All posts by rfustino

Russ Fustino is a Microsoft MVP and CEO of Fustino Brothers, Inc (FBI) and is a highly experienced software evangelist. He has developed and published Windows Store, Windows Phone, Xamarin iOS, and Android apps. He is a former Developer Evangelist for Microsoft, Xamarin, ComponentOne, OutSystems and Raygun. FBI Tull apps are endorsed by Jethro Tull. Russ has a passion for software development and tools through conveying technology via live seminars, webcasts, blogs, photos and internet video productions. Russ is a Microsoft Most Valuable Professional (MVP) in Windows Platform and an INETA Lifetime Achievement Award winner for helping educate, entertain and enlighten over 1 million programmers. Russ co-heads up an INETA group: Mobile Application Developers Tampa (MADTampa - www.madtampa.com ). Check out Russ’ blog at www.russtoolshed.net/blog and follow @RussFustino
Android, Azure, iOS, Uncategorized, UWP, Xamarin Forms

Azure and Xamarin Forms book published!

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I am officially a published book author! “Azure and Xamarin Forms” is now available on Amazon as an Apress publication for both the kindle and printed versions or PDF at the Apress site.

When someone asks you if you know a good book to recommend on getting with Xamarin Forms or getting started with Azure for Devs or using them both together, I would be most appreciative on considering a recommendation. To my knowledge it is the only book available like it combining these two technologies in one place. I have received some great feedback so far and am very excited about this book helping devs. Special tanks to my technical reviewer:

Sunny Mukherjee :   https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunnymukherjee/

Here are the links:

Amazon -

https://www.amazon.com/Azure-Xamarin-Forms-Platform-Development-ebook/dp/B07DS9RH87

Or directly thru Apress for the EPub and PDF versions

https://www.apress.com/us/book/9781484235607#otherversion=9781484235614

Happy coding!

 

.NET, UWP, Xamarin Forms

Deploying a SQLite database file with a Xamarin.Forms app–(UWP update)

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Say you have a SQLite DB you want to deploy with your Xamarin Forms app. Here is an excellent article on how to do this from Rob Gibbens of Xamarin University fame…

http://arteksoftware.com/deploying-a-database-file-with-a-xamarin-forms-app/

The article has wp8 but it uses Application.GetResourceStream and that is only for Windows phone, and the code below I have updated for UWP. Also, in November the UWP team posted some great sample code where I found the answer at: https://github.com/Microsoft/Windows-universal-samples/tree/master/Samples/FileAccess

So, just replace the WP8 code in the blog article with this code below and you will all set. The iOS and Android code works fine in the blog.

var storageFile = IsolatedStorageFile.GetUserStoreForApplication();

if (!storageFile.FileExists(dbPath))

{
// copy storage file; replace if exists.
var fileToRead = await Windows.Storage.StorageFile.GetFileFromApplicationUriAsync(new Uri(“ms-appx:///people.db3″, UriKind.Absolute));

Windows.Storage.StorageFolder storageFolder =

Windows.Storage.ApplicationData.Current.LocalFolder;

StorageFile fileCopy = await fileToRead.CopyAsync(storageFolder, “people.db3″, NameCollisionOption.ReplaceExisting);

}

.NET, app studio, Fustino Brothers, Russ ToolShed Network, russtoolshed

Importing a CSV Into a Windows App Studio data Collection

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Steps to import a CSV to App Studio:

Step 1:  Add column headers and data types manually in the IDE

Step 2:  Use same column headers in Excel

Step 3:  For image fields, in your spreadsheet, use URL or fully qualified local file path and file name

Step 4:  Use VB Macro to export with semi colons and put double quotes around all fields. See code below.

Here is some handy code to use in an Excel Macro when importing a CSV file into App Studio collection. This saved me a ton of work!

