Developing wizard UI - WPF

Question

All in WPF:

Developing a wizard application, user has to answer a number of simple questions before brought to the main app. The main app is then prefilled with the information obtained from the wizard.

I started with a Window which I then planned to add usercontrols to. The main window would have the user control in the first row, then Next and Previous buttons to control moving between the controls in the second row. This way I could easily control the logic to switch between screens like:

WizardControl1.IsVisible = false;
WizardControl2.IsVisible = true;

But for some reason, user controls do not have setter for IsVisible. Hurray.

So then I thought I would just use seperate windows for each section of the wizard. The problem with this approach is that now when stepping between, the window opens in random positions, and by steppign through the wizard with next, the next window pops up randomly which is really distracting and frustrating.

So how can I develop a wizard properly? I don't get why this is so hard...not exactly rocket science... replacing text and controls and storing input after pressing next/previous!

Thanks

Answer 1

I'd probably aproach this using data binding and template selectors. Have the wizard form bind to a "WizardData" class, which exposes a list of "WizardPage" base classes.

The WizardData class can expose properties defining the correct info on the forms, and display a control for the main page that uses a template selector to determine the proper control to display based on the actual type of the particular wizard page.

It sounds like more work than it is, really. It also gives you the benefit of good separation between code and UI (all "work" is done by the WizardData and WizardPage classes), and the ability to test logic independent of the UI.

It's also a very WPF/MVVM way of approaching the problem.

Answer 2

Check this link: http://www.codeproject.com/KB/WPF/InternationalizedWizard.aspx This is the article about building wizard in WPF by Josh Smith, it's seems to be nice pattern. I found it's helpful for me, hope you'll too.

Answer 3

There is also an open source Avalon Wizard control on codeplex.

Answer 4

I recognize this does not directly address your question, but I thought I'd mention it as a possible alternative. I've used Actipro's Wizard control with pretty good results, and when I have needed support, they have been very responsive. I am not affiliated with them in any way; I just like not having to write the plumbing to manage a wizard.

Answer 5

1. The property is called "Visibility".
2. I find that I do better when I dynamically add and removing controls rather than hide them.

Answer 6

I was looking for a Wizard solution too. I have the need to stick with stock WPF components so I implemented the wizard using a standard form and a tab control.

I only hide the tabs at runtime so there available in the IDE. At runtime just use Back, Next, Finish... to navigate thru the tab items

works good