Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step by Step

by Halvorson, Michael

• ISBN13: 9780735613744
• ISBN10: 0735613745
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2001-11-17
• Publisher: Microsoft Pr

Summary

Here's a fast way for any programmer to begin writing professional Microsoftr Windowsr-based applications for the Microsoft .NET platform-and extend them to the Web-one step at a time. Best-selling author Michael Halvorson shows how to unleash the power of the new, Web-integrated version of Visual Basic, with coverage of object-oriented design strategies and the creation of Web Forms and Web Services. Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step by Step includes optimisation tips, advice, and samples; and delivers lessons in a proven, modular format for quick, self-paced, learning, with source code and the entire book on CD-ROM for supplemental reference and study

Table of Contents

Finding Your Best Starting Point	xi
Finding Your Best Starting Point in this Book	xii
New Features in Visual Basic .NET	xiii
Corrections, Comments, and Help	xv
Visit the Microsoft Press World Wide Web Site	xvi
About the CD-ROM and Practice Files	xvii
System Requirements	xvii
Installing the Practice Files on Your Computer	xviii
Using the Practice Files	xix
Uninstalling the Practice Files	xxiv
Need Help with the Practice Files?	xxiv
Conventions and Features in this Book	xxv
PART 1 Getting Started with Microsoft Visual Basic .NET	1	(124)
Opening and Running a Visual Basic .NET Program	3	(30)
The Visual Studio .NET Development Environment	5	(5)
The Visual Studio .NET Tools	10	(6)
The Properties Window	16	(4)
Moving and Resizing the Programming Tools	20	(6)
Getting Help	26	(4)
One Step Further: Exiting Visual Studio .NET	30	(1)
Quick Reference	31	(2)
Writing Your First Program	33	(32)
Lucky Seven: Your First Visual Basic Program	35	(1)
Programming Steps	35	(1)
Creating the User Interface	36	(7)
Setting the Properties	43	(6)
Writing the Code	49	(8)
Running Visual Basic .NET Applications	57	(1)
Building an Executable File	58	(3)
One Step Further: Adding to a Program	61	(1)
Quick Reference	62	(3)
Working with Toolbox Controls	65	(32)
The Basic Use of Controls: The ``Hello World'' Program	66	(6)
Using the DateTimePicker Control	72	(8)
Controls for Gathering Input	80	(8)
Using the Linklabel Control	88	(4)
One Step Further: Installing ActiveX Controls	92	(3)
Quick Reference	95	(2)
Working with Menus and Dialog Boxes	97	(28)
Adding Menus Using the MainMenu Control	98	(3)
Adding Access Keys to Menu Commands	101	(3)
Processing Menu Choices	104	(4)
Using Dialog Box Controls	108	(5)
Event Procedures That Manage Common Dialog Boxes	113	(8)
One Step Further: Assigning Shortcut Keys to Menus	121	(3)
Quick Reference	124	(1)
Part 2 Programming Fundamentals	125	(128)
Visual Basic .NET Variables and Operators	127	(38)
The Anatomy of a Visual Basic Program Statement	129	(1)
Using Variables to Store Information	130	(2)
Using Variables in a Program	132	(4)
Using a Variable to Store Input	136	(3)
Using a Variable for Output	139	(3)
Working with Specific Data Types	142	(8)
Working with Visual Basic Operators	150	(9)
Working with Math Methods in the .NET Framework	159	(4)
One Step Further: Using Parentheses in a Formula	163	(1)
Quick Reference	164	(1)
Using Decision Structures	165	(24)
Event-Driven Programming	166	(2)
Using Conditional Expressions	168	(1)
If...Then Decision Structures	169	(11)
Select Case Decision Structures	180	(6)
One Step Further: Detecting Mouse Events	186	(2)
Quick Reference	188	(1)
Using Loops and Timers	189	(26)
Writing For...Next Loops	190	(10)
Writing Do Loops	200	(6)
The Timer Control	206	(3)
One Step Further: Using a Timer Object to Set a Time Limit	209	(3)
Quick Reference	212	(3)
Debugging Visual Basic .NET Programs	215	(16)
Finding and Correcting Errors	216	(2)
Debugging 101: Using Break Mode	218	(6)
Tracking Variables Using a Watch Window	224	(2)
Using the Command Window	226	(2)
One Step Further: Removing Breakpoints	228	(1)
Quick Reference	229	(2)
Trapping Errors Using Structured Error Handling	231	(22)
Processing Errors Using Try...Catch	233	(4)
Writing a Disk Drive Error Handler	237	(3)
More Complex Try...Catch Error Handlers	240	(7)
Comparing Error Handlers to Defensive Programming Techniques	247	(1)
