Beginning Visual Basic 2012

**The ultimate beginner's guide to programming in Visual Basic 2012**Visual Basic, used to write Windows applications and web apps with ASP.NET, is an essential language for beginning programmers. Using the time-tested Wrox approach, this guide provides a step-by-step format that gets beginners up and running quickly and confidently. Essential topics covered include writing Windows applications, working with dialog boxes and menus, object oriented programming techniques, programming for graphics, using Visual Basic with ASP.NET for web apps, and dealing with data access and SQL Server. * Visual Basic is a popular first language for beginning programmers; this Wrox beginner's guide covers all aspects of the newest version * Uses a basic, step-by-step approach to help beginners learn quickly and easily * Covers essential topics including flow control, data structure, writing Windows applications, error handling and debugging, objects and object oriented techniques, and class libraries * Explains Windows Forms, graphics programming, accessing databases, web programming using Visual Basic with ASP.NET, data access, SQL Server, ADO.NET, and XML __Beginning Visual Basic 2012__ is a must-have for programming newcomers who want to get a solid footing in one of the most important programming languages. Beginning Visual Basic® 2012 Contents Chapter 1: Welcome to Visual Basic 2012 Event-Driven Programming Installing Visual Basic 2012 The Visual Studio 2012 IDE The Profile Setup Page The Menu The Toolbars Creating a Simple Application Windows in the Visual Studio 2012 IDE The Toolbox Modified Hungarian Notation The Code Editor Using the Help System SUMMARY Chapter 2: The Microsoft .NET Framework Microsoft’s Reliance on Windows MSN 1.0 The .NET Vision This Sounds Like Java Where Now? Writing Software for Windows The .NET Framework Classes Executing Code Common Language Runtime Code Loading and Execution Application Isolation Security Interoperability Exception Handling The Common Type System and Common Language Specification SUMMARY Chapter 3: Writing Software Information and Data Algorithms What Is a Programming Language? Working with Variables Comments and Whitespace Comments Whitespace Data Types Working with Numbers Common Integer Math Operations Integer Math Shorthand The Problem with Integer Math Floating-Point Math Other States Single-Precision Floating-Point Numbers Working with Strings Concatenation Using the Concatenation Operator Inline More String Operations Substrings Formatting Strings Localized Formatting Replacing Substrings Using Dates Formatting Date Strings Extracting Date Properties Date Constants Defining Date Literals Manipulating Dates Boolean Storing Variables Binary Bits and Bytes Representing Values Converting Values Methods Why Use Methods? Methods You’ve Already Seen Building a Method Choosing Method Names Scope SUMMARY Chapter 4: Controlling the Flow Making Decisions The If Statement The Else Statement Allowing Multiple Alternatives with ElseIf Nested If Statements Single-Line If Statement Comparison Operators Using Not Equal To Using the Numeric Operators The And and Or Operators Using the And Operator More on And and Or String Comparison Select Case Case-Insensitive Select Case Multiple Selections The Case Else Statement Different Data Types with Select Case Loops The For...Next Loop Using the Step Keyword Looping Backward The For Each...Next Loop The Do...Loop Loops Do While...Loop Acceptable Expressions for a Do...Loop Other Versions of the Do...Loop Nested Loops Quitting Early Quitting Do...Loops Infinite Loops SUMMARY Chapter 5: Working with Data Structures Understanding Arrays Defining and Using Arrays Using For Each...Next Passing Arrays As Parameters Sorting Arrays Going Backward Initializing Arrays with Values Understanding Enumerations Using Enumerations Determining the State Setting Invalid Values Understanding Constants Using Constants Different Constant Types Structures Building Structures Adding Properties to Structures Working with ArrayLists Using an ArrayList Deleting from an ArrayList Showing Items in the ArrayList Working with Collections Creating CustomerCollection Adding an Item Property Building Lookup Tables with Hashtable Using Hashtables Cleaning Up: Remove, RemoveAt, and Clear Case Sensitivity Advanced Array Manipulation Dynamic Arrays Using Preserve SUMMARY Chapter 6: Extensible Application Markup Language (XAML) What Is XAML? XAML Syntax Windows Presentation Foundation Creating a Rich WPF User Interface Using WPF Common Controls Wiring Up Events SUMMARY Chapter 7: Building Windows Applications Responding to Events Building a Simple Application Counting Characters Counting Words Creating More Complex Applications Creating the Toolbar Creating the Status Bar Creating an Edit Box Clearing the Edit Box Responding to Toolbar Buttons Using Multiple Forms About Dialog SUMMARY Chapter 8: Displaying Dialogs The MessageBox Available Icons for MessageBox Available Buttons for MessageBox Setting the Default Button Miscellaneous Options The Show Method Syntax Example Message Boxes The OpenFileDialog Control The OpenFileDialog Control The Properties of OpenFileDialog OpenFileDialog Methods Using the OpenFileDialog Control The SaveDialog Control The Properties of SaveFileDialog SaveFileDialog Methods Using the SaveFileDialog Control The FontDialog Control The Properties of FontDialog The Methods of FontDialog Using the FontDialog Control The ColorDialog Control The Properties of