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Clint Rutkas, Bob Tabor, Golnaz

Visual Basic

11/21/2011 5:30:19 PM

Concluding Thoughts - 25
In this final video, Bob talks about approaches to solving common issues that arise for new software developers, where to turn for help, how to search for answers to technical questions, how to ask for help and become part of the .NET community, how to create a personal knowledge base of books and articles, and finally provides a long term path that you can follow to learn more about developing Windows and Web applications.
Getting Familiar with the My Namespace - 24
This video demonstrates the use of the My Namespace in Visual Basic which provides a short-cut to often used classes in the .NET Framework Class Library. We demonstrate how to use the My Namespace to retrieve information about the user's computer, search for files on the file system, perform file and directory manipulation, get command line arguments, work with application settings and more. Download the source code for Understanding the My Namespace
Filtering and Managing Data in Collections using LINQ - 22
Building on the work from the previous lesson with generic collections, in this lesson we start by talking about how Structured Query Language provides a means of working with sets (collections, groupings, etc.) of data. In a similar way, the LINQ syntax provides a simple way of working with groups of data in generic collections. We demonstrate projecting data into existing types as well as new anonymous types. Download the source code for Filtering and Managing Data...
Gracefully Handling Exceptions - 20
Exceptions occur when an application experiences some unexpected problem at run time. This lesson discusses how to use the try catch finally block to anticipate potential problems and attempt to shield the end user from those problems as much as is possible. We discuss best practices when checking for exceptions and discuss the mindset of the conscientious software developer who seeks to provide the best possible experience for his users. Download the source code for Gracefully Handling Exceptions
Enumerations and the switch Decision Statement - 19
Classes can contain many different types of information, not just Properties and Methods. We begin demonstrating the use of Enumerations because often in the .NET Framework Class Library, properties can only be set to a pre-determined subset of possible values. To illustrate this point we create our own custom enumeration, and then utilize it in a simple application that demonstrates a third Decision statement, the switch. We demonstrate some Visual Studio IDE magic that will automatically implement code blocks for all possible enumeration values. Download the source code for Enumerations and the switch...
Understanding Modules, Scope and Utilizing Accessibility Modifiers - 18
This lesson begins by discussing the scope of variables within code blocks, and progresses to explain how accessibility modifiers such as Public, Private and Protected are used by the .NET Framework Class Library to expose or hide implementation of their given services to consumers of that given class. This is sometimes referred to as "encapsulation". Finally, Bob explains what gives Modules their special powers. Download the source code for Understanding Modules...
More about Classes and Methods - 15
In this lesson we dig into more details about Classes -- what exactly happens when you create a new instance of a class? What exactly is a reference to an instance of a class? How is it affected when you pass the reference to a method? We also review overloaded methods, talk about static versus instance methods, constructors and more. Download the source code for More about Classes and Methods
Understanding and Creating Classes - 14
Now that you have a good sampling of basic Visual Basic syntax under your belt, it's time to tackle some of the more challenging topics. Classes are integral to the .NET Framework, particularly the .NET Framework Class Library. As a means of better understanding what classes are -- particularly as utilized in the .NET Framework -- we demonstrate how to create your own custom classes. In this lesson we demonstrate how classes are defined and new instances are created. We demonstrate how to define Properties (using the prop "code snippet" to create auto implemented properties) and how to both set their values and get their values for a given instance of the class as well as creating...

Clint Rutkas, Bob Tabor, Golnaz

Visual Basic

11/21/2011 5:26:39 PM

Working with Dates - 13
Dates and times are represented using special types (just like strings are) and deserve some attention. In this lesson we learn how to work with Date and Time data, how to create new instances of Date, how to add time; format the data for display and more. Furthermore, we discuss the TimeSpan class as a means of representing a duration of time. Download the source code for Working with Dates
While Iterations and Reading Data from a Text File - 11
In this lesson we'll both learn a new type of iteration statement (While) and will learn how to utilize the StreamReader class to stream data from a file to the Console window. Additionally, we'll learn how to add new files to our project, how to set properties of our file using the Properties window, how to add a using statement as a means of resolving a class name referenced in our code to the namespace in which it is defined, and more. Download the source code for While Iterations and Reading....
Creating Arrays of Values - 09
In this lesson we talk about arrays, which are multi-part variables … a "bucket" containing other "buckets", if you will. We'll demonstrate how to declare and utilize arrays, setting and retrieving their values, initializing their values, attempting to access values outside of the boundaries of the array, and iterating through arrays using a different iteration statement, the for each statement. Finally, we'll demonstrate a couple of the powerful built-in methods that give arrays added features. Download the source code for Creating Arrays of Values
For . . . Next Iterations - 08
Iterations allow our applications to loop through a block of code until a condition is satisfied. We'll cover several different types of iteration statements throughout this series, but we'll start with the for iteration statement. I'll demonstrate how to utilize "code snippets" to help remind you of the syntax for this complex statement, and will demonstrate debugging in action as we watch the values of our loops displayed in the Visual Studio IDE in several ways. Download the source code For...Next Iterations
Operators, Expressions and Statements - 07
In this lesson we discuss how to create a properly formed statement in Visual Basic. As you'll learn, just as there are "parts of speech" in a properly formed sentence in the English language, there's a "right way" and a "wrong way" to write "complete thoughts" in Visual Basic. We discuss how statements are made up of expressions, and expressions are made up of operators (think: verbs) and operands (think: nouns). Finally, we talk about compilation errors that occur because we ignore the syntax rules of Visual Basic. Download the source code for Operators, Expressions and Statements
Branching with the If . . . Then . . . Else Decision Statement - 06
Branching allows us to add logic to our applications. In this lesson you're introduced to the If Decision statement (in its various forms) as well as the IIf conditional function. We also discuss how to refactor our code to make it more compact and less likely to produce errors by eliminating duplicate code. Download the source code for Branching with the If...
Declaring Variables and Assigning Values - 05
In this lesson we start adding Visual Basic syntax to your vocabulary by talking about one of the fundamental building blocks: data types and variables. Beyond the basics topics such as naming conventions and explicit versus implicit data type conversions are discussed. Download the source code for Declaring Variables and Assigning Values
Quick Overview of the Visual Basic Express Edition IDE - 04
This lesson demonstrates some of the common features -- the various windows, debugging features, code window features, customizations, etc. -- of the Visual Studio IDE found in Visual Basic Express Edition. A more complete discussion of features is found in the Visual Basic Express Edition Fundamentals and the Visual Studio Fundamentals series, also available on Channel9. Download the source code for Quick Overview of the Visual Basic...
Dissecting the First Visual Basic Program You Created - 03
This lesson picks up from the previous one by discussing at length each action and line of code you wrote. It discusses the relationship between the Visual Basic code you write, the Visual Basic compiler, the .NET Framework and more. The lesson discusses the concept of code blocks at a high level explaining how methods, classes and namespaces are related. Finally, the lesson shows you where your project files are stored and the location of your code after it is compiled by the Visual Studio IDE and the different types of compilation (i.e., debug versus release). Download the source code for Dissecting the First Visual Basic...
Creating Your First Visual Basic Program - 02
In this lesson you'll create a simple application twice -- the first time using Windows Notepad and the Visual Basic Command Line Compiler, then then second time using Visual Studio or Visual Basic Express Edition. The point of this video is to demonstrate how much easier your work becomes by utilizing an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) than simply attempting to work in a loose collection of windows and tools. The video concludes by explaining common solutions to the many different problems you might encounter as you first beginning writing and compiling code. Download the source code for Creating Your First Visual Basic Program.