Programming Visual Basic 2008 by Patrick, Tim -- Read -- Imperial Library of Trantor

Index

Programming Visual Basic 2008

Preface

Who Is Reading This Book? What's in This Book? What's in the Software Download? Conventions Used in This Book Using Code Examples How to Contact Us Safari® Books Online Acknowledgments

1. Introducing .NET

Before .NET Back to Introducing .NET The .NET Object

Objects and Data Objects and Interfaces Objects and Instances

The Parts of the .NET Framework

The Common Language Runtime The Common Language Specification The Common Type System .NET Class Libraries Assemblies and Manifests Metadata and Attributes Versioning

From Source Code to EXE What About Visual Studio and Visual Basic? Visual Studio 2008 Summary Project

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

Literals Variables Value Types and Reference Types Data Types Advanced Declaration Constants Local Declaration and Fields

Intermission Comments Option Statements Basic Operators Using Functions and Subroutines Conditions

If Statements Select Case Statements IIf and If Functions

Loops

For . . . Next Loops For Each . . . Next Loops Do . . . Loop Loops Exit Statements Continue Statements

Creating Your Own Procedures

Subroutines Functions Properties Where to Put Your Procedures

Other Flow Control Features

The GoTo Statement The Return Statement The End and Stop Statements

Events and Event Handlers Namespaces

Referencing Namespaces Namespaces in Your Project

The My Namespace Summary Project

3. Introducing the Project

The Library Project

Library Item Features Patron Features Administrative Features The Application As a Whole

The Needs of the Users

Data and Information Process Usability Commonality Project-Specific Needs

The Life of a Project

Project Kickoff Documentation Project Goals Design and Planning Project Approval Software and Other Development Changes to the Project Acceptance Criteria Testing Project Acceptance Deployment and Distribution Ongoing Support

Summary Project

4. Designing the Database

Relational Databases SQL Server 2005 SQL

DDL Statements DML Statements Beyond Basic SQL

Using Databases in Visual Basic Documenting the Database Summary Project

Technical Resource Kit Content

Security-related tables

Activity GroupName GroupActivity UserName

Support code tables

CodeAuthorType CodeCopyStatus CodeLocation CodeMediaType CodePatronGroup CodeSeries

Library items

NamedItem ItemCopy Publisher Author ItemAuthor Keyword ItemKeyword Subject ItemSubject

Patron-related tables

Patron PatronCopy PatronPayment

Bar code-related tables

BarcodeSheet BarcodeLabel BarcodeLabelItem

Other miscellaneous tables

Holiday SystemValue

Creating the Database

5. .NET Assemblies

What Is an Assembly? What's Inside an Assembly?

Reflection

Assemblies and Applications The My Namespace and Assemblies Directives and Assemblies Summary Project

Adding Controls Adding the Code to the Form Setting the Version Number Adding the Main Form Extra Credit: Adding an Icon Save Your Work

6. Data and Data Types

The Nature of Computer Data Data in .NET

Integer Data Types Decimal Data Types Character Data Types Date and Time Data Type Boolean Data Type The System.Object Class Value Types and Reference Types

Visual Basic Data Types Literals Constants Enumerations Variables

Scope and Lifetime

Variable and Constant Naming Conventions Local Type Inference Operators Static Variables Arrays

Multidimensional Arrays Array Boundaries Initializing Arrays

Nullable Types Common Visual Basic Functions

Conversion Functions Date-Related Functions Numeric Functions String Functions Other Functions

Summary Project

7. Windows Forms

Inside a Windows Application

Everything Is a Window Messages and the Message Pump Window Procedures

Windows in .NET

Forms and Controls Designing Windows Forms Applications Working with Forms Adding Controls Events and Delegates

Making Forms Useful Summary Project

Configuring the Splash Screen Configuring the Main Form Making the Program Single-Instance

8. Classes and Inheritance

Object-Oriented Programming Concepts

The Object Abstraction Encapsulation Inheritance Polymorphism Interfaces and Implementation

OOP in Visual Basic and .NET

Classes Class Members Shared Class Members Overloaded Members and Optional Arguments Inheritance Creating Instances of Classes Constructors and Destructors Interfaces Modules and Structures Partial Methods

