What is this course about?

This course is about building robust, advanced .NET applications using Visual Basic 2008. This course also provides the building blocks to create multitier applications that include relational database access.

What are .NET and the .NET Framework?

They are the same thing. The .NET Framework is a programming platform that allows you to build Windows and Web applications that run on Microsoft operating systems.

The .NET Framework 3.0 added the following technologies to .NET 2.0: Windows Communication Foundation (WCF), Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Windows Workflow Foundation (WF) and Cardspace. The .NET Framework 3.5 added Language INtegrated Query (LINQ). Technically, .NET 3.0 is not covered in this course because we do not cover WCF, WPF, WF or Cardspace. LINQ, new to .NET 3.5, is introduced in this course.

For courses that focus on technologies that were new with .NET 3.0, you may be interested in Course 513, Windows^® Communication Foundation (WCF): Creating .NET 3.5 Web Services, or Course 975, Windows ^® Presentation Foundation (WPF) and Silverlight Introduction: Hands-On.

Course 976, .NET 3.0/3.5 Overview: Hands-On, is intended to be an overview of the major technologies of .NET 3.0/3.5 and does not go into depth on any one technology. It does provide a working knowledge of the technologies and an understanding of how they can be integrated to build a system. Each of the technologies is covered in depth by individual Learning Tree courses.

What are the differences among Visual Basic 6, Visual Basic .NET 2003, Visual Basic 2005 and Visual Basic 2008?

Visual Basic 6 produces applications designed to run on Windows platform using COM and native code. It has now moved beyond mainstream support. Visual Basic .NET 2003 succeeded VB 6 and targets the .NET Framework versions 1.0 and 1.1. Visual Basic 2005 is the version of VB that targets the .NET Framework version 2.0.

The Visual Basic 2008 language includes fully object-oriented constructs, exceptions and cross-language support. Visual Basic 2008 targets .NET versions 2.0, 3.0 or 3.5, a feature known as multi-targeting. While similar to earlier versions, Visual Basic 2008 contains substantial new features and capabilities. Visual Basic 2008 compiles code to Microsoft's Intermediate Language (MSIL), which can run on any platform that supports the .NET Framework.

Who will benefit from this course?

• Software developers creating component-based multitier systems who want to fully exploit the features of Visual Basic 2008
• Developers interested in learning about the .NET Framework from the perspective of Visual Basic
• Visual Basic 6 developers wishing to migrate to the new .NET environment

What background do I need?

Experience with any modern programming language, such as Visual Basic, Java, C#, C++ or PL/SQL, is assumed.

For example, you should know how to:

• Create a Forms-based application
• Write a loop to iterate through the strings in a list box
• Define a variable that will hold floating point values
• Program If statements, While and For loops
• Write functions

This experience may be gained in Course 502, Programming with .NET: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction.

What version of Visual Studio is used in this course?

This course uses Visual Studio 2008.

I need to use Visual Basic 2005 back at work. Will this course be valuable for me?

Absolutely! This course will provide you with a solid foundation in the skills you need to program in Visual Basic 2005. All of the core topics in this class are identical between Visual Basic 2005 and Visual Basic 2008. The new language features of Visual Basic 2008 are introduced in this class.

I use Visual Basic .NET 2003. Will this course be valuable for me?

Developers with knowledge of Visual Basic .NET 2003 may find that this course covers some new information that is unique to Visual Basic 2008.

When I've finished this course, what types of applications will I be able to create?

In this course, you use Visual Basic 2008 and the .NET Framework 3.5 to create a wide variety of applications, including Windows Forms for desktop, ASP.NET Web applications and console applications for tools and utilities.

How much time is spent on each topic?

Does the course cover SQL, HTML and XML?

This course covers how to integrate a SQL database backend into your .NET Windows or Web application, including the use of parameterised SQL queries or stored procedure to create a data access layer. This course also covers extending HTML with ASP.NET Web applications using specific server-side tags and markup. The use of XML in the .NET Framework for configuration and for creating documentation comments is also explored.

Will I learn to convert existing Visual Basic 6 applications to Visual Basic 2008?

No. This course does not cover migration issues for existing VB 6 code. In general, Visual Basic 2008 has so many new features, that porting VB 6 applications is usually non-optimal compared to re-architecting a new solution.

Does this course cover Web application development?

While you do build a full-featured ASP.NET application, this course does not focus on ASP.NET for Web application development. If you need to learn specifically about Web application development, you may be interested in Course 512, Developing ASP.NET Web Applications: Hands-On.

What kind of hands-on exercises will I do?

Approximately 50 percent of this course is spent in hands-on exercises. Participants build a series of programs that teach the many features of Visual Basic 2008. In particular, you learn about object-oriented and component-based programming as well as creating user interfaces for Windows and Web programming in order to build multitier applications.

Why should I take this course instead of one offered by Microsoft?

Learning Tree is dedicated to helping accelerate the careers of our clients by providing them with world-class technology and management training. Our independence from Microsoft (and any other vendor) allows us to give an unbiased view of what works and what does not. This course is objective in its approach, having been developed independently from Microsoft by industry experts who bring their real-world experience to the classroom.

How does this course relate to other Learning Tree courses?

• 502, Programming with .NET: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction 
• 419, C# Programming: Hands-On 
• 973, Programming C# Extended Features: Hands-On 
• 506, Programming Scalable Web Applications with .NET and ASP.NET Ajax: Hands-On 
• 508, Building Web Services with .NET 2.0: Hands-On 
• 511, .NET Best Practices and Design Patterns: Hands-On 
• 512, Developing ASP.NET Web Applications: Hands-On 
• 931, Agile Programming: Principles and Practices for Software Success 
• 2601, Programming .NET Web Services: A Comprehensive Hands-On Introduction