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Visual Basic 2015 in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

Name: Visual Basic 2015 in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself
Author: James Foxall
ISBN: 9780134191874

by James Foxall

August 2015

Beginner

608 pages

15h

English

Sams

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About This eBook
Title Page
Copyright Page
Contents at a Glance
Table of Contents
About the Author
Dedication
Acknowledgments
We Want to Hear from You!
Reader Services

Introduction
Audience and OrganizationConventions Used in This BookOnward and Upward!
Part I: The Visual Basic 2015 Environment
Hour 1. Jumping in with Both Feet: A Visual Basic 2015 Programming Tour
Starting Visual Basic 2015Creating a New ProjectUnderstanding the Visual Studio 2015 EnvironmentChanging the Characteristics of ObjectsNaming ObjectsSetting the Form’s Text PropertySaving a ProjectGiving the Form an IconChanging the Form’s SizeAdding Controls to a FormDesigning an InterfaceAdding a Visible Control to a FormAdding an Invisible Control to a FormWriting the Code Behind an InterfaceLetting a User Browse for a FileTerminating a Program Using CodeRunning a ProjectSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 2. Navigating Visual Basic 2015
Using the Visual Basic 2015 Start PageCreating New ProjectsOpening an Existing ProjectNavigating and Customizing the Visual Basic EnvironmentWorking with Design WindowsWorking with ToolbarsShowing and Hiding ToolbarsAdding Controls to a Form Using the ToolboxSetting Object Properties Using the Properties WindowSelecting an Object and Viewing Its PropertiesViewing and Changing PropertiesWorking with Color PropertiesViewing Property DescriptionsManaging ProjectsManaging Project Files with the Solution ExplorerWorking with SolutionsUnderstanding Project ComponentsSetting Project PropertiesAdding and Removing Project FilesA Quick-and-Dirty Programming PrimerStoring Values in VariablesUsing Procedures to Write Functional Units of CodeMessageBox.Show()Getting HelpSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 3. Understanding Objects and Collections
Understanding ObjectsUnderstanding PropertiesGetting and Setting PropertiesWorking with an Object and Its PropertiesUnderstanding MethodsTriggering MethodsUnderstanding Method DynamismBuilding a Simple Object Example ProjectCreating the Interface for the Drawing ProjectWriting the Object-Based CodeTesting Your Object Example ProjectUnderstanding CollectionsUsing the Object BrowserSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 4. Understanding Events
Understanding Event-Driven ProgrammingTriggering EventsAvoiding Recursive EventsAccessing an Object’s EventsWorking with Event ParametersBuilding an Event Example ProjectCreating the User InterfaceCreating Event HandlersKeeping Event Names CurrentSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Part II: Building a User Interface
Hour 5. Building Forms: The Basics
Changing a Form’s NameChanging a Form’s AppearanceDisplaying Text on a Form’s Title BarChanging a Form’s Background ColorAdding an Image to a Form’s BackgroundGiving a Form an IconAdding Minimize, Maximize, and Control Box Buttons to a FormChanging the Appearance and Behavior of a Form’s BorderControlling a Form’s Minimum and Maximum SizeShowing and Hiding FormsShowing FormsUnderstanding Form ModalityDisplaying a Form in a Normal, Maximized, or Minimized StateSpecifying a Form’s Initial Display PositionPreventing a Form from Appearing on the TaskbarUnloading FormsSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 6. Building Forms: Advanced Techniques
Working with ControlsAdding Controls to a FormManipulating ControlsCreating a Tab OrderLayering ControlsCreating Topmost Nonmodal WindowsCreating Transparent FormsCreating Scrollable FormsCreating MDI FormsSetting the Startup FormSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 7. Working with Traditional Controls
Displaying Static Text with the Label ControlAllowing Users to Enter Text Using a Text BoxSpecifying Text AlignmentCreating a Multiline Text BoxAdding ScrollbarsLimiting the Number of Characters a User Can EnterCreating Password FieldsUnderstanding the Text Box’s Common EventsCreating ButtonsAccept and Cancel ButtonsPresenting Yes/No Options Using Check BoxesCreating Containers and Groups of Option ButtonsUsing Panels and Group BoxesWorking with Radio ButtonsDisplaying a List with the List BoxManipulating Items at Design TimeManipulating Items at RuntimeSorting a ListCreating Drop-Down Lists Using the Combo BoxSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 8. Using Advanced Controls
