Books

Fully updated for Microsoft's official release, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is an objective, concise, and technical overview of the new Microsoft .NET Framework for developing web applications and services.

Specifically written for intermediate to advanced VB, C/C++, Java, and Delphi developers, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is also useful to system architects and leaders who are assessing tools for future projects. The authors devote special attention to the writing of .NET components plus web applications and services.

This book takes on all of the most important .NET Framework topics--from the underlying Common Language Runtime (CLR) to its specialized packages for ASP.NET, Web Forms, Windows Forms, XML and data access (ADO.NET). The authors survey each of the major .NET languages, including Visual Basic .NET, C#, and Managed C++, as well as MSIL, the intermediate language understood by the CLR. They've included working code samples in every .NET language.

Compact and free of fluff or proprietary hype, .NET Framework Essentials, 2nd Edition is an outstanding value for experienced programmers and architects who need to get up to speed quickly.

A Programmer’s Introduction to C#, Second Edition is designed as a comprehensive reference to the C# language and is designed to help experienced programmers get up-to-speed on C#. Author Eric Gunnerson is a developer on Microsoft’s C# design team and has logged many hours writing and testing C# code. As such, he is uniquely poised to teach developers the effective use of this new language. Gunnerson also explains to readers how C# fits into Microsoft’s new .NET framework.

Gunnerson provides the foundation to let experienced programmers begin to develop in C#. Among the core topics covered are everything from C# basic statements and flow of execution, to classes, structs, interfaces, expressions, arrays, enums, delegates and events, exception handling, interoperability, and more! The final section of the book provides a history of C#, and a language comparison to other widely used programming languages. New features in this edition include coverage of how to develop a GUI application using Windows Forms and in-depth information on advanced topics such as threading and execution-time code generation.

Access Cookbook provides solutions to practical user interface and programming problems for the Microsoft Access power user or programmer who is running up against some of the apparent limits of the software. The book contains a comprehensive collection of problems, solutions, and practical examples for Access power users and programmers at all levels, from the relatively inexperienced to the most sophisticated.

When using GUI-based software, we often focus so much on the interface that we forget about the general concepts required to use the software effectively. Access Database Design & Programming, 3rd Edition takes you behind the details of the interface, focusing on the general knowledge necessary for Access power users or developers to create effective database applications. The main sections of this book include: database design, queries, and programming.

For all experienced programming students who want to achieve true mastery of Microsoft's C# language for advanced .NET application, Web, and Web Services development.

This book gives experienced developers practical insight for building sophisticated .NET applications using Microsoft's advanced C# language. Using a running case study and extensive code examples, the authors illuminate essential .NET concepts such as interfaces, attributes, collections, threading, remoting, security, and versioning, and introduce powerful new .NET technologies, including ADO.NET and ASP.NET.

This is the latest book in the Integrated .NET Series from Object Innovations and Prentice Hall PTR, focused guides to .NET written by expert practitioners and instructors. All books in this series teach in a systematic, step-by-step manner, using rich examples and a running case study that shows how to build a complete system. The books integrate perfectly: developers who want an even stronger understanding of the basics of C# can refer to the companion introductory title, Introduction to C# Using .NET.

Learn the essentials of ASP.NET programming using the hands-on examples in this accessible guide. Inside, programming instructor Dave Mercer explains how to program interactive Web sites and distributed applications with ASP.NET -- from simple responses and server components to complete database manipulation and e-mail applications. You'll also get important details on using HTML, XHTML, XML, JScript, VB.NET, and other related languages and technologies. This is the ideal resource for the first-time ASP.NET user.

This Beginner's Guide is Designed for Easy Learning:

• Modules--Each programming concept is divided into logical modules (chapters), ideal for individualized learning
• Goals--Each module opens with the specific programming skills you'll have by the end of the module
• Ask the Experts--Q&A sections throughout are filled with extra information and interesting commentary
• 1-Minute Drills--Quick self-assessment sections to check your progress
• Annotated Syntax--Example code annotated with commentary that points to the particular technique illustrated
• Projects--Coding exercises contained in each module show how to apply what you are learning
• Mastery Checks--End-of-module reviews that test your knowledge using short-answer, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and simple coding questions

Building Electronic Commerce in the .NET Environment will introduce the reader to Microsoft's exciting new world of .NET - billed by Microsoft as "the next generation of Web development." After an introduction to electronic commerce theory and its business models, chapters will focus on Visual Basic.NET, ASP.NET, and C# tools to connect to back-end databases for use in the electronic commerce environment. Tutorials will explore, run, and debug code using the Visual Studio .NET Integrated Development Environment (IDE) to prototype electronic commerce applications.