One Step Further: The Exit Try Statement	248	(2)
Quick Reference	250	(3)
Part 3 Managing Corporate Data	253	(148)
Using Modules and Procedures	255	(30)
Working with Standard Modules	257	(4)
Working with Public Variables	261	(5)
Creating Procedures	266	(1)
Writing Function Procedures	267	(6)
Writing Sub Procedures	273	(7)
One Step Further: Passing Arguments by Value and by Reference	280	(2)
Quick Reference	282	(3)
Using Arrays and Collections to Manage Data	285	(30)
Working with Arrays of Variables	287	(11)
Preserving Array Contents Using ReDim Preserve	298	(2)
Working with Object Collections	300	(7)
Creating Your Own Collections	307	(4)
One Step Further: Visual Basic for Applications Collections	311	(2)
Quick Reference	313	(2)
Exploring Text Files and String Processing	315	(36)
Displaying Text Files by Using a Text Box Object	316	(8)
Creating a New Text File on Disk	324	(4)
Processing Text Strings with Program Code	328	(11)
Protecting Text with Encryption	339	(3)
One Step Further: Using the Xor Operator	342	(6)
Quick Reference	348	(3)
Automating Microsoft Office Applications and Managing Processes	351	(20)
Programming Application Objects by Using Automation	352	(6)
Automating Excel from Visual Basic	358	(8)
One Step Further: Starting and Stopping Windows Applications Using the Process Component	366	(4)
Quick Reference	370	(1)
Deploying Visual Basic .NET Applications	371	(30)
Planning a Deployment	373	(3)
Creating a Deployment Project	376	(10)
Customizing Your Deployment Options	386	(6)
Building a Deployment Project and Testing Setup	392	(4)
One Step Further: Examining Setup Files and Uninstalling	396	(4)
Quick Reference	400	(1)
Part 4 Advanced User Interface Design	401	(94)
Managing Windows Forms	403	(28)
Adding New Forms to a Program	405	(1)
Working with Multiple Forms	406	(7)
Positioning Forms on the Windows Desktop	413	(6)
Adding Controls to a Form at Runtime	419	(3)
Organizing Controls on a Form	422	(3)
One Step Further: Specifying the Startup Object	425	(3)
Quick Reference	428	(3)
Adding Graphics and Animation Effects	431	(18)
Adding Artwork Using the System. Drawing Namespace	433	(4)
Adding Animation to Your Programs	437	(7)
Expanding and Shrinking Objects While a Program is Running	444	(2)
One Step Further: Changing Form Transparency	446	(2)
Quick Reference	448	(1)
Inheriting Forms and Creating Base Classes	449	(20)
Inheriting a Form Using the Inheritance Picker	450	(5)
Creating Your Own Base Classes	455	(8)
One Step Further: Inheriting a Base Class	463	(3)
Quick Reference	466	(3)
Working with Printers	469	(26)
Using the PrintDocument Class	470	(9)
Printing Multipage Text Files	479	(7)
One Step Further: Adding Print Preview and Page Setup Dialog Boxes	486	(6)
Quick Reference	492	(3)
Part 5 Database Programming	495	(44)
Getting Started with ADO.NET	497	(26)
Database Programming with ADO.NET	498	(13)
Using Bound Controls to Display Database Information on a Form	511	(4)
Creating Navigation Controls	515	(3)
One Step Further: Displaying the Current Record Position	518	(3)
Quick Reference	521	(2)
Data Presentation Using the DataGrid Control	523	(16)
Using DataGrid to Display Database Records	524	(9)
Formatting DataGrid Cells	533	(2)
One Step Further: Updating the Original Database	535	(3)
Quick Reference	538	(1)
Part 6 Internet Programming	539	(42)
Displaying HTML Documents Using Internet Explorer	541	(14)
Getting Started with the Internet Explorer Object	542	(5)
Displaying HTML Documents	547	(4)
One Step Further: Responding to Internet Explorer Events	551	(3)
Quick Reference	554	(1)
Using Web Forms to Build Interactive Web Applications	555	(26)
Inside ASP.NET	556	(4)
Getting Started with a Web Application	560	(6)
Using the Web Forms Designer	566	(3)
Adding Web Forms Controls to a Web Application	569	(6)
One Step Further: Creating a Link to Another Web Page	575	(4)
Quick Reference	579	(2)
Part 7 Appendixes	581	(18)
Appendix A Upgrading Visual Basic 6 Programs to Visual Basic .NET	583	(12)
Assessing Visual Basic 6 Programs for Compatibility	584	(3)
Running the Visual Basic Upgrade Wizard	587	(8)
Appendix B Where to Go for More Information	595	(4)
Visual Basic .NET Web Sites	596	(1)
Books for Visual Basic .NET Programming	597	(2)
Upgrading Index	599	(4)
Index	603