Application Development Using Visual Basic and .Net

by Oberg, Robert J.; Thorsteinson, Peter; Wyatt, Dana L.

• ISBN13: 9780130933829
• ISBN10: 0130933821
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2002-06-24
• Publisher: Prentice Hall

Summary

Application Development Using Visual Basic and .NETgives experienced developers unprecedented insight for building .NET enterprise applications with Visual Basic .NET. A running case study covers the entire process from creating a monolithic VB.NET console application to adding a Windows Forms interface, isolating functionality inside components, providing database access and security, and delivering functionality through ASP.NET and Web services. The book includes a self-contained language overview for new Visual Basic .NET users.

Author Biography

DR. ROBERT J. OBERG is founder and President of Object Innovations, a leading developer of integrated courseware on .NET and other strategic software. He is editor of The Integrated .NET Series from Object Innovations and Prentice Hall PTR. Oberg's recent books include Introduction to C# Using .NET and (with Michael Stiefel) Application Development Using C# and .NET (both published by Prentice Hall PTR).

PETER THORSTEINSON is a systems analyst who has been programming and teaching developers for over a decade. He specializes in .NET, C#, C++, COM, and Java and is coauthor of .NET Architecture and Programming Using Visual C++ (Prentice Hall PTR).

DR. DANA L. WYATT formed EMCA Consulting in 1993 to deliver advanced object-oriented training, mentoring, and consulting services. She specializes in VB, C++, and COM/DCOM. Wyatt is also coauthor of Introduction to Visual Basic Using .NET (Prentice Hall PTR).

Table of Contents

Preface	xxi
Acknowledgments	xxiv
About This Series	xxvii
PART ONE .NET ARCHITECTURE OVERVIEW	1	(30)
What Is Microsoft .NET?	5	(12)
Microsoft and the Web	6	(2)
Applications in the Internet Age	6	(1)
Web Services	7	(1)
ASP.NET	7	(1)
Open Standards and Interoperability	7	(1)
Communications Protocols	8	(1)
Windows on the Desktop	8	(2)
Problems with Windows	8	(1)
The Glass House and Thin Clients	9	(1)
A Robust Windows	9	(1)
A New Programming Platform	10	(3)
.NET Framework	10	(1)
Common Language Runtime	10	(2)
Multiple Language Development	12	(1)
Development Tools	12	(1)
The Importance of Tools	12	(1)
The Role of XML	13	(1)
Success Factors for Web Services	13	(1)
VB.NET and the .NET Framework	13	(1)
Summary	14	(3)
.NET Fundamentals	17	(14)
Problems of Windows Development	17	(1)
Applications of the Future	18	(1)
.NET Overview	18	(10)
The Magic of Metadata	18	(3)
.NET Framework Class Library	21	(1)
Interface-Based Programming	22	(1)
Everything Is an Object	22	(1)
Common Type System	22	(1)
ILDASM	23	(1)
Language Interoperability	24	(1)
Managed Code	25	(1)
Assemblies	26	(1)
JIT Compilation	27	(1)
Performance	28	(1)
Summary	28	(3)
PART TWO VB.NET LANGUAGE	31	(188)
VB.NET Essentials, Part I	35	(42)
Visual Studio .NET and Console Applications	36	(5)
Visual Studio .NET	36	(2)
Console Applications	38	(1)
Console Applications Versus Windows Applications	39	(2)
Hello World in VB.NET	41	(5)
Compiling and Running (Command Line)	41	(1)
Program Structure	42	(1)
Namespaces and Imports	43	(3)
Performing Calculations in VB.NET	46	(11)
Variables	48	(1)
Literals	48	(1)
VB.NET Operators and Expressions	49	(1)
Output and Formatting	50	(2)
Control Structures	52	(1)
Methods	53	(1)
Console Input in VB.NET	54	(3)
Classes	57	(13)
Classes as Structured Data	57	(5)
Methods	62	(3)
Properties	65	(2)
Shared Fields and Methods	67	(2)