Public Sub OutputQuotedCSV()
Const DELIMITER As String = ";"
Const QSTR As String = """"
        Dim myRecord As Range
        Dim myField As Range
        Dim nFileNum As Long
        Dim sOut As String

        nFileNum = FreeFile
        Open "File1.txt" For Output As #nFileNum
        For Each myRecord In Range("A1:A" & _
                    Range("A" & Rows.Count).End(xlUp).Row)
            With myRecord
                For Each myField In Range(.Cells(1), _
                            Cells(.Row, 256).End(xlToLeft))
                    sOut = sOut & DELIMITER & QSTR & _
                        Replace(myField.Text, QSTR, QSTR & QSTR) & QSTR
                Next myField
                Print #nFileNum, Mid(sOut, 2)
                sOut = Empty
            End With
        Next myRecord
        Close #nFileNum
    End Sub
.NET, app studio, community, Fustino Brothers, InBusinessLinks, Jethro Tull, MAD Tampa, Russ ToolShed Network, russtoolshed, tull app, Windows 10

Channel 9 Video – Windows App Studio UWP from No Code to Code

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Join MVP Russ Fustino and all of the Fustino Brothers in this live studio audience session recorded recently at the Tampa Code Camp. They present a deep dive into Microsoft Windows App Studio. It is a hot off the metal session.

https://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Russ-ToolShed/Windows-App-Studio-UWP-from-No-Code-to-Code

Building universal Windows apps with no code using Microsoft App Studio. It’s all about creating quality apps quickly using templates. The enhanced App Studio (now for Windows 10) gives you a great start. Use the new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) – one binary, one project for phone and tablet. Employ new the pivot control API’s for YouTube and Flickr integration. Deploy ads easier. And wrap-up a responsive website in an app.

We uncovered the new enhancements that the June 2016 release and their recent experience in building the Ani DiFranco LivingMuseum app with data collections, graphic requirements and team testing. We show the new REST API Data source.

Finally, we take a deep dive into the incredible code that the Windows App Studio team created for all us. App Studio is even open source: https://github.com/wasteam/waslibs. Russ shared tips on how to use the Command Bar, crash reporting, master/detail pages, Search, Caching, Ads and all with the generated code. Questions addressed:

  • When importing a CSV for my data in a collection, how do I upload it without getting numerous errors?
  • Is there an Excel macro/Add-in I can use to help this process, so I have the ability to keep commas in the field data, use semi colons as a delimiter and double quotes around all of the field data items?
  • What is the maximum number of items in a collection? Is there a work around?
  • How do I assign actions on a detail page of a collection item?
  • How do I take advantage of Hero images on each page and what sizes are needed? Where do I load the background of the app?
  • Where do I set the splash screen vs the logos for the app?
  • What are the size limitations?
  • Is there an easy way to install the app for reviewers and team members?
  • How do we integrate the UWP Command Bar to execute one set of event handlers for the app?
  • How do we integrate the latest crash reporting from Microsoft called Hockey App?
  • How do master/detail page relationships work in App Studio code?
  • You want a Navigation bar in your app? And search?
  • You want to write an app that functions completely in Airplane mode, once it is cached is created? If you are a UWP coder, you won’t want to miss this caching topic.
  • “IT’S HUGE”, like one of the local car dealers says on his radio and TV ads! We will also show you how to setup the Ad Client using App Studio and look at the generated XAML!

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE CODE TO GET IN THE SHED! KNOW THE CODE.

.NET, community, Fustino Brothers, Russ ToolShed Network, russtoolshed, Tampa Dev

Joe Darko Keynote from Tampa Code camp on Channel 9!

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It was my please to record the keynote at the recent Tampa Code Camp 2016. Joe Darko, Southeast Program Manager Evangelist provides insight on what developer community is all about. Joe, is the MVP lead for all of the Southeast states with a few hundred MVP’s in his geography. It was great to see Joe come out to support his MVPs at the event and introduce himself to his new community. I am very excited to have Joe Darko as my MVP Lead!

Also, see Greg Leonardo go over updates for TampaDev which is now a non-profit organization! Great job to Greg and Kate Leonardo for pulling off yet another great Tampa Code Camp via TampaDev!

Photos from the Tampa Code Camp 2016 are posted here on Facebook

IMG_2047

Like Russ ToolShed network on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/RussToolShedNetwork/

 

Greg and Kate

Channel 9 – Russ’ ToolShed

https://channel9.msdn.com/Series/Russ-ToolShed/Microsofts-Joe-Darko-delivers-Keynote-on-dev-community–Tampa-Code-Camp

.NET, app studio, Fustino Brothers, MAD Tampa, Tampa Dev, Visual Studio, Windows 10

App Studio Webcasts now posted to Channel 9!

