Working With Text Formatting in Windows Store App

Introduction

In this section we will describe text formatting. This example describes how to work with text in your application. Specifically, this example explains the Text selection, Modifying a selection, Text prediction, Linked text containers Modifying line heights. In Windows 8 we have to learn Metro Style applications and working with different samples. So, here we will present a sample example in which explains the different text features in this application with the help of this example.

So, we have to follow these steps as given below.

Step 1 : First of all you have to create a new Metro Style Application; let us see the description with images of how you will create it.

  • Open Visual Studio 2011
  • File -> New -> Project
  • Choose Template -> Visual C# -> Windows Metro Style -> Application
  • Rename this Application
home.gif

Step 2 : In the Solution Explorer there are two files that we will primarily work with; MainPage.xaml and MainPage.xaml.cs files. In the images folder add any image to the application.

solutionexplorer.gif

Step 3 :  The MainPage.xaml file is as below with the following code.

Code :  Let us see the code which is given below.
 
    <Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Background="LightCyan">
        <!--App Orientation States-->
        <VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups>
            <VisualStateGroup x:Name="OrientationStates">
                <VisualState x:Name="Full"/>
                <VisualState x:Name="Fill">
                    <Storyboard>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.Margin)" Storyboard.TargetName="ContentRoot">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Thickness>35,20,35,20</Thickness>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(StackPanel.Orientation)" Storyboard.TargetName="InputPanel">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Orientation>Horizontal</Orientation>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.MaxWidth)" Storyboard.TargetName="Description">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="700">
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                    </Storyboard>
                </VisualState>
                <VisualState x:Name="Portrait">
                    <Storyboard>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.Margin)" Storyboard.TargetName="ContentRoot">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Thickness>40,20,40,20</Thickness>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.MaxWidth)" Storyboard.TargetName="Description">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="700">
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                    </Storyboard>
                </VisualState>
                <VisualState x:Name="Snapped">
                    <Storyboard>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.Margin)" Storyboard.TargetName="ContentRoot">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Thickness>20,20,20,20</Thickness>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(StackPanel.Orientation)" Storyboard.TargetName="InputPanel">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Orientation>Vertical</Orientation>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.MaxWidth)" Storyboard.TargetName="Description">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0" Value="250">
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                        <ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames Storyboard.TargetProperty="(FrameworkElement.Margin)" Storyboard.TargetName="LegalPanel">
                            <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame KeyTime="0">
                                <DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                                    <Thickness>0,0,10,0</Thickness>
                                </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame.Value>
                            </DiscreteObjectKeyFrame>
                        </ObjectAnimationUsingKeyFrames>
                    </Storyboard>
                </VisualState>
            </VisualStateGroup>
       
</VisualStateManager.VisualStateGroups> 
       
<Grid x:Name="ContentRoot" Background="LightCoral" Margin="100,20,100,20">
            <Grid.RowDefinitions>
                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
                <RowDefinition Height="*"/>
                <RowDefinition Height="Auto"/>
            </Grid.RowDefinitions>
          <!-- Content -->
            <ScrollViewer VerticalScrollBarVisibility="Auto" HorizontalScrollBarVisibility="Auto" Grid.Row="1" ZoomMode="Disabled">
                <StackPanel x:Name="ContentPanel">
                    <StackPanel x:Name="InputPanel" Orientation="Horizontal" HorizontalAlignment="Left">
                        <StackPanel>
                            <TextBlock Text="Select Options" FontSize="28" Foreground="DarkGoldenrod" Style="{StaticResource H3Style}"/>
                            <ListBox x:Name="ScenarioList" Margin="0,0,20,0" HorizontalAlignment="Left" Background="LemonChiffon">
                                <ListBox.ItemTemplate>
                                    <DataTemplate>
                                        <TextBlock Text="{Binding Name}"/>
                                    </DataTemplate>
                                </ListBox.ItemTemplate>
                                <ListBoxItem x:Name="Scenario1">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource ListBoxTextStyle}" Text="1. Text selection" />
                                </ListBoxItem>
                                <ListBoxItem x:Name="Scenario2">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource ListBoxTextStyle}" Text="2. Modifying selection" />
                                </ListBoxItem>
                                <ListBoxItem x:Name="Scenario3">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource ListBoxTextStyle}" Text="3. Text prediction" />
                                </ListBoxItem>
                                <ListBoxItem x:Name="Scenario4">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource ListBoxTextStyle}" Text="4. Linked text containers" />
                                </ListBoxItem>
                                <ListBoxItem x:Name="Scenario5">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource ListBoxTextStyle}" Text="5. Line height" />
                                </ListBoxItem>
                            </ListBox>
                        </StackPanel>
                        <StackPanel Margin="0,31,0,0" >
                            <TextBlock Text="Details" FontSize="20" Foreground="DarkBlue" Style="{StaticResource H3Style}"/>
                            <StackPanel x:Name="Description" MaxWidth="800">
                                <!-- Scenario 1 -->
                                <StackPanel x:Name="Scenario1Input">
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap"
                                               Text
="Text selection is optimized for touch in Windows 8.Gestures for selection creation, manipulation, and commanding (such as cut, copy, and paste) are all touch centric." />
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,20,0,0">
                                        <Run FontWeight="Bold" Text="Readonly text" />
                                        <Run Text=" (in this example TextBlock)" />
                                    </TextBlock>
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap"
                                                     Text
="Tap on a word to select it. On each end of the selection, grippers appear, which you can drag to change the selection." />
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap"
                                              Text
="Static text controls have default context menus with actions like Copy. To view a context menu, press and hold your finger, then lift on selected text or on a selection gripper." />
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap" Margin="0,20,0,0">
                                        <Run FontWeight="Bold" Text="Editable text" />
                                        <Run Text=" (in this example TextBox)" />
                                    </TextBlock>
                                    <TextBlock Style="{StaticResource DescriptionTextStyle}" TextWrapping="Wrap"
                                                     Text
="Tap near the end of a word to place the caret witha selection gripper at that location,
                                                               which you can thendrag to create a selection. Try invoking the context menu in editable text to see additional actions such as Paste." />
</
StackPanel>

Step 4 : In this step you will see the code for the MainPage.Xaml.cs file.

