozSilverlight
> *Subject:* RE: Simulating modal dialog
>
>
>
> There is a catch to it, in that it has a few quirks here and there..
>
>
>
> Time Heuer has upgraded it a little via this project -
> http://floatablewindow.codeplex.com/
>
>
>
> I’ve also written some code to help folks figure out the ChildWindow’s
> location when you go to close it (at times can be useful for persisting
> windows to emulate a “hibernate” style approach to resuming a UI).
>
>
>
>
> http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2707789/how-to-know-the-position-of-the-silverlight-childwindow-when-you-close-it/2729442#2729442
>
>
>
> etc..
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com [mailto:
> ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] *On Behalf Of *Greg Keogh
> *Sent:* Monday, May 10, 2010 11:16 AM
> *To:* 'ozSilverlight'
> *Subject:* RE: Simulating modal dialog
>
>
>
> *+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
> message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
> show/hide. *
>
>
>
> Holy sh*t! The ChildWindow class is fantastic. It dims and blocks the app
> background and it animates beautifully. I can’t believe this control
> actually works so well with little effort and that it looks so nice.
>
>
>
> It’s a shock on the eyeballs, so I will only use it judiciously in my app
> where the user’s attention is required for something important. In my case
> I’m adding a global error handler to show a “sorry for the inconvenience”
> apology when something unexpected happens.
>
>
>
> Hmmm! Error handling is a whole subject in itself eh! I’d be interested to
> hear from others on the subject if you have strong opinions or snazzy
> tricks.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> ___
> ozsilverlight mailing list
> ozsilverlight@ozsilverlight.com
> http://prdlxvm0001.codify.net/mailman/listinfo/ozsilverlight
>
>


-- 
Miguel A. Madero Reyes
www.miguelmadero.com (blog)
m...@miguelmadero.com
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Re: Simulating modal dialog

[Miguel Madero]

There's a ContextMenu in the SLToolkit.

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 10:06 AM, Greg Keogh  wrote:

>  Can anyone recommend a Silverlight way of simulating the effect of a
> Windows model dialog? Or perhaps it’s not wise to attempt this at all and
> use some other UI technique.
>
>
>
> I have seen a few demos over the last year or so, including one by Stephan
> Dekker last January on the SL weekend where put a semi-transparent canvas
> over the main app window to create a dialog illusion. I think I’ve seen
> Jordan Knight do the same thing at a demo last year. I heard discussion that
> these techniques are not watertight because they’re not really modal and
> don’t block keystrokes.
>
>
>
> I’m using the Liquid controls, and they seem to contain a Dialog class. I’m
> going to take a couple of hours to play with the Liquid Dialog, but in the
> meantime I thought I’d ask about this subject in general.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> Ps. I’ve put the context menu into the too-hard-basket for now. I’ll return
> to it later when I have more hobby time, or SL4 arrives with one.
>
> ___
> ozsilverlight mailing list
> ozsilverlight@ozsilverlight.com
> http://prdlxvm0001.codify.net/mailman/listinfo/ozsilverlight
>
>


-- 
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www.miguelmadero.com (blog)
m...@miguelmadero.com
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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Paul Du Bois]

We built our own windowing components and API in SL2 beta using an early
version of the Blacklight controls (http://blacklight.codeplex.com/) as
a base.

Though we added normal windows functions like modality (using the Canvas
blocking approach mentioned below), resize, maximise, minimise, boundary
awareness etc.  Oh and mouse gesture functions for the geeks in our user
base.

 

When ChildWindow and FloatableWindow came along, we found we didn't need
to transition to these since we were already doing all that in SL2 J

 

Would be nice to see a full windowing implementation ala WPF in
Silverlight 5.

 

When building a LOB with Silverlight, the page based approach seems a
cop out when you can give users a familiar windows based interface that
allows them to work in multiple screens simultaneously.

Particularly given that SL OOB is now pretty decent with SL4.

 

 

Paul Du Bois

www.projection-group.com http://www.projection-group.com/> 

 

From: ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com
[mailto:ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] On Behalf Of Scott
Barnes
Sent: Monday, 10 May 2010 11:28 AM
To: ozSilverlight
Subject: RE: Simulating modal dialog

 

There is a catch to it, in that it has a few quirks here and there..

 

Time Heuer has upgraded it a little via this project -
http://floatablewindow.codeplex.com/

 

I've also written some code to help folks figure out the ChildWindow's
location when you go to close it (at times can be useful for persisting
windows to emulate a "hibernate" style approach to resuming a UI).

 

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2707789/how-to-know-the-position-of-t
he-silverlight-childwindow-when-you-close-it/2729442#2729442

 

etc..

 

 

From: ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com
[mailto:ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] On Behalf Of Greg Keogh
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 11:16 AM
To: 'ozSilverlight'
Subject: RE: Simulating modal dialog

 

+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
show/hide. 