The purpose of this book is to provide the theory, technique, and tools that electronic commerce .NET developers must understand in order to create successful Web database constructions. In this book the reader will learn how to use .NET tools to build the front-end, middleware, and back-end components that drive electronic commerce.

This book will be appropriate for e-commerce technology and Web/Internet programming courses taught out of CIS, MIS, and CS departments to students with some programming experience.

Features:

• The Building Electronic Commerce series of books provides instructors with material to present a holistic approach to developing electronic commerce. A series of chapters, following a lesson-oriented format, rapidly provides foundation material in electronic commerce theory, techniques, and tools.
• Since technology in this area is rapidly changing, the chapters will begin with an explanation of electronic commerce theory and the architectures and approaches, rather than specific tools. Thereafter, each chapter will proceed to a discussion of the .NET tools and step-by-step techniques that implement the concepts.
• These step-by-step examples are carried throughout the chapters and provide the reader with the opportunity to create two business-specific Web applications in the .NET environment. After working through the chapters, readers will be able to develop their own Web applications in the .NET environment, put into practice the key concepts learned, and apply these concepts to other situations and practical applications using a variety of the .NET tools.
• An appendix suggests six different business scenarios as potential electronic commerce implementations in the .NET development environment.
• In a recent survey, Chief Information Officers from the nation's leading Fortune 500 companies were surveyed for skills they most desired in employees. Ranking in the first position, above technical skills, was a need for employees to possess strong communication skills. While this series is the only series on the market to combine electronic commerce theory, tools, and techniques, great care has been taken to also include opportunities for the reader to hone clean, clear, and concise writing skills. There is also an emphasis on the application of knowledge. Critical thinking exercises using the Web are included in each chapter to bridge the gap some readers may find between theory and practical application of electronic commerce in the .NET environment.

Expert programming author Herb Schildt has created the ultimate guide to C#, Microsoft's revolutionary new language designed expressly for .NET developers. Start programming as quickly as possible by learning to create, compile, and run a C# program. See how C# relates to, and interacts with, the .NET Framework, and cover all the C# essentials -- control statements, datatypes, arrays, strings, classes, objects, methods, and namespaces. Get full details on exception handling and the I/O system, and explore C#'s most innovative features, such as delegates, indexers, events, and properties. Start programming in C# the right way with this authoritative, step-by-step guide.

This Beginner's Guide is Designed for Easy Learning:

• Modules--Each programming concept is divided into logical modules (chapters), ideal for individualized learning
• Goals--Each module opens with the specific programming skills you'll have by the end of the module
• Ask the Experts--Q&A sections throughout are filled with extra information and interesting commentary
• 1-Minute Drills--Quick self-assessment sections to check your progress
• Annotated Syntax--Example code annotated with commentary that points to the particular technique illustrated
• Projects--Coding exercises contained in each module show how to apply what you are learning
• Mastery Checks--End-of-module reviews that test your knowledge using short-answer, multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank, and simple coding questions

C# is the native language for Microsoft’s .NET platform. In this book, Andrew Troelsen shows you how to use C# for developing virtually every possible kind of .NET application. From Windows-based to Web-based applications, it's all here. There are detailed discussions of every aspect of .NET development and useful examples with no toy code(tm).

Relentlessly practical and complete, C# and the .NET Platform starts with a brief overview of the C# language and then quickly moves to key technical and architectural issues for .NET developers. Not only is there extensive coverage of the .NET framework, but Troelsen also shows you what you need to know about such necessary but subtle areas as the proper use of threads. You will see how to use C# for GUI applications with a complete discussion of Windows Forms and GDI+. There are equally useful discussions of how to use C# and .NET for Web development, Web Services, and data access using ADO.NET. Since traditional COM applications aren't going away anytime soon, Troelsen includes complete coverage of the subtle issues involved with .NET / COM interoperability.