Code :

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using Windows.Foundation;
using Windows.Graphics.Display;
using Windows.System;
using Windows.UI.Xaml;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Controls;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Data;
using Windows.UI.Xaml.Media;
namespace Text
{
   
partial class MainPage
    {
       
public MainPage()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
           ScenarioList.SelectionChanged +=
new SelectionChangedEventHandler(ScenarioList_SelectionChanged);
            
// Starting scenario is the first or based upon a previous selection
            ListBoxItem startingScenario = null;
           
if (SuspensionManager.SessionState.ContainsKey("SelectedScenario"))
            {
                
String selectedScenarioName = SuspensionManager.SessionState["SelectedScenario"] as string;
                startingScenario =
this.FindName(selectedScenarioName) as ListBoxItem;
            }
           ScenarioList.SelectedItem = startingScenario !=
null ? startingScenario : Scenario1;
           Scenario1Init();
           Scenario2Init();
           Scenario3Init();
           Scenario4Init();
           Scenario5Init(); 
            Windows.UI.ViewManagement.
ApplicationLayout.GetForCurrentView().LayoutChanged += new
           
TypedEventHandler<Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayout, Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayoutChangedEventArgs>(MainPage_LayoutChanged);
           
DisplayProperties.OrientationChanged += new DisplayPropertiesEventHandler(DisplayProperties_OrientationChanged);
       }
        
void DisplayProperties_OrientationChanged(object sender)
        {
           
if (DisplayProperties.CurrentOrientation == DisplayOrientations.Portrait || DisplayProperties.CurrentOrientation == DisplayOrientations.PortraitFlipped)
            {
               
VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "Portrait", false);
            }
        }
       
void MainPage_LayoutChanged(Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayout sender, Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayoutChangedEventArgs args)
        {
           
switch (args.Layout)
            {
               
case Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayoutState.Filled:
                    
VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "Fill", false);
                   
break;
               
case Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayoutState.FullScreen:
                   
VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "Full", false);
                   
break;
               
case Windows.UI.ViewManagement.ApplicationLayoutState.Snapped:
                   
VisualStateManager.GoToState(this, "Snapped", false);
                   
break;
               
default:
                   
break;
            }
        }
       #region Scenario Specific Code
        
void Scenario1Init()
        {
        }
       
void Scenario1Reset()
        {
        }
        
void Scenario2Init()
        {
        }
       
void Scenario2Reset()
        {
       }
        
void Scenario3Init()
        {
 
        }
       
void Scenario3Reset()
        {
 
        }
        
void Scenario4Init()
        {
        }
       
void Scenario4Reset()
        {
        }
        
void Scenario5Init()
        {
        }
        
void Scenario5Reset()
        {
        }
        #endregion
        void ScenarioList_SelectionChanged(object sender, SelectionChangedEventArgs e)
        {
            ResetAll();
           
if (ScenarioList.SelectedItem == Scenario1)
            {
                Scenario1Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
                Scenario1Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
            }
           
else if (ScenarioList.SelectedItem == Scenario2)
            {
                Scenario2Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
                Scenario2Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
            }
           
else if (ScenarioList.SelectedItem == Scenario3)
            {
                Scenario3Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
                Scenario3Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
            }           
           
else if (ScenarioList.SelectedItem == Scenario4)
            {
                Scenario4Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
                Scenario4Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
            }
           
else if (ScenarioList.SelectedItem == Scenario5)
            {
                Scenario5Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
                Scenario5Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Visible;
            }
        }
       
public void ResetAll()
        {
            Scenario1Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario1Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario1Reset();
            Scenario2Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario2Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario2Reset();
            Scenario3Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario3Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario3Reset();
            Scenario4Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario4Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario4Reset();
            Scenario5Input.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario5Output.Visibility =
Visibility.Collapsed;
            Scenario5Reset();
        }
       
void SetSelectionButtonClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
           
String emptyString = "";
           
if (selectionInputTextBox.Text != emptyString)
            {
                selectionTextBox.SelectedText = selectionInputTextBox.Text;
            }
        }
       
void Footer_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
        {
           
Launcher.LaunchDefaultProgram(new Uri(((HyperlinkButton)sender).Tag.ToString()));
        }
    }
}

Step 5 : After running this code we get the following output which is as given below. The first option is text selection as shown below.

output1.gif

The TextBlock used only for read only text and the TextBox is used for editable text.

output1.1.gif

 In the Text prediction we have to write some text in the given box. 

output3.gif

We have to write some text as given below.

output3.1.gif

The Linked text container allows text which does not fit in one element to overflow into a different element on the page:

output4.gif

We have to adjust the fontsize for the text.

output4.1.gif

In the last option, Line height, the space between lines of text is controlled by the pair of properties LineStackingStrategy and LineHeight.

output5.gif

We have to adjust the property by using the line height as seen below.

output5.1.gif


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