2. The Windows API Code Pack
Kate Gregory
Session Code: DEV309

3. Windows 7 Builds on Windows Vista
Few Changes: Most software that runs on Windows Vista® will run on Windows® 7 – exceptions will be low-level code (AV, Firewall, Imaging, etc.).
Hardware that runs Windows Vista well will run Windows 7 well.
Few Changes: Focus on quality and reliability improvements
Deep Changes: New models for security, drivers, deployment, and networking

4. Improved Fundamentals
Decrease
Increase
Memory Reference set, Graphics
Disk I/O Registry Reads, Indexer
Power DVD Playback, Panel, Timers
Speed Faster Boot, Device Ready
Responsiveness Start menu, Taskbar
Scale 256 cores

5. Building A Great Windows 7 Application
Differentiate
Multitouch
Windows Ribbon
Sensors
Optimize
Windows Taskbar
Libraries
Fundamentals
Get Compatible
Version Checking
User Account Control
Removed Components

6. What is Code Pack? Managed class library to access to Win 7 features
Windows Shell namespace
Windows Vista and Windows 7 Task Dialogs.
Support for Shell property system
Taskbar Jumplists, Icon Overlay and Progress bar
Common file dialogs
Direct3D 11.0 and DXGI 1.0/1.1 APIs
Sensor Platform APIs
Extended Linguistic Services APIs

7. A few highlights from Code Pack
All today’s demos are from the samples that ship with it
All are shipped in both VB and C#
Samples are designed as a source of code for you
But you would hardcode so much more
Run the apps to experiment and see what you like

8. I’m going to show you Taskbar Jumplists Taskbar Overlays
Taskbar Thumbnail Buttons
Restart and Recovery
Power Management

9. The New Windows 7 Taskbar
Evolution of launch surfaces
Clean, sleek, elegant design
Enhances user productivity, making switching between windows much easier
What users do most they can reach quickest
Information is always present

10. Windows 7 Taskbar – Jump Lists
Mini Start Menu for your program
Access to key destinations and tasks
Customizable

11. Windows 7 Taskbar – Jump Lists
Pinned category
Destinations
(“nouns”)
Known categories
Custom categories
User Tasks
Tasks
(“verbs”)
Taskbar Tasks

12. demo
Taskbar - Jumplists

13. Windows 7 Taskbar – Icons
Face of your program
Large and small icons
Only customer can pin
Color hot-track
Icon Overlay
Best place for notifications
Appears over your program’s large icon
Progress bar
Best place for updates on progress
Appears on your taskbar button

14. demo
Taskbar - Overlays

15. Windows 7 Taskbar – Thumbnails
Remote-control for a window
For vital commands
Accessible from taskbar thumbnail
Up to seven buttons

16. Taskbar – Thumbnail Buttons and Clipping
demo
Taskbar – Thumbnail Buttons and Clipping

17. Restart and Recovery Register for Recovery Register for Restart
Chance to save your information on another thread
OS calls your code for you
Register for Restart
OS will run your app again (with a hint) after it dies

18. demo
Restart and Recovery

19. Power Management Is the machine running on battery?
What can your application do to extend battery life?
Autosave less frequently
Autosave before critical battery reached
Scale back the user experience
Graphics richness
Reduce the frequency of data updates
Stop spinning the CD for sound effects access
Reduce CPU work loads
Number of threads, thread priorities
Use hardware (not software) rendering for graphics
Turn off or constrain background processing
Defer unnecessary tasks

20. demo
Power Management

21. Code Pack Gets managed developers working on Windows 7 NOW
WPF or Winforms
C# or VB
Not the only way to get there
Some of this is coming in WPF (.NET 4)
You could do your own interop – but why?
Others have written other wrappers
Documentation and samples
Discussions on Code Gallery
If you need to change or redistribute, you can

22. question & answer

23. Resources Required Slide Speakers, www.microsoft.com/teched
TechEd 2009 is not producing
a DVD. Please announce that
attendees can access session
recordings at TechEd Online.
Resources
Sessions On-Demand & Community
Microsoft Certification & Training Resources
Resources for IT Professionals
Resources for Developers

24. Complete an evaluation on CommNet and enter to win an Xbox 360 Elite!

25. Required Slide
© 2009 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Microsoft, Windows, Windows Vista and other product names are or may be registered trademarks and/or trademarks in the U.S. and/or other countries.
The information herein is for informational purposes only and represents the current view of Microsoft Corporation as of the date of this presentation. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information provided after the date of this presentation. MICROSOFT MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY, AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS PRESENTATION.