C# and the .NET environment are said to offer a combination of the best features found in C, C++, and Java. The fourth book in the "by Dissection" series, C# by Dissection is carefully designed to meet the needs of readers new to C#. The reader moves easily through the fundamentals of the language and on to its applications by means of a time-tested explanatory tool called dissection, which was developed by the authors over a decade ago. Dissection, a pedagogical method similar to a structured, step-by-step walk-through, explains new programming elements and idioms as they are encountered in working code. This book is appropriate for students or professionals with little or no experience programming in C#.

Features:

The author explains C# with 4-7 dissections of code examples in each chapter, he uses numerous illustrations to convey ideas, and includes software engineering style tips in each chapter. The book is accompanied by a CD-ROM that includes a release of Microsoft's .NET environment.

Concise but thorough, this second edition of C# Essentials introduces the Microsoft C# programming language, including the Microsoft .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) and .NET Framework Class Libraries (FCL) that support it. This book’s compact format and terse presentation of key concepts serve as a roadmap to the online documentation included with the Microsoft .NET Framework SDK; the many examples provide much-needed context.

Key features of C# Essentials include:

• Concise overviews of the C# language, the Common Language Runtime (CLR), and the Base Class Library (BCL), including coverage of the most important BCL namespaces by function.
• Complete coverage of all C# language elements and their syntax, with easily grasped syntax summaries and a glossary of all C# keywords.
• Explanations with code examples of the major C# datatypes, from built-in base types and objects to enums, delegates, collections, commonly implemented interfaces, and more.
• Instruction on the basic tasks every C# programmer must master, from exception and event handling to networking, threading, using regular expressions, and using reflection and custom attributes.
• Examples of interoperating with legacy Win32 APIs and COM components, and of using C/C++ style pointers within the managed context of the CLR.
• Discussions of common development issues, such as building shared assemblies; an overview of the essential tools in the SDK; and a cross-reference that maps namespaces to assemblies.

For courses on C# programming found in departments of Computer Science, CIS, MIS, IT, Business, Engineering and Continuing Education.

An exciting addition to the How to Program series, C# How to Program provides a comprehensive introduction to Microsoft's new object-oriented language. C# builds on the skills already mastered by countless C++ and Java programmers, enabling them to create powerful Web applications and components-ranging from XML-based Web services on Microsoft's .NET platform to middle-tier business objects and system-level applications. C# How to Program gives students the strong foundation in introductory and intermediate programming principles they'll need in industry. Mastering C# will allow them to create complex systems-using fewer lines of code and reducing the chance for error. The end result is faster development at a decreased cost-and optimum adaptability that makes it easy to keep up with the evolving Web.

Now Stan Lippman brings you C# using his famed primer format. C# Primer is a comprehensive, example-driven introduction to this new object-oriented programming language.

C# is a cornerstone of Microsoft's new .NET platform. Inheriting many features from both Java and C++, C# is destined to become the high-level programming language of choice for building high-performance Windows and Web applications and components--from XML-based Web services to middle-tier business objects and system-level applications.

First, you will tour the language, looking at built-in features such as the class mechanism, class inheritance, and interface inheritance--all while you build small programs. Next, you will explore the various library domains supported within the .NET class framework. You will also learn how to use the language and class framework to solve problems and build quality programs.

Highlights include:

• Covers fundamentals such as namespaces, exception handling, and unified type system
• Presents a wide-ranging tour of the .NET class library, introducing ADO.NET and establishing database connections and the use of XML
• Provides XML programming using the firehose and DOM parser models, XSLT, XPATH, and schemas
• Focuses on ASP.NET Web Form Designer, walking through the page life-cycle and caching, and providing a large number of examples.
• Introduces .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR)

Adding C# to your toolbox will not only improve your Web-based programming ability, but also increase your productivity. C# Primer provides a solid foundation to build upon and a refreshingly unbiased voice on Microsoft's vehicle to effective and efficient Web-based programming.

The first practical guide to Microsoft's .NET Common Language Runtime!