 

Holy sh*t! The ChildWindow class is fantastic. It dims and blocks the
app background and it animates beautifully. I can't believe this control
actually works so well with little effort and that it looks so nice.

 

It's a shock on the eyeballs, so I will only use it judiciously in my
app where the user's attention is required for something important. In
my case I'm adding a global error handler to show a "sorry for the
inconvenience" apology when something unexpected happens.

 

Hmmm! Error handling is a whole subject in itself eh! I'd be interested
to hear from others on the subject if you have strong opinions or snazzy
tricks.

 

Cheers,

Greg

 

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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Scott Barnes]

There is a catch to it, in that it has a few quirks here and there..

Time Heuer has upgraded it a little via this project - 
http://floatablewindow.codeplex.com/

I've also written some code to help folks figure out the ChildWindow's location 
when you go to close it (at times can be useful for persisting windows to 
emulate a "hibernate" style approach to resuming a UI).

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/2707789/how-to-know-the-position-of-the-silverlight-childwindow-when-you-close-it/2729442#2729442

etc..


From: ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com 
[mailto:ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] On Behalf Of Greg Keogh
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 11:16 AM
To: 'ozSilverlight'
Subject: RE: Simulating modal dialog

+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window, 
message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated show/hide.

Holy sh*t! The ChildWindow class is fantastic. It dims and blocks the app 
background and it animates beautifully. I can't believe this control actually 
works so well with little effort and that it looks so nice.

It's a shock on the eyeballs, so I will only use it judiciously in my app where 
the user's attention is required for something important. In my case I'm adding 
a global error handler to show a "sorry for the inconvenience" apology when 
something unexpected happens.

Hmmm! Error handling is a whole subject in itself eh! I'd be interested to hear 
from others on the subject if you have strong opinions or snazzy tricks.

Cheers,
Greg

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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Greg Keogh]

+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
show/hide. 

 

Holy sh*t! The ChildWindow class is fantastic. It dims and blocks the app
background and it animates beautifully. I can't believe this control
actually works so well with little effort and that it looks so nice.

 

It's a shock on the eyeballs, so I will only use it judiciously in my app
where the user's attention is required for something important. In my case
I'm adding a global error handler to show a "sorry for the inconvenience"
apology when something unexpected happens.

 

Hmmm! Error handling is a whole subject in itself eh! I'd be interested to
hear from others on the subject if you have strong opinions or snazzy
tricks.

 

Cheers,

Greg

 

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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Scott Barnes]

Yeah it's a creeper :) .. don't worry lots of people never get around to 
finding out how deep SL goes, as often its hidden well throughout the interweb 
espec when 3rd party and beta blog posts can often confuse as to whats in the 
build vs out/external.


From: ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com 
[mailto:ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] On Behalf Of Greg Keogh
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:55 AM
To: 'ozSilverlight'
Subject: RE: Simulating modal dialog

You can get this for free via ChildWindow.Show(); The overlay should intercept 
input requests (ie shield them).

Good grief! I never noticed it. Thanks for the pointer to this class, there are 
lots of articles on it now I know where to look.

The Liquid Dialog class is quirky and I'm avoiding it for now.

Greg

[cid:image001.png@01CAF02F.DEBD7D90]
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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Greg Keogh]

You can get this for free via ChildWindow.Show(); The overlay should
intercept input requests (ie shield them).

 

Good grief! I never noticed it. Thanks for the pointer to this class, there
are lots of articles on it now I know where to look.

 

The Liquid Dialog class is quirky and I'm avoiding it for now.

 

Greg

 



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Re: Simulating modal dialog

[Jordan Knight]

I dont like it... its not very MVVM etc...

Maybe look at the Silverlight toolkit's transitioning content control
http://silverlight.codeplex.com/wikipage?title=Silverlight%20Toolkit%20Control%20Overview%20Pg4&referringTitle=Home

or,
make your own content control derivitive that has a couple of visual states
(shown and not shown) and have it go to not shown state when the content is
null and the shown state when the content is not null, then just expose a
ViewModel from your parent ViewModel and bind that as the content - then it
will just appear when you have a viewmodel exposed and dissapear when you
dont :)

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 10:41 AM, Stephen Price
wrote:

