Programming Visual Basic 2008

Build .NET 3.5 Applications with Microsoft's RAD Tool for Business

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Build .NET 3.5 Applications with Microsoft's RAD Tool for Business

By Tim Patrick

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Released: May 2008

Pages: 784

Ever since Visual Basic was merged into .NET, it's become the core language for creating business applications with Windows. The latest version, VB 2008, is even more useful -- and provides even more incentive for migrating from VB 6. All it lacks is a good book on how to harness its power. Programming Visual Basic 2008 fills the void.

Written in a lively and engaging style by a developer who's grown up with Visual Basic, including both VB 6 and VB .NET, this hands-on guide addresses the core topics of the new VB, from basic to complex, with plenty of code examples.

Programming Visual Basic 2008 also examines .NET programming from the application level with a chapter-by-chapter plan for developing, documenting, and deploying a full data-driven application. You learn, step-by-step, how to build and deploy a library management system, complete with patron, inventory, and barcode support.

The book's broad range of topics include:

VB language and its syntax
An overview of the .NET Framework
Object-oriented development in VB and .NET
Generic objects, collections, and nullable types
Design and management of software projects
Integrating desktop features with Windows Forms
Database design with SQL Server 2008
Database interface design with ADO.NET
The new LINQ feature, and how to use it within VB and .NET
Embedding XML within application source code
Encryption and authentication in .NET
Interacting with data stored in files and directories
Web development using ASP.NET
Deploying an application to a user's workstation
And much more

Programming Visual Basic 2008 is ideal for VB 6 programmers who are ready to move to .NET, as well as VB.NET programmers who wish to improve their project-focused software development skills. Programming novices and developers coming from other languages will find the book valuable because of its language instruction and project design knowledge.

Once you finish the book, you will have a firm grasp of VB 2008's core concepts and language elements, and understand how to build VB projects as they were intended -- as complete, cohesive solutions.

