1. Customizing XAML Skins for PowerBuilder.NET WPF Applications
DAVE FISH, ENGINEERING EVANGELIST

2. AGENDA Overview of Styles, Templates, Skins and Themes
Using Skins in PowerBuilder .NET Applications
Skins for Applications, Windows, and Controls
Skins for DataWindows
Customizing Skins

3. terminology
Styles:
A simple mechanism for separating property values from user interface elements. The foundation for templates and skins
Templates
Powerful objects used to restyle controls in WPF
Skins
Application-specific collections of styles and/or templates, typically with the ability to be replaced dynamically

4. Styles
Main function is to group together property values that could otherwise be set individually
This group of values can be shared among multiple elements
Serves a similar purpose to inheritance but can be much more powerful
Styles can be shared among different kinds of elements (button, listbox, toolbar, tab control, etc.)
Can be restricted to particular types of controls
Can contain Triggers
Property Triggers
Data Triggers
Event Triggers

5. Styles Demonstration

6. Templates Collection of Styles
WPF supports multiple types of templates
Control Templates
ItemsPanel Templates
Data Templates
Control templates are used with styles to create Skins

7. Templates Demonstration

8. Skins Not a distinct concept in WPF
Use Dynamic Resources combined with Styles and Templates to create dynamic skinning

9. Skins in PowerBuilder .NET
PowerBuilder .NET has enhanced WPF to make applying skins easy
Skins can be applied at the:
Application level (application object property)
Window level (Window property)
Control level (control property)
Skins can be applied at design time or at runtime
PowerBuilder .NET includes 5 built-in skins
You can customize these skins or create your own

10. PowerBuilder Skins Theme Skins:
Classic (Generic) (Windows 2000 Look and Feel)
Luna (Windows XP Look and Feel)
Aero (Windows Vista and Windows 7 Look and Feel)
Pre-defined Skins:
Expression Dark
Metal
Rainer Orange
Rough Green
Shiny Dark Teal

11. PowerBuilder Skins Theme Skins:
Embedded in Sybase.PowerBuilder.WPF.Controls
Pre-defined Skins:
Embedded in Sybase.PowerBuilder.WPF.Controls.Skins
If you don’t select a skin, the theme skin for your operating system will be used

12. datawindow Skins The DataWindow Control also contains a Skin property
Custom skin XAML files can be applied to the Preview Window in the DataWindow painter

13. skins Demonstration

14. Customizing Skins PowerBuilder skins can be customized
The easiest way to do this is to take an existing PowerBuilder skin and modify it
In-depth knowledge of WPF Styles and Templates helpful
PowerBuilder 12.5 will make customization easier through an IDE feature called VisualStateManager

15. Skin customization Demonstration