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First WPF App

This guide builds the smallest WPF host window: type text, click send, receive the virtual-channel echo, and show channel state.

Run the Sample​

From the repository code directory:

dotnet run --project samples/Zeus.Samples.Wpf.QuickStart

The window should show Open, send PING, and display the echo.

Required Packages​

dotnet add package Zeus.Communications
dotnet add package Zeus.Presentation.Wpf

Project file:

<TargetFramework>net8.0-windows</TargetFramework>
<UseWPF>true</UseWPF>

XAML​

<Window x:Class="MyApp.MainWindow"
        xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
        xmlns:x="http://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
        Title="Zeus WPF QuickStart"
        Height="260"
        Width="520">
    <Grid Margin="16">
        <Grid.RowDefinitions>
            <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
            <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
            <RowDefinition Height="Auto" />
            <RowDefinition Height="*" />
        </Grid.RowDefinitions>
        <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
            <ColumnDefinition Width="80" />
            <ColumnDefinition Width="*" />
        </Grid.ColumnDefinitions>

        <TextBlock Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="0" Text="Send" />
        <TextBox x:Name="InputBox" Grid.Row="0" Grid.Column="1" Text="PING" />
        <Button x:Name="SendButton" Grid.Row="1" Grid.Column="1" Content="Send" Click="OnSendClick" />
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="0" Text="State" />
        <TextBlock x:Name="StateText" Grid.Row="2" Grid.Column="1" />
        <TextBlock Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="0" Text="Echo" />
        <TextBlock x:Name="EchoText" Grid.Row="3" Grid.Column="1" />
    </Grid>
</Window>

Code-Behind​

using System.Text;
using System.Windows;
using Zeus;

public partial class MainWindow : Window
{
    private readonly IChannel _meter;

    public MainWindow()
    {
        InitializeComponent();

        var attachment = this.AttachZeus(builder => builder.AddVirtualChannel("meter"));
        _meter = attachment.Host.Channels.Get("meter");
        _meter.BindState(StateText);
        _meter.BindTo(EchoText);
        _meter.BindEnabled(SendButton);
    }

    private async void OnSendClick(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
    {
        await _meter.WriteAsync(Encoding.UTF8.GetBytes(InputBox.Text));
    }
}

Why No Manual Dispatcher.Invoke​

Channel callbacks may come from IO threads. WPF controls must be updated on the Dispatcher thread. BindTo, BindState, and BindEnabled wrap that Dispatcher handoff.

If you prefer data binding, use:

DataContext = _meter.AsBindingSource(this);

Common binding-source properties include LastText, LastHex, StateText, and ReceivedCount.

Next: WPF Adapter or Serial Port.