Chapter 1 Introducing .NET
1. Before .NET
2. Back to Introducing .NET
3. The .NET Object
4. The Parts of the .NET Framework
5. From Source Code to EXE
6. What About Visual Studio and Visual Basic?
7. Visual Studio 2008
8. Summary
9. Project
Chapter 2 Introducing Visual Basic
1. The History of the Visual Basic Revolution
2. Visual Basic from the Inside Out
3. The Basics of Logic and Data
4. Data Types and Variables
5. Intermission
6. Comments
7. Option Statements
8. Basic Operators
9. Using Functions and Subroutines
10. Conditions
11. Loops
12. Creating Your Own Procedures
13. Other Flow Control Features
14. Events and Event Handlers
15. Namespaces
16. The My Namespace
17. Summary
18. Project
Chapter 3 Introducing the Project
1. The Library Project
2. The Needs of the Users
3. The Life of a Project
4. Summary
5. Project
Chapter 4 Designing the Database
1. Relational Databases
2. SQL Server 2005
3. SQL
4. Using Databases in Visual Basic
5. Documenting the Database
6. Summary
7. Project
Chapter 5 .NET Assemblies
1. What Is an Assembly?
2. What's Inside an Assembly?
3. Assemblies and Applications
4. The My Namespace and Assemblies
5. Directives and Assemblies
6. Summary
7. Project
Chapter 6 Data and Data Types
1. The Nature of Computer Data
2. Data in .NET
3. Visual Basic Data Types
4. Literals
5. Constants
6. Enumerations
7. Variables
8. Variable and Constant Naming Conventions
9. Local Type Inference
10. Operators
11. Static Variables
12. Arrays
13. Nullable Types
14. Common Visual Basic Functions
15. Summary
16. Project
Chapter 7 Windows Forms
1. Inside a Windows Application
2. Windows in .NET
3. Making Forms Useful
4. Summary
5. Project
Chapter 8 Classes and Inheritance
1. Object-Oriented Programming Concepts
2. OOP in Visual Basic and .NET
3. Related Issues
4. Summary
5. Project
Chapter 9 Functional Programming
1. Lambda Expressions
2. Object Initializers
3. Error Handling in Visual Basic
4. The Nature of Errors in Visual Basic
5. Unstructured Error Handling
6. Structured Error Handling
7. Unhandled Errors
8. Managing Errors
9. Summary
10. Project
Chapter 10 ADO.NET
1. What Is ADO.NET?
2. Overview of ADO.NET
3. Data Sets Versus No Data Sets
4. Connecting to SQL Server with Visual Studio
5. Interacting with SQL Server in Code
6. Database Transactions
7. ADO.NET Entity Framework
8. Summary
9. Project
Chapter 11 Security
1. Security Features in .NET
2. Cryptography and Encryption
3. Encryption in .NET
4. Other Security Features
5. Summary
6. Project
Chapter 12 Overloads and Extensions
1. What Is Operator Overloading?
2. What Can You Overload?
3. Other Operator Overloading Issues
4. Extension Methods
5. Summary
6. Project
Chapter 13 XML
1. What Is XML?
2. The XML Rule
3. XML Content
4. Using XML in .NET: The Old Way
5. Using XML in .NET: The New Way
6. Summary
7. Project
Chapter 14 Application Settings
1. A Short History of Settings
2. Settings in Visual Basic 2008
3. Summary
4. Project
Chapter 15 Files and Directories
1. Traditional Visual Basic File Management
2. Manipulating Files Through Streams
3. File Management with the My Namespace
4. Summary
5. Project
Chapter 16 Generics
1. What Are Generics?
2. Variations of Generic Declaration
3. Summary
4. Project
Chapter 17 LINQ
1. What Is LINQ?
2. Anonymous Types
3. LINQ to Objects
4. Basic Query Expressions
5. Converting Results to Other Forms
6. Aggregate Queries
7. Advanced Query Expressions
8. LINQ to XML
9. LINQ for ADO.NET-Related Data
10. Deferred Execution
11. Summary
12. Project
Chapter 18 User Interface
1. Overview of GDI+
2. Selecting a Canvas
3. Choosing Pens and Brushes
4. Flowing Text from the Font
5. Imagining Images
6. Exposing Your True Artist
7. Paths: Drawings on Macro-Vision
8. Keeping It Regional
9. Twisting and Turning with Transformations
10. Enhancing Controls Through Owner Draw
11. Windows Presentation Foundation
12. Enhancing Classes with Attributes
13. Summary
14. Project
Chapter 19 Localization and Globalization
1. Defining Globalization and Localization
2. Resource Files
3. The My.Resources Object
4. Localizing Forms Within Visual Studio
5. Adding Resources Outside Visual Studio
6. Manually Compiling Resources
7. Other Localization Features
8. Summary
9. Project
Chapter 20 Printing
1. Printing in Windows
2. Printing in .NET
3. Printing a Document
4. Print Preview
5. Counting and Numbering Pages
6. Printing in "Raw" Mode
7. Summary
8. Project
Chapter 21 Reporting
1. Report Options in .NET
2. Using Reporting Controls in .NET
3. Summary
4. Project
Chapter 22 Licensing Your Application
1. Software Licensing Options
2. License Agreements
3. Obfuscation
4. The Library Licensing System
5. Summary
6. Project
Chapter 23 Web Development
1. How the Internet Works
2. Programming the Internet
3. ASP.NET Features
4. Trying Out ASP.NET
5. More About Events
6. State and View State
7. Data Validation
8. Database Integration
9. Windows Communication Foundation
10. Summary
11. Project
Chapter 24 Adding Online Help
1. Windows Online Help Options
2. Designing HTML Help
3. Accessing HTML Help
4. Summary
5. Project
Chapter 25 Deployment
1. What's Involved in Deployment?
2. Deployment Methods Within Visual Studio
3. Summary
4. Project
Chapter 26 Project Complete
1. The Library Project
2. Visual Basic Flexibility
3. The Programming Mindset
4. Summary

Appendix Installing the Software
1. Download the Software
2. Install the Software
3. Install Project Templates
4. Install Code Snippets
5. Bar Code Support
Appendix Software License Agreement
1. Terms of Use
Colophon

Title:

Programming Visual Basic 2008

By:

Tim Patrick

Publisher:

O'Reilly Media

Formats:

Print
Ebook
Safari Books Online

Print:

May 2008

Ebook:

December 2008

Pages:

784

Print ISBN:

978-0-596-51843-1

| ISBN 10:

0-596-51843-9

Ebook ISBN:

978-0-596-15938-2

| ISBN 10:

0-596-15938-2

Colophon

The animal on the cover of Programming Visual Basic 2008 is a bufflehead duck (Bucephala albeola). The name bufflehead derives from the words "buffalo" and "head," referring to the bulbous head shape distinctive to this species. Male buffleheads are black and white with a large white patch extending from the eye to the back of the head; females are paler, smaller, and have a small white cheek patch. Both sexes are characterized by short necks and narrow gray bills.