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I am very excited to announce the return of Russ’ ToolShed at my new MVP channel on MSDN’s Channel9 at https://channel9.msdn.com/Niners/russtoolshed/

Here is a great 3 part series you can lick your chops on for the latest release of Windows App Studio.

RussToolShedNetwork3b

Part 1 – App Studio Building Universal Windows Apps with No Code

It’s all about creating quality apps quickly using templates. The enhanced App Studio (now for Windows 10) gives you a great start. Use the new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) – one binary, one project for phone and tablet. Employ new the pivot control API’s for YouTube and Flickr integration. Deploy ads easier. And wrap-up a responsive website in an app. These features for app development including “T!PS” for business were discussed and demonstrated during this webinar. See all of the Fustino Brothers Webcasts at: http://www.inbusinessseo.net/tps-blog

 

Part 2 – App Studio Data, Graphics, REST Services, Updates

Join MVP Russ Fustino and all of the Fustino Brothers in this webcast for the Mobile App Dev Tampa (MAD Tampa) as they present to you this hot off the metal session on a deep dive into Microsoft Windows App Studio. FBI-Apps covered the new enhancements that the June 2016 release brings to building Universal Windows apps that run on the Phone and Tablet/Desktop. They focused on their recent experience in building the Ani DiFranco LivingMuseum app with data collections, graphic requirements and team testing.
Questions addressed:

  • When importing a CSV for my data in a collection, how do I upload it without getting numerous errors?
  • Is there an Excel macro/Add-in I can use to help this process, so I have the ability to keep commas in the field data, use semi colons as a delimiter and double quotes around all of the field data items?
  • What is the maximum number of items in a collection? Is there a work around?
  • How do I assign actions on a detail page of a collection item?
  • How do I take advantage of Hero images on each page and what sizes are needed? Where do I load the background of the app?
  • Where do I set the splash screen vs the logos for the app?
  • What are the size limitations?
  • Is there an easy way to install the app for reviewers and team members?

App Studio – Part 3 Know the Code

Join Microsoft MVP Russ Fustino, brothers Rich and Gary.  FBI Apps, is proud to resurrect “Russ’ ToolShed”!

 

FBI Apps takes a deep dive into the incredible code that the Windows App Studio team created for all us. You know App Studio is even open source… go to: https://github.com/wasteam/waslibs. Russ shared tips on how to use the Command Bar, crash reporting, master/detail pages, Search, Caching, Ads and all with the generated code.

Windows App Studio Questions Answered:

  1. How do we integrate the UWP Command Bar to execute one set of event handlers for the app?
  2. How do we integrate the latest crash reporting from Microsoft called Hockey App?
  3. How do master/detail page relationships work in App Studio code?
  4. You want a Navigation bar in your app? And search?
  5. You want to write an app that functions completely in Airplane mode, once it is cached is created? If you are a UWP coder, you won’t want to miss this caching topic.
  6. “IT’S HUGE”, like one of the local car dealers says on his radio and TV ads! We will also show you how to setup the Ad Client using App Studio and look at the generated XAML!

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE CODE TO GET IN THE SHED!
KNOW THE CODE.

.NET, app studio, Fustino Brothers, MAD Tampa, russtoolshed, Tampa Dev, Visual Studio

Know the code, inside App Studio Webcast today!

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When
Monday, July 11, 2016 from 12:00 PM to 12:45 PM (EDT) – Add to Calendar
Where
IBLN-FBI / MAD Tampa Free Webinar – Online, Webinar Only

register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/webinar-part-3-top-10-reasons-to-know-the-code-inside-windows-app-studio-tickets-26478368513

Join Microsoft MVP Russ Fustino and his two brothers, Rich and Gary. Our company, FBI Apps, is proud to resurrect “Russ’ ToolShed”!!! On what topic, you might ask?  CODE!  Let’s take a deep dive into the incredible code the Windows App Studio team creates for us to use. App Studio is even open source. (https://github.com/wasteam/waslibs). We will show how to use a Command Bar, crash reporting, master / detail pages, Search, Caching and Ads in App Studio and then dive into the generated code.

