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Programming Visual Basic 2008

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

By Tim Patrick

Publisher: O'Reilly Media

Release Date: December 2008

Pages: 784

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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

Books & Videos

Programming Visual Basic 2008

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

Read on Safari with a 10-day trial

Table of Contents

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