Creating TimersCreating Tabbed Dialog BoxesStoring Pictures in an Image List ControlBuilding Enhanced Lists Using the List View ControlCreating ColumnsAdding List ItemsManipulating a List View Using CodeCreating Hierarchical Lists Using the Tree View ControlAdding Nodes to a Tree ViewRemoving NodesClearing All NodesSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 9. Adding Menus and Toolbars to Forms
Building MenusCreating Top-Level MenusCreating Menu Items for a Top-Level MenuMoving and Deleting Menu ItemsCreating Checked Menu ItemsProgramming MenusImplementing Context MenusAssigning Shortcut Keys to Menu ItemsUsing the Toolbar ControlAdding Toolbar Buttons Using the Items CollectionProgramming ToolbarsCreating Drop-Down Menus for Toolbar ButtonsCreating a Status BarSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Part III: Making Things Happen—Programming
Hour 10. Creating and Calling Code Procedures
Creating Visual Basic Code ModulesWriting Code ProceduresDeclaring Procedures That Don’t Return ValuesDeclaring Procedures That Return ValuesCalling Code ProceduresPassing ParametersExiting ProceduresAvoiding Infinite RecursionSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 11. Using Constants, Data Types, Variables, and Arrays
Understanding Data TypesDetermining Data TypeCasting Data from One Data Type to AnotherDefining and Using ConstantsDeclaring and Referencing VariablesDeclaring VariablesPassing Literal Values to a VariableUsing Variables in ExpressionsEnforced Variable Declaration and Data TypingExplicit Variable DeclarationStrict TypingWorking with ArraysDimensioning ArraysReferencing Array VariablesCreating Multidimensional ArraysDetermining ScopeUnderstanding Block ScopeUnderstanding Procedure-Level (Local) ScopeUnderstanding Module-Level ScopeUsing Global (Namespace) ScopeScope Name ConflictsDeclaring Variables of Static ScopeUsing Variables in Your Picture Viewer ProjectCreating the Variables for the OptionsInitializing and Using the Options VariablesRenaming VariablesSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 12. Performing Arithmetic, String Manipulation, and Date/Time Adjustments
Performing Basic Arithmetic Operations with Visual BasicPerforming AdditionPerforming Subtraction and NegationPerforming MultiplicationPerforming DivisionPerforming ExponentiationPerforming Modulus ArithmeticDetermining the Order of Operator PrecedenceComparing EqualitiesUnderstanding Boolean LogicUsing the And OperatorUsing the Not OperatorUsing the Or OperatorUsing the Xor OperatorManipulating StringsConcatenating Strings of TextUsing the Basic String FunctionsWorking with Dates and TimesUnderstanding the Date Data TypeAdding To or Subtracting From a Date or TimeDetermining the Interval Between Two Dates or TimesRetrieving Parts of a DateFormatting Dates and TimesRetrieving the Current System Date and TimeDetermining Whether a Value Is a DateSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 13. Making Decisions in Visual Basic Code
Making Decisions Using If...ThenExecuting Code When expression Is FalseUsing ElseIf for Advanced Decision MakingNesting If...Then ConstructsEvaluating More Than One Possible Value in a Case StatementBuilding a Select Case ExampleCreative Uses of Select CaseBranching Within a Procedure Using GoToSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 14. Looping for Efficiency
Looping a Specific Number of Times Using For...NextInitiating the Loop Using ForClosing the Loop with the Next StatementSpecifying an Increment Value Using StepExiting a Loop EarlyContinuing Looping Before Next Is ReachedCreating a For...Next ExampleUsing Do...Loop to Loop an Indeterminate Number of TimesCreating a Do...LoopEnding a Do...LoopCreating a Do...Loop ExampleSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 15. Debugging Your Code
Adding Comments to Your CodeIdentifying the Two Basic Types of ErrorsUsing Visual Basic’s Debugging ToolsWorking with BreakpointsUsing the Immediate WindowUsing Advanced Breakpoint FeaturesBreaking Only When a Condition Is MetBreaking Only When a Breakpoint Is Hit a Certain Number of TimesSending Messages to the Output Window Using TracepointsWriting an Error Handler Using Try...Catch...FinallyDealing with an ExceptionHandling an Anticipated ExceptionSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 16. Designing Objects Using Classes