ColorDialog Using the ColorDialog Control The PrintDialog Control The Properties of PrintDialog Using the PrintDialog Control The PrintDocument Class The Properties of the PrintDocument Class Printing a Document The FolderBrowserDialog Control The Properties of FolderBrowserDialog Using the FolderBrowserDialog Control SUMMARY Chapter 9: Creating Menus Understanding Menu Features Images Access Keys Shortcut Keys Check Marks The Properties Window Creating Menus Designing the Menus Adding Toolbars and Controls Coding Menus Coding the View Menu and Toolbars Testing Your Code Context Menus Creating Context Menus Enabling and Disabling Menu Items and Toolbar Buttons SUMMARY Chapter 10: Debugging and Error Handling Major Error Types Syntax Errors Execution Errors Logic Errors Debugging Creating a Sample Project Setting Breakpoints Debugging Using the Watch Window and QuickWatch Dialog Box Debugging with the Autos Window Debugging with the Locals Window Error Handling Using Structured Error Handling SUMMARY Chapter 11: Building Objects Understanding Objects Encapsulation Methods and Properties Events Visibility What Is a Class? Building Classes Reusability Designing an Object State Behavior Storing State Real Properties Read/Write Properties Auto-Implemented Properties The IsMoving Method Constructors Inheritance Adding New Methods and Properties Adding a GetPowerToWeightRatio Method Changing Defaults Polymorphism: Scary Word, Simple Concept Overriding More Methods Inheriting from the Object Class Objects and Structures The Framework Classes Namespaces The Imports Statement Creating Your Own Namespace Inheritance in the .NET Framework SUMMARY Chapter 12: Advanced Object-Oriented Techniques Building a Favorites Viewer Internet Shortcuts and Favorites Using Classes Scanning Favorites Viewing Favorites An Alternative Favorite Viewer Building a Favorites Tray Displaying Favorites Using Shared Properties and Methods Using Shared Properties Using Shared Methods Understanding Object-Oriented Programming and Memory Management Garbage Collection Releasing Resources Defragmentation and Compaction SUMMARY Chapter 13: Building Class Libraries Understanding Class Libraries Creating a Class Library Building a Class Library for Favorites Viewer A Multitiered Application Using Strong Names Signing Assemblies Assembly Versions Registering Assemblies Gacutil Utility Why Is My Assembly Not Visible in the References Dialog? Designing Class Libraries Using Third-Party Class Libraries Viewing Classes with the Object Browser SUMMARY Chapter 14: Creating Windows Forms User Controls Windows Forms Controls Creating and Testing a User Control Exposing Properties from User Controls Adding Properties Exposing Methods from User Controls Exposing Events from User Controls Design Time or Runtime Creating a Command Link Control Building the Command Link Control Using the Command Link Control SUMMARY Chapter 15: Accessing Data Using Structured Query Language What You Need to Complete This Chapter’s Exercises What Is a Database? Database Tables Primary and Foreign Keys Understanding Primary Keys Understanding Foreign Keys Queries Understanding Basic SQL Syntax Using SELECT Statement Using the JOIN Statement Using the UPDATE Statement Using the DELETE Statement Using the INSERT Statement Using the SQL Comment Executing Queries in SQL Server SUMMARY Chapter 16: Database Programming with SQL Server and ADO.NET ADO.NET ADO.NET Data Namespaces The SqlConnection Class Working with the Connection String Parameters Opening and Closing the Connection The SqlCommand Class The Connection Property The CommandText Property The Parameters Collection The ExecuteNonQuery Method The SqlDataAdapter Class The SelectCommand Property Setting SelectCommand to SQL Text Setting SelectCommand to a Stored Procedure Using Command Builders to Create the Other Commands The Fill Method The DataSet Class DataView The Sort Property The RowFilter Property The Find Method The ADO.NET Classes in Action Data Binding BindingContext and CurrencyManager Binding Controls Binding Examples SUMMARY Chapter 17: Dynamic Data Website Creating a Dynamic Data Entities Website Customizing the Design of a Dynamic Data Website Page Templates Entity Templates Field Templates Filter Templates SUMMARY Chapter 18: ASP.NET Thin-Client Architecture Web Forms versus Windows Forms Windows Forms Advantages Web Forms Advantages Web Applications: The Basic Pieces Web Servers Browsers HyperText Markup Language JavaScript Cascading Style Sheets Active Server Pages Benefits of ASP.NET Web Pages Special Website Files Global.asax Web.config Development Controls: The Toolbox Building Websites Creating a Web Form for Client- and Server-Side Processing Website Locations with VS 2012 Performing Data Entry and Validation Site Layout, Themes, and Navigation Using the GridView to Build a Data-Driven Web Form SUMMARY Chapter 19: Deploying Your Application What Is Deployment? ClickOnce Deployment XCOPY Deployment Creating a Visual Studio 2012 Setup Application Customize the User Interface Deploying Different Solutions Private Assemblies Shared Assemblies Deploying Desktop Applications Deploying Web Applications Deploying XML Web Services Useful Tools SUMMARY Chapter 20: Windows 8 Apps Windows 8 Application Design Principles Using Touch Application Commands Windows 8 Controls Creating your First Windows 8 App Application Layout Application Views Screen Sizes and Orientation Summary Appendix A: Exercise Solutions Appendix B: Where to Now? Index Advertisment