• Go "under the hood" with .NET's Common Language Runtime!
• The definitive book for serious software engineers, compiler developers, and language implementers
• Mapping any language's key features onto .NET's common object model
• Comprehensive coverage of Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL)
• Includes extensive examples drawn from C#

Compiling for the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) is the first book to give software engineers all the details and guidance they need to create full-featured .NET compilers or implement programming languages for the .NET environment. Renowned compiler expert John Gough presents an unprecedented "under the hood" inspection of Microsoft's .NET CLR, illuminating the key concepts underlying Microsoft's new technology and demonstrating exactly how CLR maximizes interoperability across multiple programming languages. The book uses a running example to illustrate its key points (Gough's own open source Gardens Point Component Pascal compiler) which can be used as a basis for sophisticated experimentation.

• Reviews every element of CLR: Virtual Execution Engine, Base Instruction Set, Common Type System, and more
• Shows how to map a language's key features onto the .NET Virtual Object System's common object model
• Explains how CLR represents programs at compile time
• Explores the semantic analysis performed by CLR prior to emitting Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL) code
• Provides in-depth coverage of MSIL code generation
• Covers features needed by a wide range of languages
• Explores advanced topics such as accessing nonlocal variables and supporting multiple inheritance
• Includes many examples drawn from Microsoft's new C# language

If you need absolute mastery over the .NET CLR, only one book delivers what you're looking for: Compiling for the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR) by John Gough.

Developing Applications with Visual Studio .NET is an in-depth guide that takes Windows programming to the next level: creating .NET applications that leverage the prior knowledge and experience of C++ Win32 programmers. The .NET Framework supplies programmers with rich standard run-time services, supports the development of Web-based services, and provides both inter-language and inter-machine interoperability. Programmers can now focus on creating more complex, more distributed, and more Web-enabled applications.

This book begins by describing the .NET Framework, introducing the facilities .NET offers and the classes programmers can use. It goes on to describe the tools available in Visual Studio.NET and demonstrates their use. Readers are then ready to develop and debug applications with the help of clearly illustrated examples in C# and Managed C++.

Developing Applications with Visual Studio .NET covers commonly overlooked topics such as error handling, memory management, event logging, localization issues, performance monitoring, ATL Server, and Managed C++. Author Richard Grimes shares his hard-won understanding of Visual Studio.NET, emphasizing the innovations that save you time and trouble and steering you away from those that limit programming power.

Among the topics explored in-depth:

• The Common Language Runtime (CLR)
• Core classes in the Framework Class Library
• Contexts and .NET remoting
• Interoperation and COM+
• The Visual Studio.NET environment
• Creating and building solutions
• Visual C++.NET
• Application development
• Debugging

With this book as your guide, you will learn how to efficiently develop strong, robust code within .NET.

In Distributed Programming Gary Nutt has written a hands-on primer that addresses the issues related to developing robust runtime systems for contemporary distributed programs. The author begins by giving an overview of the classic problems presented when designing such runtime systems and the leading technologies for solving these problems: The OSF DCE, the Java runtime environment, and the publicly available FreeBSD implementation of the .NET Common Language Runtime (CLR). The remaining chapters each delve into a presentation of the most basic concepts in distributed programming; topics such as Security, the Intermediate Language, and Component-Oriented Programming.

Each chapter introduces the issue then describes how this concept is implemented in Microsoft's CLR, the most recent of the runtime system solutions. The chapter is capped off with an extended programming problem with which the reader can experiment with the internals of the FreeBSD implementation (the source code for this implementation is included with the book). Each exercise is accompanied by a comprehensive discussion of the specific code relevant to solving the problem.

This book is appropriate for students in a distributed programming course, compiler course, or advanced operating systems course that studies the leading edge issues related to distributed programming runtime systems. It is also appropriate for researchers and developers considering exploiting the FreeBSD and other CLR implementation for use in distributed applications as well as to create competitive middleware products in the .NET environment.

Features:

• This brief 200 page primer looks at classic problems and new solutions for distributed programming and common language run time environments.
• The book introduces the issues related to developing distributed programs using common language runtime systems and outlines the 3 top technologies available for solving these problems: Java technologies, DCE, and .NET.
• Four chapters are devoted to an introduction of key distributed programming concepts. The chapters include a presentation of the theory and then look at how the newest solution, Microsoft's CLR, can be used to develop solutions. Enough material is included about .NET to provide a basic introduction that allows the reader to use this software to implement the programming projects and exercises at the end of the chapters.
• The book also provides insight- straight from the .NET development team: What were their initial goals? What was produced? How were they looking to improve on past solutions such as JVM and DCE. This will be included via a number of interviews/essays with key members of the .NET development team such as Jim Miller, Don Box and Erik Meijer.
• The book is accompanied by a DVD with the FreeBSD implementation of .NET.

