1. Getting Started with VB .NET
Chapter 1
Getting Started with VB .NET

2. Objectives
Learn about VB .NET and the characteristics of a VB .NET solution
Start and configure VB .NET
Explore the elements of the development environment
Learn how to access Help
Open a VB .NET solution
Explore the tool windows and operating modes of VB .NET

3. Introducing Visual Studio .NET
Visual Studio .NET is an integrated development environment
Development environment supports three different languages
Visual Basic
Visual C++
C# (pronounced C sharp)
New to Visual Studio .NET
Note that Visual Interdev is obsolete. Functionality included with other Visual Studio .NET products

4. Introducing Visual Studio.NET
Applications (called solutions) developed using a developer interface called the Microsoft Development Environment (MDE)
VB .NET supports different types of applications created with the following tools
Windows Forms used to create desktop applications
Web Forms used to create programmable Web pages
Web Services process client – server requests

5. ? Programming Languages
Programming language are made up of words forming statements
A Statement expresses a complete thought or idea
Similar to an English sentence
Statements grouped into procedures
A procedure is similar to a paragraph in English
Procedures grouped into a module
Modules contain one or more procedures
Modules correspond to physical disk files
Module files have the suffix .vb.

6. ? Programming Languages
A program contains statements, grouped into procedures, in one or more modules
VB .NET calls a program a solution
Each solution is stored in its own folder
Solution folder contains sub folder
Solution folder contains all of the files that make up the solution

7. Program Relationships
Public Class frmMain
Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form
Private components = New System.ComponentModel.Container
End Class
Module file frmMain.vb
Public Sub New()
End Sub
Procedure
MyBase.New() InitializeComponent()
Executable statements
Public Sub InitializeComponent()
End Sub
Procedure
Me.Text = "Chapter 1 – Completed Example
Executable statement
Public Class frmDialog End Class
Module file frmDialog.vb

8. Types of Statements
Declaration statements define the names of data and procedures
The following statements declare a variable and a procedure Private mstrCustomerName As String Private Sub InitializeComponent() End Sub
Executable statements perform a specific action
The following statement closes the form named frmMain frmMain.Close()

9. Syntax Programming statements adhere to rules known as syntax
Statements must be exactly correct
VB .NET cannot interpret statements with typographical or spelling errors
Incorrect statements will cause a syntax error
Syntax errors occur when a statement violates the rules of the language
Private mstrCustomerName As Strung
frmMain.Closed()

10. VB .NET Programming Concepts
VB .NET solutions have the same characteristics as other programs
Window is a rectangular area on the desktop
Win Form (form) contains buttons and textboxes
Buttons, textboxes, and the form itself are all objects
Solutions contain 1 or more forms
Collection of forms, buttons, and textboxes form the user interface
User interface represents what the user sees and how the user interacts with the solution

11. Object Oriented Terms
Information hiding – Expose only essential information and hide inner logic
Encapsulation – Integrate (package) data and processes that act on data together
Inner logic is hidden from the developer
Inheritance – Create new objects from existing objects
Inherit one form from another form
Polymorphism – Multiple procedures of the same name perform different tasks
Capable of taking many forms

12. Object Oriented Terms
Programming object mimics the behavior of a real-world object
Buttons on a form perform a task when clicked
Some objects are visible to the user – others are not
Objects are created from classes
Multiple objects can be created from the same class. For example, create multiple buttons on a form
A class is a blueprint (template) for an object
Buttons on a form created from the Button class
TextBoxes created from the TextBox class

13. Internal View of a VB .NET Solution
An object has:
Predefined behaviors or settings called properties
Properties exist to define the size and position of a button on a form, for example
They are like adjectives they describe the object
Methods represent the actions an object can perform
They are like verbs they perform an action
Events allow messages to be sent to a solution
Write code in event handlers also known as event procedures
When the user clicks a button, statement in the corresponding event handler execute

14. Internal View of a VB .NET Solution
We use controls to create objects on a form
A control created on a form is called a control instance
Button control is a button the user can click
Label control displays text but cannot receive input
OpenFileDialog control displays a standard dialog box allowing user to select a file
PictureBox control displays pictures
All control instances are created from their respective class

15. Sample of VB .NET Controls
Label control instance to display file name
Label control instance to display a descriptive prompt
PictureBox control instance to display graphical image
Buttons when clicked perform an action
OpenFileDialog control instance has no visual interface and appears in a tray at the bottom of the form

