When using the GetFiles() C# method, we often have the problem of the search ending the moment it reaches a locked file or folder. Here we workaround that by writing our own recursive search method which is able to skip locked files and folders. /// <summary> /// Process a valid file, add it to the list of filepaths /// </summary> /// <param name="path"></param> private...

We’ll go through some solutions to the problem of building a single instance application in WPF, like Firefox. This means running your application again will not create a new instance but instead just pass any arguments to the current instance.   WPF – Writing a Single Instance Application By default, it comes up with two main items in the solution – "Window1.xaml" (which...

Are you having problems trying to keep multiple copies of folders on different computers updated? Drag and drop a folder onto the left box. Alternatively, click on the box and browse for the folder using the explorer. Drag another folder and drop it on the right box. Click on the Sync! button which appears! http://code.google.com/p/nsync/ nsync is a free, open source software that performs synchronization...

3 New Controls 3 much needed controls that if you’re a Windows Forms user, you’d be wondering why WPF didn’t already have these. Long awaited DataGrid control (if you’re in 3.5 SP1 check out WPFToolkit as an alternative) Calender control DatePicker Control Visual State Manager Another new feature supporting the WPF-Silverlight continuum is the VisualStateManager, which...

WPF provides a powerful foundation for amazing animation effects (hopefully GPU accelerated). Here’s part 2 of my roundup on a few easily done effects you can add to your project. In this part we take a look at some powerful transition libraries.   Fluid Kit Fluid Kit contains a transition container that enables rich transitions between views. The transitions themselves are pluggable...

WPF provides a powerful foundation for amazing animation effects (hopefully GPU accelerated). Here’s part 1 of my roundup on a few easily done effects you can add to your project. Fade, Wipe, Slide … they’re all here! Slide/Wipe transition for your Windows in WPF Ever wanted to slide or wipe in your windows in WPF? Ever wanted that powerpoint wipe transition effect for your windows? Here’s...

Ever wanted to slide or wipe in your windows in WPF? Ever wanted that powerpoint wipe transition effect for your windows? Here’s how to do it in WPF and in XAML. First of all set an opacity mask for your window: <Window.OpacityMask> <LinearGradientBrush StartPoint="1,0" EndPoint="0,0"> <GradientStop Offset="0" Color="Black" x:Name="BlackStop"/> ...

If you ever tried to add a animated GIF to your image control in WPF, you’d be disappointed to find that it doesn’t play and merely shows the first in your image sequence. Here’s a combined list of ways and work arounds for this problem.   Here’s the best solution I found, a working animated gif control (host): Written by Greg E. Wilson on Pragmatic TSQL Programmer. http://www.solidrockstable.com/blogs/PragmaticTSQL/Lists/Posts/Post.aspx?ID=37 The...

Ever needed information on the different versions of Microsoft .NET that are installed on a machine. Both programmers and end users would find it useful to know what versions of the .NET framework is on their computers so they know which software can be run. Here’s a useful tool from ASoft to do so. .NET Version Detector 2010 Download: http://www.asoft.be/prod_netver.html [ASoft] ASoft .NET Version...

WPF, the Windows Presentation Foundation, comes with the excellent functionality of having animation built in to the framework. What better and easier animation that looks cool but doesn’t take much to do then the fade in and fade out of your forms. Its a set and forget animation as it just plays with the opactiy of you form. Here we’ll see how to use the storyboards to create the fade effects....