For C# Programming courses.

A practical introduction to C#, this comprehensive, hands-on presentation teaches programming from an object-oriented perspective. The text explores several important interactions between C# and the .NET Framework and includes an introduction to major classes for user interface, database, Web programming and XML.

For all Visual Basic developers migrating to Visual Basic.NET, and for students without Visual Basic experience—including developers learning VB.NET as their first language.

Using real-world examples, this book helps students master VB.NET from the ground up — or rapidly migrate to VB.NET from whatever version of Visual Basic they have used before. Dana Wyatt and Robert Oberg present a thorough introduction to the .NET Framework, Visual Studio.NET, VB.NET's basic coding constructs, VB.NET object-oriented design, and next-generation Windows application development. This is the latest book in the Integrated .NET Series from Object Innovations and Prentice Hall PTR, focused guides to .NET written by expert practitioners and instructors. All books in this series teach in a systematic, step-by-step manner, using rich examples and an extensive case study that develop a complete .NET system. The books integrate perfectly: Visual Basic.NET developers who want an even stronger understanding of the .NET platform can refer to the companion intermediate-to-advanced-level title, Application Development Using Visual Basic .NET.

This primer is the fast way for any developer who uses Microsoft Visual Basic to begin creating professional applications for the Microsoft .NET platform by unleashing all the power of the .NET-ready version of Visual Basic. Learn core programming skills by selecting just the chapters you need-with code, optimization tips, advice, and samples straight from the experts. Upgrade your Visual Basic 6 applications quickly using "Upgrade Notes" sidebars, a special upgrading index, and practical advice about the Visual Basic .NET Upgrade Wizard. Topics covered include:

• Writing your first program and working with Toolbox controls, menus, and dialog boxes
• Mastering programming fundamentals, including variables, decision structures, loops, and functions
• Using methods in the .NET Framework class libraries
• Debugging Visual Basic .NET programs
• Trapping errors using structured error handling
• Using modules and procedures
• Using collections and arrays to manage data
• Exploring text files and string processing
• Automating Microsoft Office applications and managing processes
• Deploying Visual Basic .NET applications
• Managing Windows® forms and adding graphics and animation effects
• Inheriting forms and creating base classes
• Creating database applications with ADO.NET
• Presenting data using the FlexGrid control
• Displaying HTML documents using Microsoft Internet Explorer
• Using Web Forms to build Internet interfaces
• Porting Visual Basic 6 Programs to Visual Basic .NET

INCLUDED ON CD-ROM:

• Sample code in Visual Basic .NET

Build your dexterity with Visual C#-and begin writing applications for the Microsoft .NET platform-one step at a time! This practical, hands-on tutorial expertly guides you through the fundamentals-from learning Visual C# syntax to writing and running your first components, Web services, and applications. Work at your own pace through easy-to-follow lessons and hands-on exercises to teach yourself essential techniques. And stay ahead of the curve by working with real-world examples and best practices for Visual C# development.

DISCOVER HOW TO:

• Declare variables, define methods, and construct statements
• Handle and trap exceptions
• Use object-oriented techniques, such as inheritance and encapsulation
• Manage resources and use the garbage collector
• Build components, including properties, indexers, and events
• Define operators to enhance class usability
• Create GUI components and user controls
• Access data sources using ADO.NET
• Construct Web Forms that store large volumes of data
• Validate user input with ASP.NET controls
• Write, test, and deploy Web services

CD INCLUDES:

• All the book's practice files
• Sample code

Teach yourself the latest version of Visual C++-and begin developing for the Microsoft .NET platform-one step at a time. This practical, hands-on tutorial expertly guides you through the fundamentals-from writing managed code to running and debugging your first .NET applications and Web services. Work at your own pace through easy-to-follow lessons and hands-on exercises to learn essential techniques. And accelerate your productivity by working with instructive code and best practices for .NET development with Visual C++.

