The Media Center Sandbox

Hi all,

Does Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer (MEID) output MCML? If not, will it? Is Microsoft planning an MCML WSIWYG editor?

I haven't installed and tried MEID, does the .NET 3.0 framework interfere with 2.0? In other words, is it OK to install MEID on a Vista build that I'm aslo developing an MCE add-in using MCML? Does MEID even install on Vista?

Thanks for any info.

Hi -

Expression Interactive Designer does not output MCML - only XAML - which can then be used for creating XBAP Applications (and will also export VS Project/Code). However,  for MCML - you might find that EID is useful for prototyping/storyboarding your screens and animations (and the layout concepts and markup are similar so you can possibly even convert it afterwards).

Also - both .NET Framework 2.0 + 3.0 is already preinstalled on your Vista Machine - so installing EID will not install any additional .NET Framework components (and hence won't interfere with anything in .NET v2.0 or cause system instability)

Niall

I am not familiar with EID. Can you provide some web sites where I can get more information?

zakspeed

EID = Expression Interactive Designer = Microsoft Expression Interactive Designer = MEID

(Its all the same program - sorry for the confusion)   8-)

I've been writing MCML code for about a month now and quite frankly its getting very frustrating doing anything complex. XAML has so many useful tools that allow developers to create really cool apps, what does MCML have? Its too frustrating coding UI in a glorified notepad (visual studio) with no WYSIWYG editor. I just dont know how you expect new users to adopt MCML like this. What tools are there that I as an MCML developer can leverage?

sincerely,

- Tired of notepad programming while XBAP gets all the tools :-(

Hi Soultaker,

I can empathize with your frustration. I will admit, creating apps using MCML is not for the faint of heart. Frankly, it's not designed for folks who prefer working with visual design tools such as the Expression apps for the .NET Framework 3.0 (aka Avalon / Windows Presentation Foundation). The Windows Media Center team has made a concious decision to focus on the fundamentals of the UI rendering and MCML itself rather than create a design tool. Personally, this creates frustration for me as well (like you, I'm used to using visual design tools, like Illustrator and Photoshop) -- but it's the right thing for us to do.

Also, we have been pretty clear from the beginning we were not publishing WYSIWYG design tools for MCML  -- so hopefully you aren't surprised there aren't any. At the same time we have worked with the .NET Framework 3.0 team to put into place some modicum of support for XAML apps for use within Windows Media Center so you can leverage their great WYSIWYG tools.

Are there tradeoffs by choosing one or the other? Sure. Check out the 'Choosing a Technology' section of the SDK where we enumerate many of those (including design tools).

So, we hear and note your frustration, and hope you will stay the course with us -- your feedback is valuable.