How do I see the WPF Designer?
I'm just getting started with WPF and I'm trying to view the WPF Designer. I know this is a pretty basic question, but how do you view the designer? I'm using Visual Studio 2005, and I just downloaded the Visual Studio 2005 extensions for .Net Framework 3.0 (WCF & WPF), November 2006 CTP (athttp://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=f54f5537-cc86-4bf5-ae44-f5a1e805680d&DisplayLang=en). I made sure all the required software was installed prior to installing the extensions. I even did a repair of the Visual Studio extensions installation. Maybe I just don't know where to look for the WPF designer?
Thanks,
Christine
Hi Christine,
If everything is set up correctly, try this:
File, New, Project
Under Visual Basic or Visual C# click the NET Framework 3.0 node
Under Templates click Windows Application (WPF)
Once you create a new WPF windows application, it should open in the designer automatically.
If I've misunderstood your scenario, please let me know!
Thank you,
Nicole Johanson
Hi Nicole,
I followed your instructions, but instead of opening up the designer automatically, Visual Studio 2005 opened up the Window1.xaml page by default (and Window1.xaml.cs behind it). I then right-clicked on Window1.xaml in the Solution Explorer and saw the options "View Designer" and "View Code". I clicked on "View Designer", but nothing happened. When I right-clicked on Window1.xaml again, the "View Designer" option was no longer there. I then tried creating a new project and right-clicked on Window1.xaml of the new project, but "View Designer" still didn't come back. I then restarted Visual Studio 2005, created a new WPF application project, and right-clicked on Window1.xaml, and this time I saw the "View Designer" option once more, but (again) clicking on had no effect. Any help you can provide is welcome!
Thanks,
Christine
Hi Christine,
I highly recommend you give Visual Studio 2008 beta 2 a try instead. (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/aa700831.aspx) The WPF Designer has improved by leaps and bounds over what was available in the VS 2005 extensions. (we forked the code over a year ago)
One final thought about your current install - do you only see the XAML view? At the bottom of the XAML view, do you see XAML and Design tabs? On first load, the designer will load up in split view where you can see both the XAML and the designer but you may be in XAML view only. Try checking the tabs below the code window. Otherwise, it sounds like your install failed.
