book

Start Here!™ Learn Microsoft Visual Basic® 2012

Name: Start Here!™ Learn Microsoft Visual Basic® 2012
Author: Michael Halvorson
ISBN: 9780735673434

by Michael Halvorson

December 2012

Beginner

366 pages

11h 16m

English

Microsoft Press

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Dedication
Introduction
Who Should Read This BookAssumptionsWho Should Not Read This BookOrganization of This BookFree eBook ReferenceConventions and Features in This BookSystem RequirementsCode SamplesInstalling the Code SamplesUsing the Code SamplesAcknowledgmentsErrata & Book SupportWe Want to Hear from YouStay in Touch
1. Getting to Know Visual Basic 2012
Development Opportunities for Visual Basic ProgrammersNew Development PlatformsObtaining, Installing, and Starting Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8Downloading the ProductInstalling Visual Studio Express 2012 for Windows 8Starting Visual Studio Express 2012Start Visual Studio Express 2012The Visual Studio Development EnvironmentOpen a Visual Basic projectOpen a Visual Basic projectThe Visual Studio ToolsThe Designer WindowDisplay the Designer windowRunning a Visual Basic ProgramRun the World Capitals programThe Properties WindowChange propertiesChange propertiesMoving and Resizing the Programming ToolsMoving and Resizing Tool WindowsMove and resize the Properties windowDocking Tool WindowsDock the Properties windowHiding Tool WindowsUse the Auto Hide featureSwitching Among Open Files and Tools Using the IDE NavigatorUse the IDE NavigatorUse the IDE NavigatorOpening a Web Browser Within Visual StudioOpen the Visual Studio web browserOpen the Visual Studio web browserCustomizing IDE Settings to Match This Book’s ExercisesChecking Project and Compiler SettingsCheck project and compiler settingsExiting Visual StudioExit Visual StudioExit Visual StudioSummary
2. Creating Your First Windows 8 Application
Web List: Your First Visual Basic ProgramCreating the User InterfaceCreate a new projectCreate a new projectCreate a user interfaceMove and resize a text boxAdd a button objectAdd a second text boxAdd a web view objectSetting the PropertiesSet the web address text boxSet the web address text boxSet the Content property of the button objectSet the properties of the web view objectWriting the Visual Basic CodeUse the Code Editor to create an event handlerUse the Code Editor to create an event handlerA Look at the Visual Basic Code-Behind FileRunning Visual Basic ApplicationsRun the My Web List programRun the My Web List programSample Projects on DiskBuilding an Executable File and DeployingDeploy a release build for a Windows 8 applicationDeploy a release build for a Windows 8 applicationSummary
3. Using Controls
Using the Ellipse and TextBlock ControlsCreate a colorful background shape with the Ellipse controlCreate a colorful background shape with the Ellipse controlAdd a TextBlock control to display text on the pageUsing the CheckBox and RadioButton ControlsAdd a check box to the pageAdd a check box to the pageAdd radio buttons to a pageUsing the MediaElement Control to Add Music and VideoThinking about Media FilesPlay audio media with the MediaElement controlUse Button controls to manage playbackPlay video media with the MediaElement controlSummary
4. Designing Windows 8 Applications with Blend for Visual Studio
Blend for Visual StudioWhy Blend Is Useful for Visual Studio DevelopersStarting BlendOpen a new project in BlendDesign Tools in the Blend IDEUsing XAML Controls in BlendAdd an Image control to the pageAdd an Image control to the pageAdd a Button control to the pageCreating a Storyboard to Add Basic Animation EffectsCreate a storyboardCreate a storyboardRun and test a storyboardWriting Event Handlers in Visual StudioAdjust Blend settings for XAML projectsAdjust Blend settings for XAML projectsOpen and run the event handlerEdit the event handler to reverse the animationUsing the OnNavigatedTo EventCreate a startup event handler for the main pageSummary
5. Working with XAML
Understanding XAML BasicsWhat Is XAML?XAML Is Related to XML and HTMLXAML ElementsNamespaces in XAML MarkupExamining XAML Project FilesOpen a new Windows 8 XAML project and examine App.xamlEdit XAML markup in MainPage.xamlCreating XAML ObjectsAdd ToggleButton and Image controls to the gridAdd ToggleButton and Image controls to the gridCreate an event handler for the toggle button objectAdd a Canvas control and fill it with shapesSummary
6. Visual Basic Language Elements
Understanding Visual Basic Program StatementsUsing Variables to Store InformationSetting Aside Space for Variables: The Dim StatementUsing Variables in an Event HandlerChange the value of a variableChange the value of a variableUsing a Variable to Store and Process InputProcess input using a TextBox controlProcess input using a TextBox controlWorking with Data TypesUse fundamental data types in codeUse fundamental data types in codeConstants: Variables That Don’t ChangeUse a constant in a code-behind fileUse a constant in a code-behind fileWorking with Visual Basic OperatorsBasic Math: The +, –, *, and / OperatorsWork with basic operatorsAdvanced Operators: \, Mod, ^, and &Work with advanced operatorsEstablishing Order of PrecedenceUsing Parentheses in a FormulaSummary
7. Controlling Application Design, Layout, and Program Flow
Creating a Tile-Based Layout for Windows Store AppsDesigning Pages for User InputBuild a tile-based layout with XAML markupUse Select Case to process ListBox selectionsEvaluating Specific Conditions Using If…Then…Else StatementsAdd an If…Then…Else statementAdd an If…Then…Else statementUsing the Day of the Week in an If…Then…StatementControlling Program Flow Using For…Next and For Each…Next LoopsFor…Next LoopsAdd a For…Next loopFor Each…Next LoopsAdd a For Each…Next loopWriting an Exception Handler to Manage Error ConditionsAdd an exception handlerAdd an exception handlerSummary
8. Using the .NET Framework
Programming Resourcefully: Using Class Libraries in the .NET FrameworkObject-Oriented TerminologyUsing the Object BrowserUse the Object Browser to explore Microsoft.VisualBasicUsing Methods in System.StringProcess text with .NET Framework methodsProcess text with .NET Framework methodsSearch a string for a patternUsing Methods in System.MathUse the System.Math class to compute square rootsUse the System.Math class to compute square rootsWorking with Random NumbersGenerate a random numberUsing Code Snippets to Insert Ready-Made CodeGenerate a set of random numbers with a Do…While loopGenerate a set of random numbers with a Do…While loopSummary