Join this webcast and get answers to these questions:

1. How do I integrate the UWP Command Bar to execute one set of event handlers for the app?

2. How do I integrate the latest crash reporting from Microsoft called Hockey App?

3. How do master/detail page relationships work in App Studio code?

4. You want a Navigation bar in your app? And search?

5. You want to write an app that functions completely in Airplane mode, once it is cached is created? If you are a UWP coder, you won’t want to miss this caching topic.

6. “IT’S HUGE”, like one of the local car dealers says on his radio and TV ads! We will also show you how to setup the Ad Client using App Studio and look at the generated XAML!

Be there or be talked about. Why wouldn’t you start a UWP App, by generating your template with App Studio? Share your experiences with App Studio in this meet up!

YOU HAVE TO KNOW THE CODE TO GET IN THE SHED! KNOW THE CODE.

“T!PS” for business, and apps development. Reserve your virtual seat today.

Live Online Screen Meeting Instructions:
1. On Your Computer- It’s Recommended to Use a Headset.
- Join-In 3-5 minutes before meeting
- Over the Internet, with your computer / laptop / tablet at -this link: https://www.startmeeting.com/wall/679-256-129
- If you don’t already have the “Start Meeting” free software  – A dialog box will come up and ask permission to download, please click/tap Yes.
- The system will guide you through the process to participate in the online meeting.
- Click/Tap “Join”, complete your name and email address, then click/tap “Submit”.
- First, the “Fustino Brothers, Inc.” dashboard with show on screen.  – Test your speaker/mike. If headset doesn’t work, or if connection is lost try “Rejoin”.
- Click/Tap on the green microphone symbol. When the symbol turns red you are live.
- Introduce yourself.

Or, Conference Call Instructions to Join-In: 
1. For the Phone Take Your Call in a Quite Location-
- Join-In using a land line / mobile phone (no computer needed for this option).  – Dial (530) 881-1212(530) 881-1212 when prompted enter access code followed by the “pound” key.
- 679-256-129# (be sure to include the “#” symbol).
- Meeting time approximately 45 mins. Meeting may be recorded.

.NET, app studio, MAD Tampa, Russ ToolShed Network, Tampa Dev, Visual Studio, Windows 10

June’s Free MAD Tampa Webcast: Part 2 Windows App Studio: Data, Graphics & Installation

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Lots of new stuff announced in June 2016  release of Microsoft App Studio including consuming REST services and new load/list management for long lists. Good stuff!

Date: June 20, 2016
Start Time: 11:30 AM
Interactive Webinar

RSVP at: https://madtampafbiappsjune202016.eventbrite.com

Join MVP Russ Fustino, Gary and Rich of the Fustino Brothers in our next webcast for the Mobile App Dev Tampa (MAD Tampa) User Group as we bring you this hot off the metal session on a deep dive into Microsoft Windows App Studio. We will also cover the new enhancements that the June 2016 release brings in building Universal Windows apps that run on the Phone and Tablet/Desktop. These new features include, consuming REST services, enhanced list loading, increased size of your YouTube Playlists as well as collections and more! We will focus on our recent experience in building the Ani DiFranco LivingMuseum app with focus on data collections, graphic requirements and team testing. Join this session to learn answers to these questions…

  • When importing a CSV for my data in a collection, how do I upload it without getting numerous errors?
  • Is there an Excel macro/Add-in I can use to help this process, so I have the ability to keep commas in the field data, use semi colons as a delimiter and double quotes around all of the field data items?
  • What is the maximum number of items in a collection? Is there a work around?
  • How do I assign actions on a detail page of a collection item?
  • How do I take advantage of Hero images on each page and what sizes are needed?
  • Where do I load the background of the app?
  • Where do I set the splash screen vs the logos for the app?
  • What are the size limitations?
  • Is there an easy way to install the app for reviewers and team members?
  • Register today and reserve your virtual seat.
.NET, MAD Tampa, Tampa Dev, Xamarin

MAD Tampa Xamarin University Spring Fling set for This Saturday 5/21!

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The Mobile Application Developer Tampa user group is sponsoring a Xamarin spring fling beach BBQ!!!! This is a worldwide Xamarin event and we will have Xamarin and Syncfusion Swag for this Greater Tampa area fling. Limited seating, so sign up now!