Related Issues

The MsgBox Method Using DoEvents ParamArray Arguments

Summary Project

Supporting List and Combo Boxes Editing Code Tables The Generic Detail Form The Generic Summary Form

9. Functional Programming

Lambda Expressions

Implying Lambdas Expression Trees Complex Lambdas Variable Lifting

Object Initializers Error Handling in Visual Basic The Nature of Errors in Visual Basic Unstructured Error Handling

Disabling Error Handling Ignoring Errors

Structured Error Handling

The Try Clause The Catch Clause The Finally Clause

Unhandled Errors Managing Errors

Generating Errors Mixing Error-Handling Methods The System.Exception Class The Err Object The Debug Object Other Visual Basic Error Features

Summary Project

General Error Handler Unhandled Error Capture

10. ADO.NET

What Is ADO.NET? Overview of ADO.NET

Providers Data Sets

Data Sets Versus No Data Sets

MARS Support

Connecting to SQL Server with Visual Studio

Creating a Data Source Using a Data Source Data Binding

Interacting with SQL Server in Code

Building the Connection String Establishing the Connection Using SQL Statements Processing the Results Modifying Data

Database Transactions ADO.NET Entity Framework Summary Project

Reference the Data Namespaces Connecting to the Database Interacting with the Database Processing Data Values System-Level Configuration

11. Security

Security Features in .NET Cryptography and Encryption

Keeping Secrets Data Stability Identity Verification

Encryption in .NET

Symmetric Cryptography Asymmetric Cryptography Hashing

Other Security Features

User Authentication and My.User The SecureString Class

Summary Project

Authentication Support Encrypting Passwords Undoing Some Previous Changes Managing Security Groups Managing Users Per-User Experience

12. Overloads and Extensions

What Is Operator Overloading? What Can You Overload?

Mathematical Operators Comparison Operators Bitwise and Logical Operators The CType Operator

Other Operator Overloading Issues

Declaration Requirements Overloading Overloads Be Nice

Extension Methods Summary Project

Overloading a Conversion Global Support Features Extending a Framework-Supplied Class Record Editors and Supporting Forms

Search-limiting forms Keyword and subject editors More named item support forms Inherited code editors

Connecting the Editors to the Main Form Setting the Default Location

13. XML

What Is XML? The XML Rule XML Content

Some Basic XML Some Basic—and Meaningful—XML What About the Human-Readable Part? XML Schemas XML Namespaces

Using XML in .NET: The Old Way

The Basic XML Classes, Basically Finding Needles and Haystacks Schema Verification XML Transformations

Using XML in .NET: The New Way

Embedded XML Expressions XML Axis Properties Namespaces and Schemas for XML Literals

Summary Project

Update Technical Documentation

Report Configuration File

Create Report Entry Class Design the Report Form Populate Reports from Configuration File Running the Reports Connecting the Select Report Form

14. Application Settings

A Short History of Settings Settings in Visual Basic 2008

Adding Settings to a Project My.Settings Bound Settings

Summary Project

Update Technical Documentation

User settings

Add the Settings Positioning the Main Form Caching and Using Settings Adding Configuration Forms Connecting to the Configured Database

15. Files and Directories

Traditional Visual Basic File Management Manipulating Files Through Streams

Stream Features Using a Stream Beyond Stream Bytes Reading a File Via a Stream

File Management with the My Namespace

My Namespace Versus Visual Basic Commands Reading and Writing Files Through My

Summary Project

Configuring Log Output Other Log Output Options Obtaining a Bar Code Font

16. Generics

What Are Generics? Variations of Generic Declaration

Multiple Placeholders Data Type and Interface Constraints Simultaneous Constraints Nesting Generic Types Non-Generic Types with Generic Members Overloading Generic Types and Members Generics and Collections Generic Nullable Types

Summary Project

Managing Holidays

17. LINQ

What Is LINQ?