9. Debugging Applications
Finding and Correcting ErrorsThree Types of ErrorsIdentifying Logic ErrorsDebugging 101: Using Debugging ModeDebug the Debug Test programDebug the Debug Test programTracking Variables by Using a Watch WindowOpen a Watch windowOpen a Watch windowVisualizers: Debugging Tools That Display DataOpen a text visualizer in the debuggerOpen a text visualizer in the debuggerUsing the Immediate WindowUse the Immediate window to modify a variableUse the Immediate window to modify a variableRemoving BreakpointsRemove a breakpointRemove a breakpointSummary
10. Managing Data with Arrays and LINQ
Using Arrays to Store DataDeclaring ArraysDeclaring a Fixed-Size ArrayUsing an ArrayAssigning Initial Values to an ArrayCreate string arrays in a programUsing Methods in the Array ClassUse the Array.Sort and Array.Reverse methodsUse the Array.Sort and Array.Reverse methodsIntroducing LINQUnderstanding LINQ SyntaxCreate a LINQ query to extract data from one arrayCreate a LINQ query to find overlapping elements in two arraysWorking with XML DocumentsUsing XML Documents in a Visual Basic ProjectCreate a LINQ query that retrieves XML data from an XML documentSummary
11. Design Focus: Five Great Features for a Windows 8 Application
Creating a Tile for Your App on the Windows Start PageCreate a tile for the Start pageCreate a tile for the Start pageAdd a custom Start page tile to a Visual Studio projectCreating a Splash Screen for Your AppCreate a splash screen to run at startupCreate a splash screen to run at startupSettings Permissions and Capabilities for Your Windows 8 AppSet permissions and capabilities for your appSet permissions and capabilities for your appUsing a Project Template to Showcase Application ContentUse the Grid App template to display product informationUse the Grid App template to display product informationOptimizing Your App for Touch Input and GesturesTouch Input is Built InThe TapThe SlideZooming and ResizingDesigning for TouchSummary
12. Future Development Opportunities and the Windows Store
Preparing for the Windows StoreExploring the Store’s FeaturesPricing and SalesGetting Ready for Certification and DeploymentStore Requirements ChecklistFuture Opportunities and Programming ResourcesWeb Sites for Visual Basic and Windows 8Video on the WebBooks About Visual Basic and Visual StudioVisual Basic ProgrammingWindows ProgrammingDatabase Programming and LINQWeb Programming with Visual BasicGeneral Books About Programming and Computer ScienceSummary
Index
About the Author
Copyright

Overview

Ready to learn Microsoft Visual Basic? Start Here!

Learn the fundamentals of modern programming with Visual Basic 2012—and begin building your first Windows 8 apps for the desktop. If you have absolutely no previous experience with Visual Basic, no problem—simply start here! This book introduces must-know concepts and techniques through easy-to-follow explanations, examples, and exercises.

Here’s where you start learning Visual Basic

Learn the fundamentals of programming with Visual Basic

Discover how to to bind controls to data

Design and interact with user interfaces built with XAML

Build and debug complete applications

Learn the basics of Windows 8 application design

Find out how to deliver your applications to the Windows Store

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