Understanding ClassesEncapsulating Data and Code Using ClassesComparing Classes with Standard ModulesCreating an Object InterfaceInstantiating Objects from ClassesBinding an Object Reference to a VariableReleasing Object ReferencesUnderstanding the Lifetime of an ObjectSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 17. Interacting with Users
Displaying Messages Using the MessageBox.Show() FunctionSpecifying Buttons and an IconDetermining Which Button Is ClickedCreating Good MessagesCreating Custom Dialog BoxesUsing InputBox() to Get Information from a UserInteracting with the KeyboardUsing the Common Mouse EventsSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 18. Working with Graphics
Understanding the Graphics ObjectCreating a Graphics Object for a Form or ControlCreating a Graphics Object for a New BitmapWorking with PensUsing System ColorsWorking with RectanglesDrawing ShapesDrawing LinesDrawing RectanglesDrawing Circles and EllipsesClearing a Drawing SurfaceDrawing TextPersisting Graphics on a FormBuilding a Graphics Project ExampleSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Part IV: Working with Data
Hour 19. Performing File Operations
Using the OpenFileDialog and SaveFileDialog ControlsUsing the OpenFileDialog ControlUsing the SaveFileDialog ControlManipulating Files with the File ObjectDetermining Whether a File ExistsCopying a FileMoving a FileRenaming a FileDeleting a FileRetrieving a File’s PropertiesManipulating Directories with the Directory ObjectSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 20. Working with the Registry and Text Files
Working with the RegistryUnderstanding the Structure of the Windows RegistryAccessing the Registry with My.Computer.RegistryModifying Your Picture Viewer Project to Use the RegistryReading and Writing Text FilesWriting to a Text FileReading a Text FileModifying Your Picture Viewer Project to Use a Text FileSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 21. Working with a Database
Introducing ADO.NETConnecting to a DatabaseClosing a Connection to a Data SourceManipulating DataUnderstanding DataTablesCreating a DataAdapterCreating and Populating DataTablesReferencing Fields in a DataRowNavigating RecordsEditing RecordsCreating New RecordsDeleting RecordsRunning the Database ExampleSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 22. Printing
Preparing the Picture Viewer ProjectAdding Print and Print Preview Buttons to the FormAdding the PrintDocument, PrintPreviewDialog, and PageSetupDialog ControlsPrinting and Previewing a DocumentPrinting a DocumentPreviewing a DocumentChanging Printer and Page SettingsScaling Images to Fit a PageSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Hour 23. Sending Emails
Understanding the Classes Used to Send EmailsSending Email from Your Picture Viewer ApplicationAdding a Send Email Toolbar ButtonCreating the Send Email Dialog BoxWriting Code to Send EmailsTesting Your Email CodeSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Part V: Deploying Solutions and Beyond
Hour 24. Deploying Applications
Understanding ClickOnce TechnologyUsing the Publish Wizard to Create a ClickOnce ApplicationTesting Your Picture Viewer ClickOnce Install ProgramUninstalling an Application You’ve DistributedSetting Advanced Options for Creating ClickOnce ProgramsSummaryQ&AWorkshopQuizAnswersExercises
Appendix A. The 10,000-Foot View
The .NET FrameworkCommon Language RuntimeMicrosoft Intermediate LanguageNamespacesCommon Type SystemGarbage CollectionFurther ReadingSummary
Index
Code Snippets

Content preview from Visual Basic 2015 in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

Hour 20. Working with the Registry and Text Files

What You’ll Learn in This Hour:

Using My.Computer.Registry to create and delete Registry keys and values

Using a StreamWriter object to open, read, and edit text files

Modifying your Picture Viewer program to use a text file and the Registry

Text files have been around since the early days of computing, and even today they are useful for storing data. For robust applications, a database is the way ...

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Visual Basic 2015 in 24 Hours, Sams Teach Yourself

by James Foxall

Hour 20. Working with the Registry and Text Files

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