Shared Constructor	69	(1)
Constant and Read Only Fields	69	(1)
VB.NET Type System	70	(6)
Overview of Types in VB.NET	71	(1)
Value Types	71	(3)
Reference Types	74	(1)
Default Values	75	(1)
Boxing and Unboxing	75	(1)
Summary	76	(1)
VB.NET Essentials, Part II	77	(34)
Strings	77	(11)
Characters	78	(1)
String Class	79	(1)
Language Support	80	(2)
String Equality	82	(1)
String Comparison	83	(2)
String Input	85	(1)
String Methods and Properties	85	(2)
StringBuilder Class	87	(1)
Arrays and Parameterized Properties	88	(7)
Arrays	88	(2)
System.Array	90	(1)
Sample Program	90	(1)
Interfaces for System.Array	91	(1)
Random-Number Generation	91	(1)
Jagged Arrays	92	(1)
Rectangular Arrays	92	(1)
Arrays as Collections	93	(1)
Indexing With Default Parameterized Properties	93	(2)
More about Methods	95	(5)
Parameter Passing	95	(1)
Value Parameters	96	(1)
Reference Parameters	96	(1)
Method Overloading	97	(1)
Variable-Length Parameter Lists	98	(2)
Optional Parameters	100	(1)
VB.NET Utility Functions	101	(9)
Overview	101	(1)
Math Functions	102	(1)
Financial Functions	103	(1)
Informational Functions	103	(1)
Conversion Functions	104	(1)
Control Characters	104	(1)
Character Manipulation Functions	104	(1)
String Manipulation Functions	104	(1)
Date and Time	104	(2)
Format Functions	106	(2)
Environment Functions	108	(2)
Command-Line Arguments	110	(1)
Summary	110	(1)
Inheritance and Exceptions in VB.NET	111	(48)
Review of Object-Oriented Concepts	112	(4)
Objects	112	(2)
Classes	114	(1)
Polymorphism	115	(1)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study: Design	116	(7)
Designing the Abstractions	117	(3)
Base Class Logic	120	(2)
Designing the Encapsulation	122	(1)
Inheritance in VB.NET	123	(3)
Inheritance Fundamentals	124	(2)
Access Control	126	(2)
Class Accessibility	126	(1)
Member Accessibility	126	(1)
Access Control in the Case Study	127	(1)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study: Implementation	128	(7)
Running the Case Study	128	(1)
HotelReservation	129	(1)
HotelBroker	129	(3)
Customers	132	(1)
Namespace	133	(1)
TestHotel	134	(1)
More about Inheritance	135	(11)
Employee Class Hierarchy	135	(1)
Method Hiding	136	(2)
Static Binding	138	(1)
Virtual Methods	139	(2)
The Fragile Base Class Problem	141	(1)
Polymorphism	142	(2)
Abstract Classes	144	(1)
Non-Iheritable Classes	145	(1)
Heterogeneous Collections	145	(1)
Exceptions	146	(11)
Exception Fundamentals	146	(6)
User-Defined Exception Classes	152	(2)
Structured Exception Handling	154	(1)
Inner Exceptions	155	(1)
Multiple Catch Handlers	156	(1)
Summary	157	(2)
VB.NET in the .NET Framework	159	(60)
System.Object	160	(4)
Public Instance Methods of Object	160	(1)
Protected Instance Methods	161	(1)
Generic Interfaces and Standard Behavior	161	(1)
Using Object Methods in the Customer Class	162	(2)
Collections	164	(4)
ArrayList Example	165	(3)
Interfaces	168	(9)
Interface Fundamentals	169	(3)
Multiple Interfaces	172	(3)
Dynamic Use of Interfaces	175	(2)
Resolving Ambiguity in Interfaces	177	(2)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study: Step 2	179	(4)
The Contracts	180	(1)
The Implementation	181	(2)
Generic Interfaces in .NET	183	(13)
Collection Interfaces	183	(6)
Copy Semantics and ICloneable	189	(5)
Comparing Objects	194	(2)
Understanding Frameworks	196	(1)
Delegates	196	(9)
Declaring a Delegate	197	(1)
Defining a Method	197	(1)
Creating a Delegate Object	198	(1)
Calling a Delegate	198	(1)
Combining Delegate Objects	198	(1)
Complete Example	199	(3)
Stock Market Simulation	202	(3)
Events	205	(8)
Events in Visual Basic and VB.NET	206	(1)
Dynamic Event Handling	206	(3)
