courses I tutorials

Explore different tutorials to get hands on with Silverlight and Expression Blend across a wide array of topics in a short time.

Windows Phone Series

These tutorials feature Flash XML Graphic Files supported by Expression Blend and how to create, import/export, and edit these.

Creating and Importing a FXG File into Expression Blend
Editing and Updating a FXG file in Expression Blend
Exporting a FXG File From Adobe Fireworks

FXG Import and Workflow

FXG is an acronym for Flash XML Graphics File, and it describes an XML-based graphics interchange format created by Adobe for the Flash Platform, and is supported by Microsoft Expression Blend. The FXG format supports graphical objects, symbols, raster effects, and fonts. This feature is a huge benefit to anyone creating projects, including Windows Phone, from Expression Blend. Follow along with this tutorial by downloading the FXG_Import_Assets folder.

Creating and Importing a FXG File into Expression Blend

There are several benefits that you can take advantage of when using FXG files, one of which is that the FXG format supports features that are important to designers, such as gradients, type and some effects. Another even more important reason is a simplified workflow. Using FXG files designers can make changes to the artwork in the Adobe application that the artwork was created in, and have those changes apply to their imported content in Blend. This is because the FXG workflow enables you to import symbols as linked user controls. When changes are saved to the FXG file, Blend rebuilds the project automatically and the updated symbols are propagated to the associated user controls.

What's covered in this video:

Creating a Symbol in Adobe Illustrator
Saving a file as FXG from Adobe Illustrator
Adding the FXG file to Expression blend
Using the FXG artwork and changing properties in Expression Blend

Editing and Updating a FXG file in Expression Blend

Now the artwork has been added to the project, but someone along the way has decided that it needs to be changed. Whatever the change may be, it can easily be updated by re-importing the FXG file back into Expression Blend.

What's covered in this video:

Editing a FXG file in Adobe Illustrator
Expanding a symbol in Adobe Illustrator
Replacing a symbol in Adobe Illustrator
Re-importing a FXG file into Expression Blend

In this video you have discovered that you can gain support for many graphic features, including the opportunity to update artwork instances throughout your application quickly and efficiently.

Exporting a FXG File From Adobe Fireworks

Not only can you save a FXG file from Adobe Illustrator, but you can also export your artwork from Adobe Fireworks as well. The process is similar to what you followed in Adobe Illustrator, but instead of saving your file, you will choose to export it.

What's covered in this video:

Creating a symbol in Adobe Fireworks
Exporting Fireworks artwork as a FXG file
Adding the FXG file into Expression Blend

Conclusion

In this tutorial, you have discovered that by using the Add FXG feature in Expression Blend that you can gain support for many graphic features that are available in Adobe Illustrator and Fireworks. In addition to that benefit, you also gain the opportunity to update instances of your artwork instantly throughout your project quickly.