How the Book Is Organized
introduces you to the VB.NET languageand the .NET platform.
presents a simple application thatprints the words "Hello World" to aconsole window and gives a line-by-line analysis of the code.
explains the principles behind andgoals of this programming methodology, including the three pillars ofobject-oriented programming: encapsulation, specialization, andpolymorphism.
introduces the Integrated DevelopmentEnvironment (IDE) designed specifically for .NET; using the IDE cangreatly simplify how you write applications.
introduces the basic syntax andstructure of the VB.NET language, including the intrinsic types,variables, statements, and expressions.
describes some of the ways you canchange the order in which methods are called within a program.Statements such as If
, ElseIf
,and Select Case
will be considered, along with theconcept of loops, which are created using such keywords asDo
, Do
While
, and Loop While
.
describes some of the symbols thatcause VB.NET to take an action, such as assigning a value to avariable and arithmetically operating on values (adding, subtracting,etc.).
introduces the key concepts ofprogrammer-defined types (classes) and instances of those types(objects). Classes and objects are the building blocks ofobject-oriented programming.
delves into the specific programminginstructions you'll write to define the behavior ofobjects.
introduces the debugger integrated intothe Visual Studio .NET Integrated Development Environment.
explores two of the key concepts behindobject-oriented programming and demonstrates how you might implementthem in your code.
introducesthe structure or struct, a programmer-defined type similar to aclass, but with specific and more limited functionality.
explains how you can define a set ofbehaviors (an interface) that any number of classes might implement.
introduces the array, an indexedcollection of objects, all of the same type. Arrays are one of thecollection types recognized by VB.NET.
describes some of the other VB.NETcollections, including stacks and queues.
discusses the manipulation of stringsof characters, the VB.NET String class, and regular expressionsyntax.
explains how to handle errors andabnormal conditions that may arise in relation to your programs.
discusses how to write code to respondto programming occurrences like mouse clicks, keystrokes, and otherevents. The chapter also introduces some of the basic concepts ofapplication programming.
Building serious commercial applications is beyond the scope of aprimer like Learning Visual Basic .NET . But describes where you might go to learnmore about VB.NET and .NET programming, including other books, websites, newsgroups, and so forth.
Conventions Used in This Book
The following font conventions are used in this book:
ItalicUsed for pathnames, filenames, program names, Internet addresses,such as domain names and URLs, and new terms where they are defined.
Constant Width
Used for command lines and options that should be typed verbatim,VB.NET keywords, and code examples.
Constant Width Italic
Used for replaceable items, such as variables or optional elements,within syntax lines or code.
Constant Width Bold
Used for emphasis within program code.
Pay special attention to notes set apart from the text with thefollowing icons:
Tip
This is a tip. It contains useful supplementary information about thetopic at hand.
Warning
This is a warning. It helps you solve and avoid annoying problems.
Support
As part of my responsibilities as author, I provide ongoing supportfor my books through my web site.
http://www.LibertyAssociates.com |
On this web site, you'llalso find the complete source code for all the examples in Learning Visual Basic .NET , as well as access toa book-support discussion group with a section set aside forquestions about VB.NET. Before you post a question, however, pleasecheck the FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) list and the errata fileon my web site. If you check these files and still have a question,then please go ahead and post to the discussion center.
The most effective way to get help is to ask a precise question oreven to create a small program that illustrates your area of concernor confusion. You may also want to check the various newsgroups anddiscussion centers on the Internet. Microsoft offers a wide array ofnewsgroups, and Developmentor(http://www.develop.com) has wonderful .NETemail discussion lists as does Charles Carroll athttp://www.asplists.com.
We'd Like to Hear from You
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