Expression Blend 4: SketchFlow improvements

What’s new in SketchFlow, which is now distributed as part of Expression Studio 4 Ultimate ?

In Expression Blend 4, the MockupDemonstration sample contains new mockup controls which help you create prototypes quickly and easily. Mockup controls are templates that include common web and desktop controls.  They look like sketches, but are more interactive. You can enable them for any SketchFlow project.

There is a new pause toggle button in each frame of a SketchFlow Animation. When toggled on, this causes the SketchFlowAnimation to pause at that frame when playing back in the SketchFlow Player. In the SketchFlow Player, there is a play/pause button, too.

Expression Blend has new SketchFlowAnimationTrigger which responds to a frame change or the pausing or completion of a SketchFlow animation.

You can also apply TransitionEffect to a SketchFlow animation when the transition time is greater than 0.

In the SketchFlow player you can now pan and resize the screens at runtime. A subtle border surrounds each screen that a user can click and drag to resize the screen. If the original dimensions or the resized area of the screen is larger than the viewing area, scrollbars appear.

The SketchFlow map is now accessed using the Map button, next to the Navigation tab. The map is opened as an overlay above the current screen.

When using the Export to Word feature,  a new option has been added. Now you can export feedback in the Word document.

You can read about other new features (publish to SharePoint, convert feedback to TFS work items, SketchStyles, naming screens) here.

Conditional behaviors and the data store are very useful for prototyping, too.

Below are links that I recommend for learning new SketchFlow features

• Prototyping Rich Microsoft Silverlight 4 Applications with Microsoft Expression Blend + SketchFlow [TechEd 2010]
• Introducing Blend 4 – For Silverlight, WPF and Windows Phone
• Fonts in SketchFlow
• Blend 4: Collaborative SketchFlow Feedback with SharePoint
• How to add mockup controls to your Expression Blend library
• Blend 4 to get huge SketchFlow Prototyping upgrade with new “Mockup” controls
• Announcing Sketchables – Rapid Mockup Creation with SketchFlow