Chat Room Complete Example (Step 1)	209	(3)
Static Event Handling	212	(1)
Attributes	213	(4)
Attributes in .NET	214	(3)
Summary	217	(2)
PART THREE FUNDAMENTALS OF WINDOWS FORMS	219	(108)
Windows Forms	223	(50)
Windows Forms Hierarchy	223	(1)
Windows Applications Using the .NET SDK	224	(6)
Step 1: A Simple Form	224	(1)
Step 2: Customizing the Form	225	(2)
Windows Messages	227	(1)
Controls	228	(2)
Windows Forms Event Handling	230	(6)
Step 3: Adding a Button to the Form	232	(2)
Step 4: Using Label and TextBox Controls	234	(2)
Visual Studio .NET and Forms	236	(9)
Windows Forms Demonstration	236	(5)
Design Window and Code Window	241	(1)
Adding Event Handlers Using Visual Studio	242	(1)
Life Cycle of a Windows Form	242	(1)
Overriding Virtual Methods of a Form	243	(2)
Under the Hood of a VS.NET Windows Application	245	(3)
Code Generated by Windows Form Designer	245	(3)
Dialog Boxes	248	(11)
.NET Dialog Documentation	248	(1)
MessageBox	249	(1)
Custom Dialogs	250	(1)
Step 1: Creating a New Dialog	251	(3)
Step 2: Displaying a Dialog	254	(1)
Step 3: Validating a Dialog's Data	255	(2)
Step 4: Adding ToolTips for Controls	257	(2)
Controls	259	(3)
Common Properties	259	(1)
Using a Radio Button with a Group Box	260	(1)
Step 1: Drawing the Radio Button Group	261	(1)
Step 2: Determining Which Radio Button is Selected	261	(1)
Using a CheckBox	262	(2)
Using List Controls (ListBox and ComboBox)	264	(7)
Step 1: Adding Data to a ListBox	266	(1)
Step 2: Selecting an Item in a ListBox	267	(2)
Step 3: Removing Data from a ListBox	269	(1)
Step 4: Changing Hotel Data	269	(1)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study (Step 3)	270	(1)
Summary	271	(2)
Using Controls	273	(54)
Menus	273	(8)
MainMenu Control	273	(1)
Step 1: Using the MainMenu Control	274	(2)
Step 2: Responding to Menu Events	276	(1)
Step 3: Controlling Menu Appearance	277	(1)
ContextMenu Control	278	(3)
Toolbars	281	(5)
Step 1: Setting up the ImageList Control	282	(1)
Step 2: Configuring the Toolbar Control	282	(3)
Step 3: Responding to Toolbar Events	285	(1)
Step 4: Controlling Toolbar Button Appearance	286	(1)
Status Bars	286	(4)
Step 1: Adding the StatusBar Control	287	(1)
Step 2: Displaying Information in the Status Bar	288	(1)
Step 3: Using the Timer Control to Display Time	288	(2)
Calendar Controls	290	(4)
DateTimePicker	290	(1)
MonthCalendar	291	(2)
Step 1: Setting Up Annually Bolded Dates	293	(1)
Step 2: Programmatically Setting the Date	293	(1)
Step 3: Determining the Selected Date	293	(1)
Range Controls	294	(7)
ProgressBar	294	(2)
ScrollBar	296	(2)
TrackBar	298	(1)
NumericUpDown	299	(2)
List Controls	301	(12)
Domain UpDown	301	(2)
CheckedListBox	303	(2)
Step 1: Initializing the ArrayList	305	(1)
Step 2: Adding Items to the CheckedListBox Control	306	(1)
Step 3: Accessing Items in the Control	307	(1)
ListView	308	(2)
Step 1: Adding the ListView Control	310	(1)
Step 2: Adding Items to the Control	311	(1)
Step 3: Accessing the Selected Item	312	(1)
DataGrid Control	313	(3)
TreeView Control	316	(6)
Interacting with TreeNodes	317	(1)
Example: Using the TreeView Control	318	(1)
Step 1: Initializing the Control	319	(1)
Step 2: Handling the Context Menu	320	(1)
Step 3: Adding a Node	320	(1)
Step 4: Removing a Node	321	(1)
Common Dialog Controls	322	(3)
Summary	325	(2)
PART FOUR FUNDAMENTALS OF THE .NET FRAMEWORK	327	(116)
Assemblies and Deployment	331	(42)
Components	331	(7)
Components in .NET	332	(1)
Class Libraries Using Visual Studio	333	(5)
Assemblies	338	(16)
Componentized Version of Case Study	338	(3)
Contents of an Assembly	341	(6)
Versioning an Assembly	347	(2)
