How to: Animate an Object Along a Path (Point Animation)
This example shows how to use a PointAnimationUsingPath object to animate a Point along a curved path.
Example
The following example moves an EllipseGeometry along a path defined by a PathGeometry. The ellipse geometry's Center property, which takes a Point value, specifies its position; to move the ellipse geometry, you animate its Center property. The example uses a PointAnimationUsingPath to animate the EllipseGeometry object's Center property.
<Page
xmlns="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation"
xmlns:x="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml"
xmlns:PresentationOptions="https://schemas.microsoft.com/winfx/2006/xaml/presentation/options"
xmlns:mc="https://schemas.openxmlformats.org/markup-compatibility/2006"
mc:Ignorable="PresentationOptions">
<Canvas Width="400" Height="400">
<Path Fill="Blue" Margin="15,15,15,15">
<Path.Data>
<!-- The EllipseGemetry specifies the shape and position of the Ellipse. The
Center property is animated, causing the Ellipse to animate across the screen-->
<EllipseGeometry x:Name="MyAnimatedEllipseGeometry"
Center="10,100" RadiusX="15" RadiusY="15" />
</Path.Data>
<Path.Triggers>
<EventTrigger RoutedEvent="Path.Loaded">
<BeginStoryboard Name="MyBeginStoryboard">
<Storyboard>
<!-- Animates the ellipse along the path. -->
<PointAnimationUsingPath
Storyboard.TargetName="MyAnimatedEllipseGeometry"
Storyboard.TargetProperty="Center"
Duration="0:0:5"
RepeatBehavior="Forever" >
<PointAnimationUsingPath.PathGeometry>
<PathGeometry
Figures="M 10,100 C 35,0 135,0 160,100 180,190 285,200 310,100"
PresentationOptions:Freeze="True" />
</PointAnimationUsingPath.PathGeometry>
</PointAnimationUsingPath>
</Storyboard>
</BeginStoryboard>
</EventTrigger>
</Path.Triggers>
</Path>
</Canvas>
</Page>
using System;
using System.Windows;
using System.Windows.Controls;
using System.Windows.Media;
using System.Windows.Media.Animation;
using System.Windows.Navigation;
using System.Windows.Shapes;
namespace SDKSample
{
public class PointAnimationUsingPathExample : Page
{
public PointAnimationUsingPathExample()
{
// Create a NameScope for the page so that
// we can use Storyboards.
NameScope.SetNameScope(this, new NameScope());
// Create the EllipseGeometry to animate.
EllipseGeometry animatedEllipseGeometry =
new EllipseGeometry(new Point(10, 100), 15, 15);
// Register the EllipseGeometry's name with
// the page so that it can be targeted by a
// storyboard.
this.RegisterName("AnimatedEllipseGeometry", animatedEllipseGeometry);
// Create a Path element to display the geometry.
Path ellipsePath = new Path();
ellipsePath.Data = animatedEllipseGeometry;
ellipsePath.Fill = Brushes.Blue;
ellipsePath.Margin = new Thickness(15);
// Create a Canvas to contain ellipsePath
// and add it to the page.
Canvas mainPanel = new Canvas();
mainPanel.Width = 400;
mainPanel.Height = 400;
mainPanel.Children.Add(ellipsePath);
this.Content = mainPanel;
// Create the animation path.
PathGeometry animationPath = new PathGeometry();
PathFigure pFigure = new PathFigure();
pFigure.StartPoint = new Point(10, 100);
PolyBezierSegment pBezierSegment = new PolyBezierSegment();
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(35, 0));
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(135, 0));
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(160, 100));
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(180, 190));
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(285, 200));
pBezierSegment.Points.Add(new Point(310, 100));
pFigure.Segments.Add(pBezierSegment);
animationPath.Figures.Add(pFigure);
// Freeze the PathGeometry for performance benefits.
animationPath.Freeze();
// Create a PointAnimationgUsingPath to move
// the EllipseGeometry along the animation path.
PointAnimationUsingPath centerPointAnimation =
new PointAnimationUsingPath();
centerPointAnimation.PathGeometry = animationPath;
centerPointAnimation.Duration = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(5);
centerPointAnimation.RepeatBehavior = RepeatBehavior.Forever;
// Set the animation to target the Center property
// of the EllipseGeometry named "AnimatedEllipseGeometry".
Storyboard.SetTargetName(centerPointAnimation, "AnimatedEllipseGeometry");
Storyboard.SetTargetProperty(centerPointAnimation,
new PropertyPath(EllipseGeometry.CenterProperty));
// Create a Storyboard to contain and apply the animation.
Storyboard pathAnimationStoryboard = new Storyboard();
pathAnimationStoryboard.RepeatBehavior = RepeatBehavior.Forever;
pathAnimationStoryboard.AutoReverse = true;
pathAnimationStoryboard.Children.Add(centerPointAnimation);
// Start the Storyboard when ellipsePath is loaded.
ellipsePath.Loaded += delegate(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
{
// Start the storyboard.
pathAnimationStoryboard.Begin(this);
};
}
}
}
For the complete sample, see Path Animation Sample.
The code version of the preceding sample used a Storyboard to animate the EllipseGeometry, even though only one animation was applied. An easier way to apply a single animation to a property is to use the BeginAnimation method. For an example, see How to: Animate a Property Without Using a Storyboard .
See Also
Tasks
How to: Animate an Object Along a Path (Double Animation)
How to: Animate an Object Along a Path (Matrix Animation)
How to: Animate an Object Along a Path (Matrix Animation with Offset Accumulation)
How to: Rotate an Object by Using a Geometric Path (Matrix Animation)
How to: Rotate an Object by Using a Geometric Path