Design View can not be loaded for few projects in Expression Blend 4 - is it bug?

Question

I have few projects that were build in Expression blend 1 and 3. The same project if i try to load in Blend 4, I am not able to see it in Design view, by default the XAMAL will be open.

 

We don't even have option to see it in "Design", "XAMAL" and "Split" view. Shortcut key for the same "F11" doesn't work either.

 

Can any one give any pointer what is wrong.... wouldn't I'll be able to edit my project (which were build using Expression 3 or 1) in Design view with Expression 4.

 

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

Hi,

         We are not aware of this issue, can you please share a small repro project? You can send the project directly to me at navits at microsoft dot com and
I will be happy to investigate.

--Navit Saxena

Answer 2

Hi Navit,

 

I've already sent you a repro project at your given mail id.

 

Thanks and Regards

Nishant Rana

Answer 3

Hi Nishant,

                  I investigated this issue and it looks like these projects were upgraded outside Blend 4. Blend 4 supports WPF 3.5 and WPF 4.0 projects. Your project is a WPF 3.0 project and hence we open it with limited view i.e. no design surface.

If you change the ToolsVersion to "3.5" in the csproj file and the close and re-open project in Blend, we will prompt you to upgrade the project to either WP 3.5 or WPF 4.0. Also you can use Visual Studio and changed TargetFrameworkVersion to 3.5 or 4.0 and then it should load in Blend just fine.

Hope this helps.

--Navit Saxena

Answer 4

Hi Navit,

Thanks, it works as you suggested !

I tried both ways, changing Tool version from 4.0 to 3.5 or change <TargetFrameworkVersion>v3.0</TargetFrameworkVersion> to v3.5, it loads successfully.

Appreciate they way my problem addressed !

 

Thanks and Regards

Nishant Rana