Strong Names	349	(1)
Digital Signatures	349	(2)
Digitally Signing an Assembly	351	(3)
Private Assembly Deployment	354	(3)
Shared Assembly Deployment	357	(3)
Deploying a Shared Assembly	357	(1)
Versioning Shared Components	358	(2)
Assembly Configuration	360	(4)
Resolving an Assembly Reference at Runtime	360	(1)
Specifying the Version Policy in a Configuration File	361	(1)
Finding the Assembly's Physical Location	362	(2)
Multi-Module Assemblies	364	(3)
Setup and Deployment Projects	367	(5)
CAB Project	368	(1)
Setup Project	369	(1)
Merge Module Project	370	(1)
Web-Based Deployment	371	(1)
Summary	372	(1)
.NET Framework Classes	373	(70)
Metadata and Reflection	374	(6)
Type	375	(4)
Late Binding	379	(1)
Input and Output in .NET	380	(6)
Streams	381	(1)
Primitive Datatypes and Streams	382	(1)
TextReader and TextWriter	383	(1)
File Manipulation	383	(3)
Serialization	386	(6)
Serialization Objects	387	(3)
ISerializable	390	(2)
.NET Application Model	392	(14)
Threads	392	(12)
Thread Isolation	404	(1)
Synchronization of Collections	405	(1)
Context	406	(3)
Proxies and Stubs	407	(1)
ContextBoundObject	408	(1)
Application Isolation	409	(5)
Application Domain	409	(1)
Application Domains and Assemblies	410	(1)
AppDomain Class	410	(1)
Application Domain Events	411	(1)
AppDomainTest Example	411	(3)
Marshaling, Application Domains, and Contexts	414	(1)
Asynchronous Programming	414	(7)
The Asynchronous Design Pattern	414	(2)
IAsyncResult	416	(1)
Using Delegates for Asynchronous Programming	416	(3)
Threading with Parameters	419	(2)
Remoting	421	(7)
Remoting Overview	422	(1)
Remote Objects	422	(1)
Activation	423	(1)
Sample Remotable Object	423	(3)
Metadata and Remoting	426	(2)
Remoting Configuration Files	428	(1)
Custom Attributes	428	(4)
Using a Custom Attribute	428	(2)
Defining an Attribute Class	430	(1)
Defining a Base Class	431	(1)
Garbage Collection and Finalization	432	(9)
Finalize	432	(1)
Unmanaged Resources and Dispose	433	(4)
Garbage Collection and Generations	437	(1)
Finalization and Stack Unwinding	438	(1)
Controlling Garbage Collection with the GC Class	439	(1)
Sample Program	440	(1)
Summary	441	(2)
PART FIVE ADVANCED UI PROGRAMMING USING VB.NET	443	(78)
Introduction to GDI+	447	(44)
Device-Independent Graphics and Abstraction	447	(2)
GDI+Architecture	449	(6)
Windows Forms Painting	449	(3)
Graphics Class	452	(1)
Pens and Brushes	453	(1)
Text and Fonts	454	(1)
Images, Bitmaps, and Metafiles	454	(1)
Coordinates	454	(1)
GDI+ Structures	455	(5)
Point and PointF	455	(1)
Size and SizeF	455	(1)
Rectangle and RectangleF	456	(2)
Color Structure	458	(2)
Pens and Brushes	460	(8)
Pens	460	(4)
Brushes	464	(4)
A Drawing Program	468	(5)
Rubber-Band Drawing	468	(2)
Multiple Shapes	470	(3)
Clipping Rectangle	473	(5)
Invalidating a Window Programmatically	476	(1)
Invalidating a Specific Rectangle	477	(1)
Who Does the Clipping?	478	(1)
Bitmaps and Metafile	478	(6)
Drawing an Image	478	(2)
Saving a Bitmapped Image	480	(2)
Saving to a Metafile (Version 4)	482	(2)
Viewing the Metafile	484	(1)
GDI+ Memory Management	484	(1)
Text and Fonts	485	(3)
Measuring Text	487	(1)
Scrolling	488	(1)
Summary	489	(2)
Advanced Windows Forms	491	(30)
Modeless Dialogs	491	(3)
Step 1: Designing the GUI	492	(1)
Step 2: Managing the Relationship between Forms	493	(1)
Step 3: Programming the Apply and Close Buttons	493	(1)
Step 4: Enabling and Disabling the Apply Button	494	(1)
MDI Applications	494	(9)
Step 1: Create an MDI Parent Form	495	(1)
Step 2: Create an MDI Child Form	496	(3)
Step 3: Coding the Window Menu	499	(1)
Step 4: Interacting with the Active Child Form	500	(1)
