Exchanging Data between XAP files using Local Collection API in Silverlight 3
I recently came across a requirement on exchanging data between two XAPs hosted in single .NET page. In this article we will discuss one of the most important features of Silverlight 3.0 that is ‘LocalConnectionAPI’. In Silverlight 3.0, the following new classes were introduced:
· LocalMessageSender : This is the sending end of the message channel.
· LocalMessageReceiver: This is the receiving end of the messaging channel.
Using the following steps we can implement LocalConnection with Silverlight.
Step 1: Open VS2008 and create a blank solution, name it as ‘SILV3_SharingDataAcross_2_XAPS’.
Step 2: To this solution add a new Silverlight Application, name it as ‘SILV3_DataPresenter’. This action will create web host application.
Step 3: To the same solution, add a new Silverlight project, name it as ‘SILV3_DataFilter’.
Step 4: Open the MainPage.Xaml of the ’SILV3_DataFilter’ and add following XAML Code:
<Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Width="170" Height="40">
<Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<ColumnDefinition Width="70"></ColumnDefinition>
<ColumnDefinition Width="100"></ColumnDefinition>
</Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
<TextBlock Text="Enter Value" Grid.Column="0"></TextBlock>
<TextBox Grid.Column="1" Width="90" x:Name="txtData" TextChanged="txtData_TextChanged"></TextBox>
</Grid>
Step 5: In the MainPage.Xaml.cs add the following code. Add a reference to System.Windows.Messaging namespace:
C#
LocalMessageSender dataSender = new LocalMessageSender("DataToFilter");
private void txtData_TextChanged(object sender, TextChangedEventArgs e)
{
//Provides the data for messaging
EventHandler<SendCompletedEventArgs> senderHandler = null;
senderHandler =
(strData, evt) =>
{
Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() =>
{
dataSender.SendCompleted -= senderHandler;
});
};
dataSender.SendCompleted += senderHandler;
//Start Asynchronous Messag Sending
dataSender.SendAsync(txtData.Text);
}
VB.NET
Private dataSender As New LocalMessageSender("DataToFilter")
Private Sub txtData_TextChanged(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As TextChangedEventArgs)
'Provides the data for messaging
Dim senderHandler As EventHandler(Of SendCompletedEventArgs) = Nothing
senderHandler = Function(strData, evt) AnonymousMethod1(strData, evt, senderHandler)
AddHandler dataSender.SendCompleted, senderHandler
'Start Asynchronous Messag Sending
dataSender.SendAsync(txtData.Text)
End Sub
Private Function AnonymousMethod1(ByVal strData As Object, ByVal evt As Object, ByVal senderHandler As EventHandler(Of SendCompletedEventArgs)) As EventHandler
Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(Function() AnonymousMethod2(senderHandler))
End Function
Private Function AnonymousMethod2(ByVal senderHandler As EventHandler(Of SendCompletedEventArgs)) As Boolean
RemoveHandler dataSender.SendCompleted, senderHandler
Return True
End Function
The above code initiates sender channel of name ‘DataToFilter’. The TextChanged event sends data from the textbox asynchronously.
Step 6: In the ‘SILV3_DataPresenter’ project, open the MainPage.Xaml file and write the following XAML Code:
<Grid x:Name="LayoutRoot" Height="470">
<Grid.RowDefinitions>
<RowDefinition Height="30"></RowDefinition>
<RowDefinition Height="200"></RowDefinition>
</Grid.RowDefinitions>
<TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Text="The Filtered Data"></TextBlock>
<data:DataGrid x:Name="dgData" Grid.Row="1"></data:DataGrid>
</Grid>
Step 7: In the ‘SILV3_DataPresenter’ project add a new class and name it as ‘clsPatient.cs’ and add following code in it:
C#
using System;
using System.Net;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Documents;
using System.Windows.Ink;
using System.Windows.Input;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Animation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
using System.Collections.ObjectModel;
namespace SILV3_DataPresenter
{
public class clsPatient
{
public int PatientId { get; set; }
public string PatientName { get; set; }
public int Age { get; set; }
public string Dieses { get; set; }
}
public class PatientCollection : ObservableCollection<clsPatient>
{
public PatientCollection()
{
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 101, PatientName = "Anand", Age = 56, Dieses = "Maleria" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 102, PatientName = "Makran", Age = 26, Dieses = "Toiphide" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 103, PatientName = "Sanjay", Age = 46, Dieses = "Flue" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 104, PatientName = "Rajan", Age = 66, Dieses = "Cynus" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 105, PatientName = "Amey", Age = 36, Dieses = "Cold" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 106, PatientName = "Sudhir", Age = 56, Dieses = "Feaver" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 107, PatientName = "Shailesh", Age = 36, Dieses = "Maleria" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 108, PatientName = "Ajay", Age = 23, Dieses = "Cold" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 109, PatientName = "Shrad", Age = 36, Dieses = "Flue" });
Add(new clsPatient() { PatientId = 1010, PatientName = "Vinit", Age = 66, Dieses = "Maleria" });
}
}
}
VB.NET
Imports System
Imports System.Net
Imports System.Windows
Imports System.Windows.Controls
Imports System.Windows.Documents
Imports System.Windows.Ink
Imports System.Windows.Input
Imports System.Windows.Media
Imports System.Windows.Media.Animation
Imports System.Windows.Shapes
Imports System.Collections.ObjectModel
Namespace SILV3_DataPresenter
Public Class clsPatient
Private privatePatientId As Integer
Public Property PatientId() As Integer
Get
Return privatePatientId
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
privatePatientId = value
End Set
End Property
Private privatePatientName As String
