VB. NET Language in a Nutshell (2nd Edition) - Softcover

Steven Roman, PhD; Petrusha, Ron; Lomax, Paul

3.59

17 ratings by Goodreads

9780596003081: VB. NET Language in a Nutshell (2nd Edition)

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0596003080 ISBN 13: 9780596003081

Publisher: O'Reilly Media, 2002

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With the release of the Microsoft .NET platform comes a new version of Visual Basicdramatically unlike its predecessors. So extensive are the changes, in fact, thatsome VB programmers argue that Visual Basic .NET is an entirely new programminglanguage. In the updated second edition of this popular book, you will find completedocumentation for the Visual Basic .NET language.

Beginning with a brief overview of the language, VB.NET Language in aNutshell covers basic programming concepts, and introduces the .NET FrameworkClass Library and programming with attributes. The bulk of the book consists of analphabetical reference to Visual Basic .NET statements, procedures, functions, andobjects. Each entry has a standardized listing containing the followinginformation:

Its syntax, using standard coding conventions
Differences in the operation of the keyword in Visual Basic .NETand in VB 6.0
A list of arguments accepted by the function or procedure
A description of the data type returned by a function
The finer points of a language element?s usage that are oftenomitted from or blurred over by other sources
Tips and warnings that include undocumented behaviors and practicalapplications for particular language elements
An invaluable section for diagnosing or avoiding potentialprogramming problems
A cross-reference to related keywords

On the CD-ROM (included with print edition of the book) is a plug-in that adds acopy of the book's language reference to the dynamic help within Visual Studio .NET.The plug-in requires any edition of Visual Basic .NET or Visual Studio .NET.

No matter how much experience you have programming with VB, you want this bookclose by, both as a standard reference guide and as a tool for troubleshooting andidentifying programming problems.

"synopsis" may belong to another edition of this title.

Review:

Written especially for those readers coming to VB.NET from an earlier version of Visual Basic, VB.NET in a Nutshell offers a quick language tour as well as a nicely thorough reference to all standard VB objects, methods, and properties. Even if you are a raw beginner, this concise reference is really all you need to get onboard with the new version of the world's most popular programming language.

The first sections of this text zero in on what's new and different in VB.NET. From the basics of the language, centering on data types and object-oriented features, this quick-start guide highlights essential language features that every VB.NET programmer needs to know. There's also material here on the underlying .NET framework, from deployment basics (like .NET assemblies) to built-in namespaces. Coverage of delegates and event handling shows how to process events. The substantially different exception handling model of VB.NET is contrasted with the older ways of handling errors.

The heart of this title has to be its reference material (over 400 pages), primarily on the built-in core VB classes in the new .NET version. While there were rumors that VB.NET changed VB completely, this material should reassure you. By providing APIs that resemble older versions, VB programmers still can leverage common string, date, and time and other functions. Every object, method, and property is described, along with sample code, and differences with VB6. A standout here are "gotchas" when using the new APIs compared to VB6. Besides objects and APIs, there is also coverage of language keywords (for logical, looping, and branching statements), too.

The book closes with several useful reference sections, one of which details all the new features to be found in VB.NET. This is almost a must-read for anyone facing the new VB.NET for the first time. Another appendix here lists VB.NET language APIs. While it's true that you can use many languages with .NET, VB.NET Language in a Nutshell covers the APIs that will give VB.NET its real flavor as a new programming language. Both a quick-start guide and a worthwhile reference to use everyday at your desk, this title is a great way to start using VB.NET in real projects quickly. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

Introduction to VB.NET
Variables and data types (including arrays, collections and parameter, and arguments)
Object-oriented programming in VB.NET (classes, inheritance, polymorphism and overloading)
Overview of the .NET Framework
The Common Language Runtime (CLR)
Managed execution
Assemblies and VB.NET
.NET namespaces (including the system namespace)
Delegates and events
Error handling in VB.NET (including exception handling techniques)
Comprehensive language reference to VB.NET objects
Methods and properties (including sample code, programming tips/gotchas, VB.NET vs. VB6 differences)
Reference to what's new in VB.NET
Language elements and operators in VB.NET
Using the VB.NET command-line compiler
Unsupported VB 6 language elements

From the Publisher:

The second edition is based on Version 1.0 of Visual Studio .NET. Many of the existing reader reviews are from the first edition and have been addressed in the second edition.

For more information on the CD that integrates the book with Visual Studio .NET, please visit the oreilly.com website.

"About this title" may belong to another edition of this title.