Rain or shine, we have an incredible event shaping up for this weekend on Saturday 5/21 in the greater Tampa area! This event should be fun and is a great way to meet Xamarin developers in your local area. All folks who have registered are invited to join the Xamarin Slack Team using http://xamarinspringfling.slack.com/ We hope to see everyone active on Slack, May 21. Don’t forget to take pictures to share! Take a bunch and tweet away with #XamarinUSpringFling

When
Saturday, May 21, 2016 from 3:00 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT) – Add to Calendar
Where
Robert K Rees Memorial Park – 4835 Green Key Road, New Port Richey, FL 34652 – View Map

Register for this event which is on 5/21 at 3pm at: http://madtampaxamarinspringfling.eventbrite.com

It’s been a long time since we had a geek BBQ! No PowerPoint’sPowerPoints or projectors on the beach, we use White Boards and flip charts for beach meetings. Battery power only for laptops.  We might have a Brighthouse signal there. I will check that, but count on no internet. We will have the big hut with the huge grill, so this event is on rain or shine. It’s a county park so this is $2 parking with incredible sunsets. There is a playground for kids. Walking trail lookout over the Gulf where you can see houses on stilts in the water. No bottles on beach. See park rules and general info here for Green Key beach.

Event starts at 3PM (eat at 5) and runs until sunset, which should be about 8:30 . Everyone needs to bring a side dish to share as well as your own beverages and we have sponsors to buy all the grill meats, charcoal, paper plates and red plastic cups. The optional after party will be at the Reef in Downtown New Port Richey, 5-minute drive away on Main St and Grand Ave in New Port Richey, FL.

IT WILL BE A BLAST! We will be on the blog page of Xamarin for sure with the photos we all take.

See great info on this PowerPoint presentation about  Xamarin University !

Special Thanks to our Sponsors:

Syncfusion

Syncfusion Logo_300dpiwhite

Xamarin

xamagonwhite

.NET, app studio, Fustino Brothers, MAD Tampa, Visual Studio, Windows 10

Webinar: Building Universal Windows Apps with No Code in Microsoft App Studio

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When: Monday 5/9/16 at Noon to 12:30 PM EST

Where: Online using Start Meeting (details below)

Registration link:

http://www.meetup.com/InBusinessLinksNetwork-FustinoBrothersInc/events/229812621/

Join Microsoft MVP Russ Fustino and the Fustino Brothers in Building universal Windows apps with no code using Microsoft App Studio. It’s all about creating quality apps quickly using templates. The enhanced App Studio (now for Windows 10) gives up great start. Use the new Universal Windows Platform (UWP) – one binary, one project for phone and tablet. Employ new the pivot control API’s for YouTube and Flickr integration. Deploy ads easier. And wrap-up a responsive website in an app. These features for app development including “T!PS” for business will be discussed and demonstrated during the webinar. Register today and reserve your virtual seat.

WP_20141021_012

Live Online Screen Meeting Instructions:
1. On Your Computer- It’s Recommended to Use a Headset.
- Join-In 3-5 minutes before meeting
- Over the Internet, with your computer / laptop / tablet at -this link: https://www.startmeeting.com/wall/679-256-129
- If you don’t already have the “Start Meeting” free software – A dialog box will come up and ask permission to download, please click/tap Yes.
- The system will guide you through the process to participate in the online meeting.
- Click/Tap “Join”, complete your name and email address, then click/tap “Submit”.
- First, the “Fustino Brothers, Inc.” dashboard with show on screen. – Test your speaker/mike. If headset doesn’t work, or if connection is lost try “Rejoin”.
- Click/Tap on the green microphone symbol. When the symbol turns red you are live.
- Introduce yourself.

Or, Conference Call Instructions to Join-In:
1. For the Phone Take Your Call in a Quite Location-
- Join-In using a land line / mobile phone (no computer needed for this option). – Dial (530) 881-1212(530) 881-1212 when prompted enter access code followed by the “pound” key.
- 679-256-129# (be sure to include the “#” symbol).
- Meeting time approximately 45 mins. Meeting may be recorded.