Public Property PatientName() As String
Get
Return privatePatientName
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
privatePatientName = value
End Set
End Property
Private privateAge As Integer
Public Property Age() As Integer
Get
Return privateAge
End Get
Set(ByVal value As Integer)
privateAge = value
End Set
End Property
Private privateDieses As String
Public Property Dieses() As String
Get
Return privateDieses
End Get
Set(ByVal value As String)
privateDieses = value
End Set
End Property
End Class
Public Class PatientCollection
Inherits ObservableCollection(Of clsPatient)
Public Sub New()
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 101, .PatientName = "Anand", .Age = 56, .Dieses = "Maleria"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 102, .PatientName = "Makran", .Age = 26, .Dieses = "Toiphide"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 103, .PatientName = "Sanjay", .Age = 46, .Dieses = "Flue"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 104, .PatientName = "Rajan", .Age = 66, .Dieses = "Cynus"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 105, .PatientName = "Amey", .Age = 36, .Dieses = "Cold"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 106, .PatientName = "Sudhir", .Age = 56, .Dieses = "Feaver"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 107, .PatientName = "Shailesh", .Age = 36, .Dieses = "Maleria"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 108, .PatientName = "Ajay", .Age = 23, .Dieses = "Cold"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 109, .PatientName = "Shrad", .Age = 36, .Dieses = "Flue"})
Add(New clsPatient() With {.PatientId = 1010, .PatientName = "Vinit", .Age = 66, .Dieses = "Maleria"})
End Sub
End Class
End Namespace
Step 7: In the MainPage.Xaml.cs write the following code:
C#
LocalMessageReceiver dataReceiver;
private void UserControl_Loaded(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
PatientCollection patientRecord = new PatientCollection ();
dgData.ItemsSource = patientRecord;
//Attach REceiver with Sender
dataReceiver = new LocalMessageReceiver("DataToFilter");
//Now receive the MEssage
dataReceiver.MessageReceived += (strData, evt) =>
{
//Process the received data
Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(() =>
{
var filteredData = from patient in patientRecord
where patient.PatientName.StartsWith(evt.Message)
select patient;
dgData.ItemsSource = filteredData;
});
};
//Listen the Message Received, this does not block the thread
dataReceiver.Listen();
}
VB.NET
Private dataReceiver As LocalMessageReceiver
Private Sub UserControl_Loaded(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As RoutedEventArgs)
Dim patientRecord As New PatientCollection()
dgData.ItemsSource = patientRecord
'Attach REceiver with Sender
dataReceiver = New LocalMessageReceiver("DataToFilter")
'Now receive the MEssage
AddHandler dataReceiver.MessageReceived, Function(strData, evt) AnonymousMethod1(strData, evt, patientRecord)
'Listen the Message Received, this does not block the thread
dataReceiver.Listen()
End Sub
Private Function AnonymousMethod1(ByVal strData As Object, ByVal evt As Object, ByVal patientRecord As PatientCollection) As Boolean
Dispatcher.BeginInvoke(Function() AnonymousMethod2(evt, patientRecord))
Return True
End Function
Private Function AnonymousMethod2(ByVal evt As Object, ByVal patientRecord As PatientCollection) As Boolean
Dim filteredData = From patient In patientRecord _
Where patient.PatientName.StartsWith(evt.Message) _
Select patient
dgData.ItemsSource = filteredData
Return True
End Function
The above code subscribes to the channel created by sender Silverlight application and starts receiving and processing data.
Step 8: In the ASP.NET test page add both XAP files as shown below:
<object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2,"
type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="100%" style="height: 92px">
<param name="source" value="ClientBin/SILV3_DataFilter.xap"/>
<param name="onError" value="onSilverlightError" />
<param name="background" value="white" />
<param name="minRuntimeVersion" value="3.0.40624.0" />
<param name="autoUpgrade" value="true" />
<a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156&v=3.0.40624.0" style="text-decoration:none">
<img src="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=108181" alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" style="border-style:none"/>
</a>
</object>
<object data="data:application/x-silverlight-2," type="application/x-silverlight-2" width="100%" height="100%">
<param name="source" value="ClientBin/SILV3_DataPresenter.xap"/>
<param name="onError" value="onSilverlightError" />
<param name="background" value="white" />
<param name="minRuntimeVersion" value="3.0.40624.0" />
<param name="autoUpgrade" value="true" />
<a href="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=149156&v=3.0.40624.0" style="text-decoration:none">
<img src="http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=108181" alt="Get Microsoft Silverlight" style="border-style:none"/>
</a>
</object>
Step 9: Run the application and enter the filtered string into the textbox. This data will be passed through the channel to the receiver application and this application will show patient details in the datagrid of the other XAP file as below:
Start entering patient name in it and the following output will be displayed:
Conclusion: Using LocalConnection API, Silverlight 3 has provided a cool feature for sharing data across XAPs hosted on the same .aspx page.
The entire source code of this article can be downloaded over here
This article has been editorially reviewed by Suprotim Agarwal.
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Mahesh Sabnis is a DotNetCurry author and Microsoft MVP having over 17 years of experience in IT education and development. He is a Microsoft Certified Trainer (MCT) since 2005 and has conducted various Corporate Training programs for .NET Technologies (all versions). Follow him on twitter @
maheshdotnet