16. Starting VB .NET
Microsoft Visual Studio.NET 7.0
Start button

17. Configuring VB .NET VB .NET supports two operating modes
Tabbed documents environment
Docked windows appear along edge of the MDE (?)
Docked windows can be temporarily hidden
Floating windows appear anywhere on the desktop
Windows can be autohidden along any edge of the MDE
Multiple document interface
Appearance similar to Excel

18. Configuring VB .NET
On the Menu bar, click Tools, and then click Options to display Options dialog box
General tab sets environment (tabbed documents or MDI mode)
Projects and Solutions tab sets default folder for projects and when changes are saved

19. VB .NET Options Dialog Box – General Tab
Select folder
Active page highlighted

20. VB .NET Options Dialog Box – Projects and Solutions Tab
Default project location

21. VB .NET Window Types Document window Docked window Autohidden window
Floating window

22. Configuring the Menu Bar and Toolbar
Multiple regions display toolbars
Regions appear along any edge of the MDE
Individual toolbars can be hidden or made visible depending on task at hand
Use Customize dialog to configure toolbars
Floating toolbars appear anywhere on the desktop
Docked toolbars anchored along any edge of the MDE
Usually they appear below the menu bar

23. Docked and Floating Toolbars
Docked toolbar
Floating toolbar
Toolbars docked along bottom of MDE

24. Document Windows
Appear on group tabs and correspond to the individual files that make up a solution
Win Form Designer used to create the user interface
Code Editor used to write statements in event handlers
Only one document window visible at a time
Select window on group tab to activate desired document window
Buttons to the right of a group tab navigate between document windows and close them

25. Tool Windows
The same tool windows are used in the creation of all VB .NET solutions
Solution Explorer groups all elements needed to build and run a solution
Properties window allows developer to manage the appearance of each object
Help windows are also tool windows
Tool windows can be:
Docked – appearing along an edge of the MDE
Autohidden – hidden along an edge of the MDE
Floating – appearing anywhere on the desktop

26. Document Windows & Tool Windows
Document windows appear on tab group
Close active document window
Solution Explorer is a tool window (appearing as a docked window

27. Configuring Tool Windows
Make a window float by right-clicking on the title bar and select Floating
Autohide a window by first docking the window. Right-click the title bar and select Autohide
Dock a window by right-clicking the title bar and select dockable. Drag the window to an edge of the MDE
Configure windows as desired so that they best fit your needs

28. Configuring Tool Windows
Docked window
Autohidden windows appear along an edge of the MDE

29. Getting Help VB .NET supports four primary help windows
Index – alphabetical list of contents
Contents – table of contents organized by topic
Search – locate topics by keyword
Dynamic Help – new to .NET
Display topics based on active window and current task
Topics that appear in the Dynamic Help window will change as you navigate from window to window
Help filters restrict information displayed

30. Help – Index
Index tab
Filter applied
Applicable topics

31. Help – Contents
Book expanded
Topic

32. Help – Search
Search text
Search results

33. Help – Dynamic Help
Dynamic Help Window

34. Opening a VB .NET Solution
Click File, and then click Open Solution
Select folder
Enter solution name
Click to Open solution

35. Organization of a VB .NET Solution
Solution file is at the heart of the application
Controls how solution will be translated into executable file
Controls how application will be distributed
File suffix is .sln
Solution file references one or more project files which:
Store global information
List the other files in the project
List references to namespaces

36. Form Modules Projects can contain multiple forms
Each form stored in a form module
Form module contains code to create control instances
Also contains code written by the developer to perform tasks
File suffix is .vb
Do not change file suffix or VB .NET will not be able to locate files

37. Elements of a Solution solution file form module frmDialog.vb
form module frmMain.vb
class module clsDemo.vb
project file Complete01.vbproj
standard module stdDemo.vb
Bin folder contains compiled solution
Obj folder contains temporary files
text file
solution items
icon files
miscellaneous files

38. The Solution Explorer
Groups projects and modules comprising a solution

39. Properties Window Property is a characteristic of an object
Color, caption, screen location
Set properties using the Properties window
Name column lists property
Value column contains current value
Display properties alphabetically or by category
Description of selected appears at the bottom of the window
Description section may be hidden

40. Selected Font property has subproperties
Properties Window (2)
Object list box
Toolbar area
Selected Font property has subproperties
Description area

41. Visual controls appear in the Toolbox

42. Operating Modes Three operating modes
In run mode VB .NET is executing the program
Program appears as the user will see it
In design mode you assume the role of the developer
In break mode solution is temporarily suspended
Use for debugging
Refer to Appendix A for information on debugging

43. Running a Solution Press Start button on the Debug toolbar
Solution runs as the user will see it
Press Stop Debugging button on the Debug toolbar to end the solution and return to design mode