Visual Basic.Net Reflection Handbook

by Hart, James; Mathew, Benny; Gilani, Syed Fahad; Gillespie, Michael J.; Olsen, Andy

• ISBN13: 9781861007599
• ISBN10: 1861007590
• Format: Trade Paper
• Copyright: 2002-09-01
• Publisher: Springer-Verlag New York Inc

Summary

Examines all the ways reflection can be used, and identifies practical applications and important programming techniques that rely upon reflection for their functionality. Softcover.

Table of Contents

Introduction	1	(1)
Who is this Book for?	1	(1)
Book Outline	2	(3)
Flexible Programming	5	(18)
Reflection Defined	5	(5)
What is Reflection For?	6	(4)
Type Terminology	10	(1)
Binding	11	(6)
Early (Static) Binding	11	(1)
Runtime Binding	11	(1)
Object-orientation	12	(2)
Late Binding	14	(3)
Metadata	17	(1)
Accessing .NET Metadata	17	(3)
Attributes	19	(1)
Reflection in .NET	20	(1)
Examining Objects	20	(1)
Manipulating Objects	20	(1)
Creating Objects	20	(1)
Summary	20	(3)
Examining Assemblies, Objects and Types	23	(34)
Examining Assembly Metadata	24	(7)
The Assembly Class	25	(6)
Examining Type Metadata	31	(5)
Retrieving Types	31	(1)
The Get Type() Method and Operator	31	(1)
The GetInterfaces() Method	32	(1)
Module Methods	32	(1)
Type Class Members	32	(4)
Examining Class Member Metadata	36	(17)
The MemberInfo Class	37	(1)
The BindingFlags Enumeration	38	(2)
The FieldInfo Class	40	(3)
The PropertyInfo Class	43	(2)
The MethodBase Class	45	(2)
The MethodInfo Class	47	(1)
The ConstructorInfo Class	48	(1)
The EventInfo Class	49	(2)
The ParameterInfo Class	51	(2)
Summary	53	(4)
Using Objects	57	(34)
Why Invoke Members Using Reflection?	58	(1)
Invoking Members Dynamically	59	(23)
Invoking Class Members Using the Info Classes	59	(1)
Invoking Methods Using MethodInfo	59	(2)
Invoking Properties Using PropertyInfo	61	(1)
Invoking Fields Using FieldInfo	62	(1)
Invoking Class Members Using InvokeMember()	63	(1)
Invoking Methods Using InvokeMember()	64	(6)
Manipulating Property Values Using InvokeMember()	70	(6)
Manipulating Field Values Using InvokeMember()	76	(6)
Reflective Invocation at a Price	82	(6)
Reflection Or Delegates?	83	(5)
Summary	88	(3)
Creating Objects	91	(26)
Dynamic Assembly Loading	92	(6)
Creating Assembly References	92	(1)
Application Configuration Files and Binding	92	(1)
Defining an AssemblyName	93	(2)
Partially Referencing Assemblies	95	(1)
Methods Used For Dynamic Assembly Loading	95	(1)
Instantiating Classes Dynamically	96	(2)
Abstract Factory Pattern	98	(17)
Advantages of Using the Abstract Factory Pattern with Dynamic Assembly Loading	100	(1)
A Simple Abstract Factory Pattern in VB.NET	100	(3)
Implementing the Abstract Factory Pattern with Dynamic Assembly Loading in VB.NET	103	(12)
Summary	115	(2)
Attributes	117	(48)
Understanding Attributes	119	(15)
Syntax for Using Attributes	122	(7)
Testing a Data Type for Standard Attributes	129	(5)
Using Predefined .NET Attributes	134	(20)
Understanding Attribute Class Definitions	134	(1)
Understanding Attribute Class Syntax	134	(6)
Passing Arguments into Attributes	140	(3)
Using Attributes to Control the Compiler	143	(5)
Defining and Using Assembly Attributes	148	(6)
Defining New Custom Attributes	154	(8)
Summary	162	(3)
The .NET Component Model	165	(60)
Investigating the .NET Component Model	166	(15)
Components, Controls, and Classes	166	(2)
Using Reflection with the Component Model	168	(1)
Obtaining Metadata for Types, Properties, and Events	169	(6)
Using Metadata to Write Generic Code	175	(6)
Creating New Components	181	(40)
Defining a Component Class	182	(6)
Storing Components in a Container	188	(1)
Using the Standard Container Class to Host Components	189	(2)
Defining a Custom Container Class to Host Components	191	(6)
Using Components in Visual Studio .NET	197	(1)
Adding a Component to the Toolbox in Visual Studio .NET	197	(1)
Adding Component Objects to an Application	198	(2)
Defining Properties and Events for a Component	200	(7)
Defining Converter Classes for Components	207	(1)
Defining the TelephoneNumber Class	207	(1)
Defining the TelephoneNumberConverter Class	208	(5)
Defining the Address Class	213	(1)
Defining the AddressConverter Class	214	(4)
Testing the Final Employee Component Class	218	(3)
Summary	221	(4)
Appendix: Support, Errata, and Code Download	225	(4)
How to Download the Sample Code for the Book	225	(1)
Errata	226	(1)
E-Mail Support	226	(1)
p2p.wrox.com	227	(2)
Index	229