Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition: Build a Program Now! Book

Introducing Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     1
What Is .NET?     2
What Is Visual Basic 2008?     4
Is Visual Basic 2008 an Object-Oriented Programming Language?     4
What Is Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition?     9
What Kinds of Applications Can You Build with Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition?     10
What Are the Key Features You Need to Know About?     11
Installing Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     15
Preparing to Install Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     16
Side-by-Side Installation     16
Prerelease Versions of Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     17
Installing Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     17
Creating Your First Applications     25
Three Types of Applications: What Are the Differences?     26
Getting Started with the IDE     28
Building a Console Application     31
Building the Projects     31
Getting to Know Solution Explorer     32
Getting Help: Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Edition Documentation     34
Coding Your Console Application     37
Customizing the IDE     39
Creating a Windows Application     41
Creating Your Own Web Browser inLess Than Five Minutes     47
What Is a Project?     48
What Is the Design Layout?     49
To Create a Simple Web Browser     50
Putting It All Together     56
Using Rapid Application Development Tools with Visual Basic 2008     59
Snapping and Aligning Controls Using Snap Lines     60
Using IntelliSense-Your New Best Friend!     62
Using IntelliSense as You Go     62
Using IntelliSense Filtering: Removing the "Uncommon"     63
Opening IntelliSense: Pressing Ctrl+Spacebar     64
Opening IntelliSense: Typing a Period or Left Parenthesis     64
Using IntelliSense Code Snippets: The Time-Saver     66
Invoking IntelliSense Code Snippets     67
Exploring Real-Time Error Detection and Correction     68
Oh, My...My Is Great     70
Renaming     72
Why Should You Rename?     73
How to Use the Rename Feature     73
Exploring Common Windows Controls     75
What Happens When an Event Is Triggered?     78
Modifying Your Web Browser     85
Opening Your Application     86
Adding an About Dialog Box     93
Interacting Through Dialog Boxes      93
Adding a Navigate Dialog Box     96
Adding a Tool Strip Container and Some Tools     99
Having a Professional Look and Feel at Your Fingertips     99
Adding a Status Bar to Your Browser     101
Personalizing Your Application with Windows Icons     104
Redoing the Browser     112
Windows Presentation Foundation     112
WPF and XAML     113
Fixing the Broken Blocks     125
Debugging an Application     126
Using a DLL in an Application     126
Using Breakpoints, Locals, Edit and Continue, and Visualizers     128
Managing the Data     141
What Is a Database?     142
What's in a Database?     142
What Are Data Normalization and Data Integrity?     143
What Is Null?     145
What Are Primary Keys and Foreign Keys?     146
How Do You Interact with a Relational Database?     148
Using SQL Server 2005 Express Edition in Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     150
Creating a Database Using Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition     151
Creating Tables in Your Database     153
Creating Relationships Between the Tables     155
Entering Data in SQL Server Tables Using Visual Studio     159
What Are ADO.NET, Data Binding, and LINQ?     163
Developing the CarTracker Application     165
Using the Component Tray     172
How Do I Get More Meaningful Information on My Form?     173
Using LINQ     182
Building Your Own Weather Tracker Application     187
Exploring the Features of the Weather Tracker Application     188
Creating the Application User Interface     189
Adding Notification Area Capabilities     191
Adding the Splash Screen and About Dialog Box     199
Adding the Options Dialog Box     202
Using the MSN Weather Web Service     204
Connecting to MSN Weather Web Services     206
Setting User and Application Preferences     210
Working in the Background     211
Completing the Core Weather Tracker Functionality     219
Testing Weather Tracker     225
Working with the Options Dialog Box     226
Testing Weather Tracker Options     229
And Now, Just ClickOnce     229
Glossary     235
Index     237