Introduction

The .NET Framework, encompassing a great new product called Visual Studio.NET, is tipped to spur a revolution in the software industry. This is because, the .Net Framework and Visual Stodio.Net have been designed with the Internet as their epicentre.

Visual Basic has been the most widely accepted programming language in the world, and also enjoys the distinction of having the largest band of loyal programmers. Thus, Microsoft was left with no choice but to integrate this product into the .NET Framework in the form of VB.NET. In order to accommodate the large troupe of existing VB developers within this framework, Microsoft has introduced a number of contemporary features to VB.NET, and greatly ameliorated its web design facilities. VB.NET is also regarded as the easiest entry-point into the .Net world, that provides succour to those who are terrified of biting the bullet of the Brave New World of technology.

Microsoft has retained the heart and soul of the original VB product, while simultaneously embellishing it with the latest developments available in software technology. This forms the genesis of VB.NET. As a result, Visual Basic.NET is primarily an extension of the Visual Basic programming language, which is shipped with the Visual Basic product. However, it is a significant upgrade or improvement over VB and is far more flexible and powerful.

This book is for the dilettante, and aimed at anyone who is interested in learning VB.NET. The approach that has been followed here is that simple applications are built first, and then, the code is deciphered to unveil the internal workings of the product.

However, in order to thoroughly appreciate the internal execution of the programs, there are certain significant concepts of the language that need to be discerned first. We have ferreted out the relevant concepts and presented them in the most elementary manner.

This book converges predominantly around the language aspect, to provide enhanced insights to the programmer into the innovative and improved features of VB.Net. We are of the opinion that on learning the language, large applications can be designed with effortless ease.

This book is also endowed with a generous sprinkling of error messages, since we believe that by studying the cause of the errors that are generated by programming languages, programmers are bound to become more astute.

We have ensured that your interest does not evaporate, by making the book as entertaining and informative as possible. We have done our best to bring our aim of making you a good VB.NET programmer, to fruition.

Finally, we leave it to you to decide whether the VB.NET product has really lived up its expectations or not.

Minimum Requirements

The software requirements to successfully run all the programs in this book are

• Operating System - Windows 2000, Windows XP

• Microsoft IIS ver 5.0

• SQLServer 2000

• Visual Studio.Net

Visual Studio.Net

You can ask for your copy of this software from Microsoft by placing an order for the same on their website.

SQLServer 2000

While installing the evaluation edition of SQLServer 2000, we have chosen the default selected settings. The only modification made is in the Authentication Dialog Box.

You see two options

• Windows Authentication mode

• Mixed mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Mode)

The default option selected is Windows Authentication mode. We have instead selected Mixed mode (Windows Authentication and SQL Server Mode). Once this option is selected, the password text boxes for the 'sa' user gets activated. As we would prefer using a blank password in our programs, we select Blank Password. On selecting this option, the text boxes get disabled again.

Acknowledgements

The many individuals who have worked together to produce this great work of art and motivated me all the way need a mention here. Their bright ideas, inspiration, support has made me a lot more stronger and wiser.

First and foremost, thanks to Manish Jain, BPB Publications for publishing the book.

To my co-authors, Deepak and Sonal who have put in a lot of hard work to complete the work assigned to them.

To Tanuja Sodhi, an ex-Naval Officer from the first batch of lady officers and an MBA from Jamnalal Bajaj, for editing the book. She is presently freelancing as a creative writer.

To Altaf Hemani and Kishore Rohra, for their creativity in designing the cover.

Thanks to Manish Purohit for putting in all the time he had to verify the code with the explanations and then giving the book a good look and feel.

To Pradeep Mukhi and Shivanand Shetty, who have always been there, as a source of inspiration and encouragement.

My Mother, Shana Aunty and a long list of friends need a mention here for their patience and cooperation on this book while it was being written.

-Vijay Mukh