The ultimate beginner's guide to programming in Visual Basic 2012

Visual Basic, used to write Windows applications and web apps with ASP.NET, is an essential language for beginning programmers. Using the time-tested Wrox approach, this guide provides a step-by-step format that gets beginners up and running quickly and confidently. Essential topics covered include writing Windows applications, working with dialog boxes and menus, object oriented programming techniques, programming for graphics, using Visual Basic with ASP.NET for web apps, and dealing with data access and SQL Server.

• Visual Basic is a popular first language for beginning programmers; this Wrox beginner's guide covers all aspects of the newest version
• Uses a basic, step-by-step approach to help beginners learn quickly and easily
• Covers essential topics including flow control, data structure, writing Windows applications, error handling and debugging, objects and object oriented techniques, and class libraries
• Explains Windows Forms, graphics programming, accessing databases, web programming using Visual Basic with ASP.NET, data access, SQL Server, ADO.NET, and XML

Beginning Visual Basic 2012 is a must-have for programming newcomers who want to get a solid footing in one of the most important programming languages.

The ultimate beginner's guide to programming in Visual Basic 2012 Visual Basic, used to write Windows applications and web apps with ASP. NET, is an essential language for beginning programmers. Using the time-tested Wrox approach, this guide provides a step-by-step format that gets beginners up and running quickly and confidently.