Step 5: Dealing with Menu Appearance	500	(1)
Step 6: Finishing the Application	501	(2)
Visual Inheritance	503	(12)
Characteristics of the Base Form	503	(1)
Step 1: Create a Project with the Base Form	503	(1)
Step 2: Determine the Controls Customizable by the Derived Class	504	(1)
Step 3: Implement the Base Form's Behavior	505	(1)
Step 4: Building the Project	506	(1)
Characteristics of the Derived Form	506	(2)
Step 1: Create a Project that Uses Visual Inheritance	508	(2)
Step 2: Adding an Inherited Form	510	(3)
Step 3: Coding the Inherited Form	513	(2)
ActiveX Controls	515	(5)
Adding ActiveX Controls to the Toolbox	516	(1)
Using an ActiveX Control without Using Visual Studio	517	(1)
Programming with ActiveX Controls	518	(2)
Summary	520	(1)
PART SIX .NET APPLICATIONS	521	(258)
Programming with ADO.NET	525	(62)
A Visual Studio .NET Database Testbed	527	(5)
Sample Database	527	(1)
The Visual Studio .NET Server Explorer	527	(1)
Creating a Database	528	(1)
Creating Tables	529	(1)
Inserting Data into a Table	529	(1)
Performing Queries	529	(3)
ADO.NET Architecture	532	(2)
.NET Data Providers	533	(1)
.NET Namespaces	534	(1)
Connected Data Access	534	(9)
Using a Connection	534	(3)
Using Commands	537	(1)
Using a Data Reader	538	(2)
Sample Database Application Using Connected Scenario	540	(3)
Parameters and Stored Procedures	543	(2)
SqlDataAdapter and the DataSet Class	545	(3)
Disconnected Mode	546	(1)
DataSet Collections	546	(2)
DataSet Fundamentals	548	(4)
Updating the Data Source	550	(1)
Auto Generated Command Properties	551	(1)
Database Transactions and Updates	552	(1)
Optimistic Versus Pessimistic Locking and the DataSet	553	(2)
Working with DataSets	555	(16)
Multiple Tables in a DataSet	556	(2)
Table Creation without a Data Source	558	(1)
Constraints and Relations	559	(2)
Examining the Schema Information about a DataTable	561	(6)
DataRow Editing	567	(4)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study	571	(1)
XML Data Access	571	(2)
XML Schema and Data	572	(1)
XmlDataDocument	572	(1)
DataSet and XML	572	(1)
AirlineBrokers Database	573	(7)
DataSet and XML	573	(4)
Creating an XML Doc from a DataSet	577	(3)
Schema with Relationships	580	(2)
Typed DataSet	582	(3)
Generating Typed DataSets	582	(1)
Fetching Data with a Typed DataSet	583	(1)
Displaying Data with a Typed DataSet	584	(1)
Modify Data with a Typed DataSet	584	(1)
Summary	585	(2)
ASP.NET and Web Forms	587	(72)
What Is ASP.NET?	587	(7)
Web Application Fundamentals	587	(3)
An Echo Program	590	(2)
ASP.NET Features	592	(2)
Web Forms Architecture	594	(11)
Page Class	595	(1)
Web Forms Page Life Cycle	596	(3)
View State	599	(1)
Web Forms Event Model	599	(1)
Page Processing	599	(3)
Page Directive	602	(2)
Tracing	604	(1)
Request/Response Programming	605	(8)
HttpRequest Class	605	(5)
HttpResponse Class	610	(3)
Web Applications Using Visual Studio .NET	613	(13)
Hotel Information Web Page (Step 0)	614	(8)
Deploying a Web Application Created Using Visual Studio	622	(4)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study	626	(8)
Configuring the Case Study	626	(1)
Acme Web Site Step 1	627	(2)
Acme Web Site Step 2	629	(5)
ASP.NET Applications	634	(2)
Sessions	634	(1)
Global.asax	634	(2)
State in ASP.NET Applications	636	(5)
Shared Data Members	636	(3)
Application Object	639	(1)
Session Object	639	(2)
ASP.NET Configuration	641	(4)
Configuration Files	641	(2)
Application Tracing	643	(2)
Session Configuration	645	(1)
Server Controls	645	(8)
Web Controls	646	(1)
HTML Server Controls	646	(3)
Validation Controls	649	(3)
Rich Controls	652	(1)
Database Access in ASP.NET	653	(5)