DISCOVER HOW TO:

• Write and run a simple object-oriented program
• Delve deeper with inheritance and other OOP techniques
• Execute code with the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET debugger
• Exploit built-in .NET support for properties, arrays, and events
• Generate and handle exceptions
• Implement operator overloading
• Examine the .NET Framework, exploring major namespaces and classes
• Use Windows® Forms to create GUI applications
• Access data using XML and ADO.NET
• Create and use Web services
• Build Web service components with ATL
• Make legacy applications .NET-ready

CD-ROM FEATURES:

• All the book's practice files
• Sample code

Mobile .NET begins by educating the reader about a wide variety of different wireless Internet devices. These devices are divided into two main divisions: those that are directly supported by .NET (Pocket PCs, i-Mode phones, and WAP devices), and those that are not (Palm OS and J2ME-powered devices). By the end of this book, the reader will be able to make .NET work equally well with all of the devices.

In the middle section of the book, the advantages of .NET as a development platform are first introduced. A .NET Web Application -- capable of serving up stock quotes to virtually any wireless device -- is produced as an exercise, continuing from one chapter to the next. The section concludes with a demonstration of how .NET Web Services, the cornerstone of Microsoft's new "programmable Internet," can be invoked from each of the wireless devices mentioned above.

Mobile .NET concludes by drilling deep down into the technologies provided by .NET specifically for use with wireless devices. The Mobile Internet Toolkit, which can automatically adapt the output of a .NET Web Application based upon the special needs of differing client devices, is discussed first. Next, the book describes in detail how Mobile Information Server may be used to automate and customize the delivery of information to specific devices within an enterprise. Finally, SQL Server CE -- a centerpiece of Microsoft's mobile data strategy -- is discussed, as are the two main technologies for interfacing with it via custom code: ADOCE and OLE DB.

In Programming ASP.NET, Jesse Liberty and Dan Hurwitz teach you everything you need to know to write web applications and web service applications. The book focuses on ASP.NET development using both C# and Visual Basic .NET, and coding examples are presented in both languages. The book includes a detailed tutorial on Web Forms, which, in conjunction with Visual Studio .NET, allow you to apply Rapid Application Development techniques (including drag-and-drop control placement) to web development. Programming ASP.NET includes extensive coverage of each type of server control, including Web server controls, HTML server controls, and custom controls.

C# is designed from the ground up for development on Microsoft's new .NET framework. As such, it's a high-performance language that's simple, safe, object-oriented, and Internet-centric. Programming C# teaches this new language in a way that experienced programmers will appreciate--by grounding its applications firmly in the context of Microsoft's .NET platform and the development of desktop and Internet applications.

The first part of this book introduces C# fundamentals, then goes on to explain:

• Classes and objects
• Inheritance and polymorphism
• Operator overloading
• Structs and interfaces
• Arrays, indexers, and collections
• String objects and regular expressions
• Exceptions and bug handling
• Delegates and events

Part two of Programming C# focuses on development of desktop and Internet applications, including Windows Forms, ADO.NET and ASP.NET. ASP.NET includes Web Forms, for rapid development of web applications, and Web Services for creating objects without user interfaces, to provide services over the Internet.

Part three gets to the heart of the .NET Framework, focusing on attributes and reflection, remoting, threads and synchronization, and streams. Part three also illustrates how to interoperate with COM objects.

In much the way that you can see the features and personality of the parents and grandparents in young children, you can easily see the influence of Java, C++, Visual Basic, and other languages in C#. The level of information in Programming C# allows you to become productive quickly with C# and to rely on it as a powerful addition to your family of mastered programming languages.

Programming in the .NET Environment is targeted at software developers who wish to understand the philosophy, goals, and architecture of the .NET Framework and will demonstrate how the technology implements facilities and services to meet these goals. On the practical side, this book will show the developer how to produce generic frameworks, classes, and tools, and how to use multiple languages to develop components in the .NET framework.