Ranging in size from 13 to 16 inches and 9 to 22 ounces, buffleheads are the smallest diving ducks in North America. Unlike other diving ducks, they are able to take flight directly from the water without having to run along the surface. They live by lakes, rivers, and bays in Canada and the northern U.S., migrating to coastal water on the Atlantic, Pacific, and Gulf coasts as far south as Mazatlan in the winter months. They nest in aspen and poplar cavities excavated by northern flickers and pileated woodpeckers.

The bufflehead diet consists of fresh- and saltwater insects, snails, crustaceans, and plants. They dive for their food and swallow it underwater. Bufflehead ducks tend to stay in a group, one or two of them feeding while the others stand watch for any potential danger. Although not prized among duck hunters, buffleheads are hunted for sport in the U.S. and Canada and comprise approximately two percent of North American waterfowl hunting. Their status is not currently threatened, but habitat degradation is an increasing concern. Because the ducks return to the same breeding ground each year, overharvesting and deforestation could have a devastating impact on their population if not carefully monitored.

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O'Reilly Media Programming Visual Basic 2008

5.0

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of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

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Accurate (3)
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Reviewed by 4 customers

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Displaying reviews 1-4

3/13/2010

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Finally, a definitive guide!

By matthewp131

from pensacola, fl

Pros

Accurate
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Easy to understand
Helpful examples
Well-written

Cons

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Novice
Student

Comments about O'Reilly Media Programming Visual Basic 2008:

I have tried to learn vb2008 many times, but always was confused by the complexity, I even tried microsoft's own tutorials, to no avail. Then I checked this book out from the library, and after the first few pages I knew this was it. Tim Patrick gives thorough explanations combined with witty humor. If you need to learn vb2008, this is the book for you.

3/2/2010

(3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

This book is very easy to understand.

By Vikas

from India

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Programming Visual Basic 2008:

By the help of this book i am now able to develop a good applications on VB

12/30/2009

(2 of 2 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

This book is a keeper ...

By Wendell

from Melville, New York

About Me Developer

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Accurate
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Novice
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Comments about O'Reilly Media Programming Visual Basic 2008:

Tim Patrick is a savvy and witty writer.

This book is a pleasure to read.

His illustrations (tea cups) and examples are powerful teaching devices that commanded and held my attention with remarkable effectiveness.

This is a MUST read for all novice and experienced developers.

This book is a keeper... read it to believe!

Kudos to Tim Patrick!

Wendell E.

10/29/2009

(1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

5.0

Best book to know Visual Basic

By Mr Coder

from Washington DC Metro area

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Comments about O'Reilly Media Programming Visual Basic 2008:

This is readly wonderful book for any VB Programmer of any level.

Should get one copy to explor.

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Chapter 1 Introducing .NET

Before .NET

Back to Introducing .NET

The .NET Object

The Parts of the .NET Framework

From Source Code to EXE

What About Visual Studio and Visual Basic?

Visual Studio 2008

Summary

Project

Chapter 2 Introducing Visual Basic

The History of the Visual Basic Revolution

Visual Basic from the Inside Out

The Basics of Logic and Data

Data Types and Variables

Intermission

Comments

Option Statements

Basic Operators

Using Functions and Subroutines

Conditions

Loops

Creating Your Own Procedures

Other Flow Control Features

Events and Event Handlers

Namespaces

The My Namespace

Summary

Project

Chapter 3 Introducing the Project

The Library Project

The Needs of the Users

The Life of a Project

Summary

Project

Chapter 4 Designing the Database

Relational Databases

SQL Server 2005

SQL

Using Databases in Visual Basic

Documenting the Database

Summary

Project

Chapter 5 .NET Assemblies

What Is an Assembly?

What's Inside an Assembly?

Assemblies and Applications

The My Namespace and Assemblies

Directives and Assemblies

Summary

Project

Chapter 6 Data and Data Types

The Nature of Computer Data

Data in .NET

Visual Basic Data Types

Literals

Constants

Enumerations

Variables

Variable and Constant Naming Conventions

Local Type Inference

Operators

Static Variables

Arrays

Nullable Types

Common Visual Basic Functions

Summary

Project

Chapter 7 Windows Forms

Inside a Windows Application

Windows in .NET

Making Forms Useful

Summary

Project

Chapter 8 Classes and Inheritance

Object-Oriented Programming Concepts

OOP in Visual Basic and .NET

Related Issues

Summary

Project