> +1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
> message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
> show/hide.
>
> On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 8:14 AM, Scott Barnes wrote:
>
>> You can get this for free via ChildWindow.Show(); The overlay should
>> intercept input requests (ie shield them).
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> *From:* ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com [mailto:
>> ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] *On Behalf Of *Greg Keogh
>> *Sent:* Monday, May 10, 2010 10:07 AM
>> *To:* 'ozSilverlight'
>> *Subject:* Simulating modal dialog
>>
>>
>>
>> Can anyone recommend a Silverlight way of simulating the effect of a
>> Windows model dialog? Or perhaps it’s not wise to attempt this at all and
>> use some other UI technique.
>>
>>
>>
>> I have seen a few demos over the last year or so, including one by Stephan
>> Dekker last January on the SL weekend where put a semi-transparent canvas
>> over the main app window to create a dialog illusion. I think I’ve seen
>> Jordan Knight do the same thing at a demo last year. I heard discussion that
>> these techniques are not watertight because they’re not really modal and
>> don’t block keystrokes.
>>
>>
>>
>> I’m using the Liquid controls, and they seem to contain a Dialog class.
>> I’m going to take a couple of hours to play with the Liquid Dialog, but in
>> the meantime I thought I’d ask about this subject in general.
>>
>>
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> Greg
>>
>>
>>
>> Ps. I’ve put the context menu into the too-hard-basket for now. I’ll
>> return to it later when I have more hobby time, or SL4 arrives with one.
>>
>> ___
>> ozsilverlight mailing list
>> ozsilverlight@ozsilverlight.com
>> http://prdlxvm0001.codify.net/mailman/listinfo/ozsilverlight
>>
>>
>
> ___
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>
>
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Re: Simulating modal dialog

[Stephen Price]

+1 ChildWindow. I'm using that for login window, change password window,
message prompts etc. It's great and even has its own funky animated
show/hide.

On Mon, May 10, 2010 at 8:14 AM, Scott Barnes wrote:

> You can get this for free via ChildWindow.Show(); The overlay should
> intercept input requests (ie shield them).
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> *From:* ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com [mailto:
> ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] *On Behalf Of *Greg Keogh
> *Sent:* Monday, May 10, 2010 10:07 AM
> *To:* 'ozSilverlight'
> *Subject:* Simulating modal dialog
>
>
>
> Can anyone recommend a Silverlight way of simulating the effect of a
> Windows model dialog? Or perhaps it’s not wise to attempt this at all and
> use some other UI technique.
>
>
>
> I have seen a few demos over the last year or so, including one by Stephan
> Dekker last January on the SL weekend where put a semi-transparent canvas
> over the main app window to create a dialog illusion. I think I’ve seen
> Jordan Knight do the same thing at a demo last year. I heard discussion that
> these techniques are not watertight because they’re not really modal and
> don’t block keystrokes.
>
>
>
> I’m using the Liquid controls, and they seem to contain a Dialog class. I’m
> going to take a couple of hours to play with the Liquid Dialog, but in the
> meantime I thought I’d ask about this subject in general.
>
>
>
> Cheers,
>
> Greg
>
>
>
> Ps. I’ve put the context menu into the too-hard-basket for now. I’ll return
> to it later when I have more hobby time, or SL4 arrives with one.
>
> ___
> ozsilverlight mailing list
> ozsilverlight@ozsilverlight.com
> http://prdlxvm0001.codify.net/mailman/listinfo/ozsilverlight
>
>
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RE: Simulating modal dialog

[Scott Barnes]

You can get this for free via ChildWindow.Show(); The overlay should intercept 
input requests (ie shield them).



From: ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com 
[mailto:ozsilverlight-boun...@ozsilverlight.com] On Behalf Of Greg Keogh
Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 10:07 AM
To: 'ozSilverlight'
Subject: Simulating modal dialog

Can anyone recommend a Silverlight way of simulating the effect of a Windows 
model dialog? Or perhaps it's not wise to attempt this at all and use some 
other UI technique.

I have seen a few demos over the last year or so, including one by Stephan 
Dekker last January on the SL weekend where put a semi-transparent canvas over 
the main app window to create a dialog illusion. I think I've seen Jordan 
Knight do the same thing at a demo last year. I heard discussion that these 
techniques are not watertight because they're not really modal and don't block 
keystrokes.

I'm using the Liquid controls, and they seem to contain a Dialog class. I'm 
going to take a couple of hours to play with the Liquid Dialog, but in the 
meantime I thought I'd ask about this subject in general.

Cheers,
Greg

Ps. I've put the context menu into the too-hard-basket for now. I'll return to 
it later when I have more hobby time, or SL4 arrives with one.
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Simulating modal dialog

[Greg Keogh]

Can anyone recommend a Silverlight way of simulating the effect of a Windows
model dialog? Or perhaps it's not wise to attempt this at all and use some
other UI technique.

 

I have seen a few demos over the last year or so, including one by Stephan
Dekker last January on the SL weekend where put a semi-transparent canvas
over the main app window to create a dialog illusion. I think I've seen
Jordan Knight do the same thing at a demo last year. I heard discussion that
these techniques are not watertight because they're not really modal and
don't block keystrokes.

 

I'm using the Liquid controls, and they seem to contain a Dialog class. I'm
going to take a couple of hours to play with the Liquid Dialog, but in the
meantime I thought I'd ask about this subject in general.

 

Cheers,

Greg

 

Ps. I've put the context menu into the too-hard-basket for now. I'll return
to it later when I have more hobby time, or SL4 arrives with one.

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