The book is structured in four sections: Introduction, Runtime, Building and Deployment, and Appendices. The Introduction describes the basic concepts and gives background information on the issues involved in distributed system development. The Runtime Section describes the issues that can be thought of as Programming in the small, such as defining types, creating and using metadata and executing programs. The Building and Deployment Section deals with the hard issues in distributed systems development such as assembling and developing software from components and security issues are covered here. Finally, the appendixes contain important peripheral information that does not fit into the first three sections of the book. This includes experience reports from people who have developed systems for the .NET Framework.

Understanding the philosophy and architecture of .NET is important for any distributed system developer even if they do not use the .NET Framework. Why? The .NET Framework represents Microsoft's vision of distributed system development for the Internet. By understanding the architecture of the .NET Framework developers gain an insight into the issues associated with distributed systems development and Microsoft's solution to these issues, and Programming in the .NET Environment will provide you with the understanding needed to develop reliable applications.

The sample chapter is excerpted from the forthcoming Addison-Wesley title Programming in the .NET Environment. The material presented here is an initial draft of what will appear in the published book.

"Look it up in Petzold" remains the last word on Windows development. In this .NET-ready Windows programming guide, the best-selling author shows you how to get the most out of Windows Forms-the next-generation Windows programming class library. You'll discover how to use C# to create dynamic user interfaces and graphical outputs for Windows applications. With dozens of examples of client applications to illustrate common techniques and plenty of no-nonsense advice on best programming practices, you'll be C# sharp in no time. Topics covered in this guide include:

• Windows Forms
• Essential structures
• Lines, curves, and area fills
• Tapping into the keyboard
• Pages and transforms
• Taming the mouse
• Text and fonts
• The timer and time
• Images and bitmaps
• Buttons, labels, and scrolls
• Béziers and other splines
• Menus
• Paths, regions, and clipping
• Dialog boxes
• Edit, list, and spin controls
• Toolbars and status bars
• Printing
• Tree view and List view
• Metafiles
• Clip, drag, and drop

INCLUDED ON CD-ROM:

• Sample source code for all the examples presented in the book

Published just in time for the first release of Visual Studio .NET, Programming Visual Basic .NET is a programmer's complete guide to Visual Basic .NET. Starting with a sample application and a high-level map, the book jumps right into showing how the parts of .NET fit with Visual Basic .NET. Topics include the common language runtime, Windows Forms, ASP.NET, Web Forms, Web Services, and ADO.NET.

After starting with the traditional "hello world" application, the book discusses the two basic building blocks of any .NET application built with Visual Basic--the Visual Basic .NET programming language and the .NET Framework.

Topics covered include:

• Visual Basic language elements
• Visual Basic's object-oriented language features
• Programming with attributes
• The Common Language Runtime
• Garbage Collection and the Finalize and Dispose methods
• Programmatically reading from and writing to .NET configuration files

The remainder of the book focuses on the three major kinds of applications that can be developed with the .NET Framework: Windows Forms applications, ASP.NET applications, and web services. In each case, the book shows you how to build an application using Visual Studio .NET as well as using a text editor and the Visual Basic command-line compiler. This gives you an "under the hood" look at what Visual Studio is doing and allows you to gain a greater understanding of how a .NET application works--an understanding that you can take advantage of in building your own applications.

The complete .NET briefing for every IT professional and business decision-maker.

• Evaluating .NET: technologies and business opportunities
• .NET Web Services, e-business, and application integration support
• .NET tools and standards: Visual Studio.NET, ASP.NET, XML, and SOAP
• .NET Enterprise Servers: BizTalk, SharePoint, Mobile Information Server, and more

Now, there's an expert, straight-to-the-point introduction to Microsoft's .NET for IT professionals and business decision-makers. Microsoft .NET Platform and Technologies explores the design and goals of the .NET framework, the Microsoft technologies that enable it, what .NET means to the Internet, and what it means to your business. Simmons and Rofail begin by exploring the foundational concepts that underlie the .NET platform. They present a high-level overview of .NET's goals and processes, introducing the new Web services .NET is intended to support and showing how businesses can use them for competitive advantage. They walk through the .NET framework and its protocols and programming interfaces, introduce the Visual Studio.NET programming environment, and explain the central role of XML in .NET and Microsoft's approach to Web services delivery. The authors also review Microsoft's key .NET Enterprise servers, showing how they work and how they function within the .NET initiative.