The Good The Bad Supporting Technologies

Anonymous Types LINQ to Objects Basic Query Expressions

The From Clause The Select Clause The Distinct Clause The Where Clause The Order By Clause Joining Sources Skip and Take

Converting Results to Other Forms Aggregate Queries Advanced Query Expressions LINQ to XML LINQ for ADO.NET-Related Data

LINQ to Entities LINQ to DataSet LINQ to SQL

Deferred Execution Summary Project

Looking Up Library Items Maintaining Search History Showing Item Detail Enabling the Search Features

18. User Interface

Overview of GDI+ Selecting a Canvas

Obtaining and Creating Graphics Objects Disposing of Graphics Objects Properly

Choosing Pens and Brushes

Pens Brushes

Flowing Text from the Font Imagining Images Exposing Your True Artist Paths: Drawings on Macro-Vision Keeping It Regional Twisting and Turning with Transformations Enhancing Controls Through Owner Draw Windows Presentation Foundation

WPF and XAML

Enhancing Classes with Attributes Summary Project

Install the Bar Code Font Using Owner Draw Bar Code Design Fun with Graphics

19. Localization and Globalization

Defining Globalization and Localization Resource Files The My.Resources Object Localizing Forms Within Visual Studio Adding Resources Outside Visual Studio Manually Compiling Resources

Resource File Generation Compiling Satellite Assemblies

Other Localization Features Summary Project

Tracking Patron Payments Calculating Patron Fines Patron Record Access Patron Password Modification Collecting Patron Payments Managing All Fines and Payments Connecting Patron Features to the Main Form Dueling Patron Management Forms

20. Printing

Printing in Windows Printing in .NET Printing a Document Print Preview Counting and Numbering Pages Printing in "Raw" Mode Summary Project

Supporting Raw Printing Printing Tickets Printing Bar Codes Renewal of Checked-Out Patron Items Support for Check-In and Checkout Checking Out Items Checking In Items

21. Reporting

Report Options in .NET

PrintDocument-Based Printing HTML/Web Pages XPS Documents Reporting Services and Controls Crystal Reports Integration with Microsoft Office

Using Reporting Controls in .NET

Adding the Data Source Adding a Report Design Surface Designing the Report Surface Using a Report Control Running the Report Adding a Page Header and Footer Support for Grouping and Sorting Enhanced Style Formatting Using Custom Data Supplying Custom Data Sources

Summary Project

Crafting the SQL Statements Adding Report Schemas Adding Reports Adding a Report Viewer Adding Built-in Reports

22. Licensing Your Application

Software Licensing Options

License Agreement Only Generated General License Key Generated Custom License Key License Key with Hardware Identity or Lock Controlled Access

License Agreements Obfuscation The Library Licensing System

Designing the License File Generating the License File Installing the License File Using the License File

Summary Project

Update Technical Documentation

License File

Library License Helper Application Adding the License to the Library Program Display the License on the About Form Enforcing the License Daily Item Processing

23. Web Development

How the Internet Works Programming the Internet ASP.NET Features Trying Out ASP.NET More About Events State and View State Data Validation Database Integration Windows Communication Foundation Summary Project

Configuring the Database The Default Page Search Results Search Detail Statistics Report

24. Adding Online Help

Windows Online Help Options

WinHelp HTML Help Microsoft Help 2 Assistance Platform Other Methods

Designing HTML Help

Content Files Help Project File Help Contents File Help Keywords (Index) File Formatting Help Windows

Accessing HTML Help

HelpProvider Control

Accessing HTML help files Showing pop-up help

ShowHelp Method

Summary Project

Building the Help Files Adding Help Support to the Application

25. Deployment

What's Involved in Deployment? Deployment Methods Within Visual Studio

Direct ASP.NET Deployment XCopy Deployment Windows Installer Deployment

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3 Step 4 Step 5 After the wizard Generating the MSI file

ClickOnce Deployment

Summary Project

Planning the Deployment Building the Setup Project The Distribution Media

26. Project Complete

The Library Project Visual Basic Flexibility The Programming Mindset Summary

A. Installing the Software

Download the Software Install the Software Install Project Templates Install Code Snippets Bar Code Support

B. Software License Agreement

Colophon

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