Microsoft's .NET initiative created drastic changes in the Visual Studio line of products, and as a result a lot of Visual Basic developers feel like they are beginners all over again. Special Edition Using Visual Basic.NET will offer in-depth explorations of new features so that both experienced programmers and novices will feel comfortable making the transition to .NET. Although a major portion of the book is devoted to Internet applications, the book covers more general topics than many other books. Features of Visual Basic that will be explained include database access, controls, and best coding and practices. These features will be explored in detail, with extensive use of example programs and screen captures.
Brian Siler has been developing Visual Basic applications since 1994. He received his Bachelor of Science degree in computer science from the University of Memphis in 1995. In addition to his day job as lead systems analyst for a major hotel corporation, Brian occasionally develops custom VB applications for other individuals. He has created many types of computer programs, including client/server, Active Server Pages, and "n-tier" Web applications. Brian is familiar with a variety of databases, including Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, and Microsoft Access. Additional information about some of Brian's VB projects as well as sample source code is available on the Web at http://www.vbinsider.com. He has coauthored two previous Visual Basic books. Brian may be contacted via e-mail at bsiler@vbinsider.com.
Jeff Spotts is a financial systems advisor for Federal Express Corporation. A 1980 graduate of the University of Memphis, he also teaches programming classes at Southwest Tennessee Community College in Memphis. In addition, he develops custom applications for individuals and businesses and has a growing portfolio of Visual Basic database applications plus a variety of Web-based systems using VBScript and Active Server Pages. Jeff is a Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP), has been involved with computer hardware and software since the late 1970s, and has been programming with Visual Basic since just after its introduction. Jeff is a coauthor (with Brian Siler) of Que's Special Edition Using Visual Basic 6 and has contributed to several other titles. He may be contacted via e-mail at jspotts@vbinsider.com.