• What .NET means to your e-business initiatives
• How .NET Web services may deliver competitive advantage-and how to build them
• .NET standards-including detailed coverage of .NET's XML and SOAP support
• .NET tools: introducing the Visual Studio.NET programming environment
• .NET Enterprise Servers: BizTalk, SharePoint, Commerce Server, Exchange Server, SQL Server, Mobile Information Server, and more

Highly readable and thoroughly objective, Microsoft .NET Platform and Technologies gives you .NET's essence without its hype. If you need to make intelligent decisions about .NET, this is the book you need by your side.

Full color introductory text on VB .Net. This book is filled with extensive pedagogy, such as step-by-step examples, drills, and case studies, to "coach" students to attain a firm grasp of VB .Net.

Microsoft's .NET is a collection of new technologies that are revolutionizing Windows-based software development. A major theme of .NET is the idea of Web services, allowing software to communicate directly with other software using Internet technologies. The .NET Framework and Visual Studio.NET, two more core aspects of this initiative, provide a multi-language environment in which developers can create Web services and other kinds of applications. .NET My Services, yet another aspect of .NET, offers a new kind of platform for creating a new class of applications. Taken as a whole, the .NET technologies will change the way nearly every Windows application is built.

Understanding .NET: A Tutorial and Analysis offers developers and technical managers a concise guide to the new landscape of Windows development. Margin notes, detailed diagrams, and lucid writing make this book easy to navigate and to read, while analysis sections explore controversial issues and address common concerns. The book's independent perspective and straightforward descriptions make clear both how the .NET technologies work and how they can be used.

Key topics include:

• An overview of .NET and its goals
• Web services technologies, including the Simple Object Access Protocol (SOAP) and more
• The .NET Framework's Common Language Runtime (CLR)
• C# and Visual Basic.NET
• The .NET Framework class library
• ADO.NET
• ASP.NET
• .NET My Services

The key to using a new technology is understanding it. Understanding .NET will help you make the right decisions and make the most of this revolutionary framework.

Microsoft Visual Basic .NET offers remarkable power and flexibility, with richer object models for data, forms, transactions, and more. But you must upgrade applications before they'll compile and run in the Microsoft .NET environment. Get the in-depth technical details you need to upgrade Visual Basic applications efficiently with this upgrade-specific reference. Learn about advanced Visual Basic .NET functionality such as inheritance, multithreading, drag-and-drop XML Web services, RAD programmability for servers, the forms package, and more. Examine side-by-side code examples, and learn to evaluate which projects can benefit from an upgrade and which might function best in a mixed-code environment. And get programming tips and tricks that help you make the most of the epic shift to .NET. This book covers these topics:

• Differences between Visual Basic 6.0 and Visual Basic .NET
• Upgrade options
• Preparing your project for an upgrade
• Your first upgrade
• Common tasks in Visual Basic .NET
• What the Upgrade Wizard does
• Errors, warnings, and issues
• COM interoperability using both versions
• Common upgrade problems
• Fixing language and form problems
• ActiveX® controls and COM libraries
• What to do with data
• Upgrading Microsoft Transaction Server/COM+ components
• Application Wizard projects
• Adding value to your application
• Replacing ActiveX controls with Windows® Forms controls
• Moving from ADO to ADO.NET
• Appendixes: Object models, compatibility library contents, and helper class code

INCLUDED ON CD-ROM:

• A fully searchable electronic copy of the book
• Sample code written in Visual Basic 6.0 and Visual Basic .NET

Microsoft Visual Basic .NET provides the productivity features developers need to rapidly create enterprise-critical Web applications. In Visual Basic .NET and the .NET Platform, author Andrew Troelsen shows developers how to use VB .NET for developing virtually every possible kind of .NET application. From Windows-based to Web-based applications, ADO .NET, XML Web services, and object-oriented language features, it's all here. There are detailed discussions of every aspect of .NET development and useful examples with no toy code™.

Troelsen starts with a brief philosophy of the VB .NET language and then quickly moves to key technical and architectural issues for .NET developers. Not only is there extensive coverage of the .NET framework, but Troelsen also describes the new object-oriented features of VB .NET including nested classes, inheritance and interface-based programming techniques. Readers also learn how to use VB .NET to accomplish object serialization, data access with ADO .NET, and building (and interacting with) .NET Web Services.