Data Binding in ASP.NET	654	(3)
Acme Travel Agency Case Study (Database Version)	657	(1)
Summary	658	(1)
Web Services	659	(36)
Protocols	660	(3)
XML	660	(1)
XML Namespaces	661	(1)
XML Schema	662	(1)
SOAP	662	(1)
WSDL	663	(1)
Web Service Architecture	663	(13)
Setting up the Web Services Examples	664	(1)
The Add Web Service Example	664	(1)
A Client Program for the Add Web Service	665	(4)
WSDL	669	(2)
Proxy Classes	671	(1)
Web Service Client with Raw SOAP and HTTP	672	(4)
SOAP Differences	676	(5)
WebService Class and Visual Studio	681	(10)
Hello World Web Service	683	(1)
Arithmetic Web Service	683	(4)
Client Program for Arithmetic Web Service	687	(4)
Hotel Broker Web Services (Case Study)	691	(3)
Customer Web Service	692	(1)
Hotellnfo Web Service	693	(1)
Summary	694	(1)
Security	695	(60)
User-Based Security	696	(1)
Code Access Security	697	(2)
Security Policy	697	(1)
Permissions	698	(1)
Internet Security	699	(2)
Internet Information Server	699	(2)
Role-Based Security in .NET	701	(21)
Principals and Identities	701	(2)
.NET Windows Roles	703	(3)
Other Identity Classes	706	(1)
ASP.NET Roles	707	(3)
Operating System Identity and CLR Identity	710	(11)
Specifying Users and Groups for Access in Web.Config	721	(1)
Forms-Based Authentication	722	(2)
Forms Authentication and Authorization	722	(2)
Code Access Permissions	724	(13)
Simple Permission Code Request	725	(1)
How a Permission Request Works	726	(1)
Stategy for Requesting Permissions	727	(1)
Denying Permissions	727	(2)
Asserting Permissions	729	(1)
Other Permission Methods	730	(1)
SecurityPermission Class	730	(2)
Calling Unmanaged Code	732	(1)
Attribute-Based Permissions	732	(1)
Principal Permission	733	(2)
PermissionSet	735	(2)
Code Identity	737	(3)
Identity Permission Classes	737	(1)
Evidence	738	(2)
Security Policy	740	(13)
Security Policy Levels	740	(1)
Code Groups	740	(1)
Named Permission Sets	741	(1)
Altering Security Policy	742	(11)
Summary	753	(2)
Interoperability	755	(24)
Calling COM Components from Managed Code	755	(13)
The Tlbimp.exe Utility	756	(2)
Demonstration: Wrapping a Legacy COM Server	758	(6)
Wrapping a COM Component with a Pure V-Table Interface	764	(4)
Calling Managed Components from a COM Client	768	(5)
A Late Binding COM Client	769	(4)
Platform Invocation Services (Plnvoke)	773	(4)
A Simple Example	774	(1)
Marshaling ByRef Parameters	775	(2)
Summary	777	(2)
APPENDIX A Visual Studio .NET	779	(20)
Overview of Visual Studio .NET	779	(5)
Toolbars	782	(2)
Creating a Console Application	784	(4)
Creating a VB.NET Project	784	(1)
Adding a VB.NET Module	785	(1)
Using the Visual Studio Text Editor	785	(1)
Building the Project	786	(1)
Running the Program	786	(1)
Running the Program in the Debugger	787	(1)
Project Configurations	788	(1)
Debugging	788	(10)
Just-in-Time Debugging	789	(3)
Standard Debugging	792	(6)
Summary	798	(1)
APPENDIX B Tracing and Debugging in .NET	799	(8)
The TraceDemo Example	800	(1)
Enabling Debug and Trace Output	800	(1)
Using the Debug and Trace Classes	801	(1)
Using Switches to Enable Diagnostics	802	(1)
Enabling or Disabling Switches	803	(1)
Configuration File Switch Settings	803	(1)
Programmatic Switch Settings	803	(1)
Using Switches to Control Output	803	(1)
TraceListener	804	(1)
Listeners Collection	804	(1)
Summary	805	(2)
Index	807

Excerpts

