This is a migrated thread and some comments may be shown as answers.

How to implement multi-step wizard sequence of transitions

2 Answers 144 Views
PhoneApplicationFrame
This is a migrated thread and some comments may be shown as answers.
This question is locked. New answers and comments are not allowed.
Carl
Top achievements
Rank 1
Carl asked on 09 May 2011, 06:10 PM
I am just starting a Windows Phone 7 project with Telerik controls, and I'm looking for guidance on how to implement a multi-step wizard sequence for collecting data from the user.

I've found the following discussions:

http://www.telerik.com/community/forums/silverlight/general-discussions/request-for-wizard-control.aspx

http://www.telerik.com/community/forums/windows-phone/phoneapplicationframe/page-specific-transitions.aspx

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/4786439/best-way-to-implement-a-wizard-style-ui-in-wp7

Before I make any decisions about how to approach my new project, I was hoping to get some guidance from Telerik on best practices for moving the user data that is collected from each step of the wizard across the multiple steps of the wizard so that on the last step the all of the collected data can be saved and processed at an online web service. If there's a sample demo project using the Telerik Windows controls for this kind of scenario, that would be really great!

Thanks!

2 Answers, 1 is accepted

Sort by
0
Deyan
Telerik team
answered on 11 May 2011, 08:35 AM
Hi Carl,

Thanks for contacting us and for your questions.

One of the best ways to store data for further usage in your WP7 application is to use the MVVM pattern. That said, a wizard control could consist of a series of pages that access the same data store (your view model) and store the information in it. In this way you will have access to the collected information at any time and will be able to decide which direction the wizard would take from a given point based on the provided data.

Currently, we do not have any code samples that target a wizard scenario since, in general, it would include scenarios that are already available as demos on our website such as page navigation, information persistence etc. You can take a look at the source code of our TODO Lists app contains many common WP7 app development scenarios and is really helpful to get started developing your own app:

Telerik TODO Lists

Since I believe you could make use of our application frame to add animated transitions to your wizard, you might find useful reading these help articles which describe how to utilize this component:

RadPhoneApplicationFrame

We would also like to receive some further information on why have you decided to use a wizard approach in your app? We think that this scenario is a bit uncommon for the general user experience patterns for Windows Phone 7 and might be good to consider taking another direction like designing a simpler Settings page where the user information can be provided.

I hope this helps.

Do not hesitate to get back to us in case you have further questions or need assistance.

Greetings,
Deyan
the Telerik team
Let us know about your Windows Phone 7 application built with RadControls and we will help you promote it. Learn more>>
0
Carl
Top achievements
Rank 1
answered on 11 May 2011, 04:47 PM
There are strong arguments AGAINST using navigation between multiple pages as an approach to implementing a wizard, such as the argument presented in the stackoverflow article cited in my first post. Similar arguments against this approach can be found in some of the Windows Phone 7 books that have been published. 

In any event, it appears that at present Telerik does NOT have a control for conveniently implementing a wizard on a single page. So I will be implementing my own custom control(s) most likely using some kind of storyboard navigation with some manner of visual state manager....
Tags
PhoneApplicationFrame
Asked by
Carl
Top achievements
Rank 1
Answers by
Deyan
Telerik team
Carl
Top achievements
Rank 1
Share this question
or