PrefaceFor many years, Microsoft Visual Basic has been used as the ultimate rapid application development tool for Windows applications. Its ease of use revolutionized Windows programming, and successive generations of Visual Basic have progressively made it more powerful. VB6 can be used to implement complex multiple-tier applications using COM and COM+ components as well as traditional Windows desktop programs. But you could never quite do everything in Visual Basic that you could in a lower level language such as C++, and many projects would use a mixture of languages, with resulting complexity from interfacing between the diverse environments.Microsoft's .NET brings a sea change to software development. The powerful Common Language Runtime and the vast .NET Framework class library provide a consistent software platform forall.NET programming languages. Visual Basic now enjoys virtually identical capabilities to other languages, including the new Visual C# and the ever-popular Visual C++, while preserving the basic ease of use and strong RAD features that have made Visual Basic so popular. The Common Language Specification and the Common Type System make interoperability between the different .NET languages almost seamless, while the power of each is such that for most projects you will probably never have to use a mixed language approach, unless other factors such as legacy code or programmer skill sets steer you in that direction.Thereissubstantial change to the Visual Basic language itself, and VB6 code will not run unmodified in the .NET environment. Also, the new version of the language, Visual Basic .NET, or just VB.NET, is now a fully object-oriented language with features such as interfaces, inheritance, and polymorphism. The result is that there is a definite learning curve when moving to VB.NET from VB6. And learning the new programming language is only part of the challenge. The much greater challenge is learning the .NET Framework and all its capabilities, including Windows Forms, ADO.NET, ASP.NET Web Forms, and Web services.This book is written for the experienced programmer to help you quickly come up to speed on the VB.NET language and then go on to an in-depth study of the .NET Framework. It is a practical book for practicing professionals, and it has many examples and a realistic case study that continues through many of the chapters. The goal is to equip you to begin building significant applications using Visual Basic .NET and the .NET Framework.The book is part of The Integrated .NET Series from Object Innovations and Prentice Hall PTR. Other books in the series provide a more a more basic introduction to VB.NET, discuss the issues of migrating to VB.NET, and cover other important .NET languages and topics in the Framework. See the front of this book for a list of titles in the series. This book, in substance and structure, is quite close to the companion titlesApplication Development Using C# and .NETand.NET Architecture and Programming Using Visual C++. A major difference between those books and this, besides using VB.NET as the language, is extensive coverage of GUI programming, including three chapters on Windows Forms and a chapter on GDI+. OrganizationThe book is organized into six major parts and is structured to make it easy for you to navigate to what you need to learn. Part 1, consisting of the first two chapters, provides an overview that should be read by everyone. It answers the big question,What is Microsoft .NET?and outlines the programming model of the .NET Framework.Part 2, consisting of Chapters 3 to 6, covers the VB.NET programming language. Even if you know classic Visual Basic, you should read this part, paying attention to the changes in data types (Chapter 3) and the new object-oriented features (Chapters 5). Chapter 6 covers important interactions between VB.NET and the .NET Fram