4230.  Windows Forms Using Visual Basic

Rev. 3.0

 

This five-day course provides a practical, hands-on introduction to GUI development using Windows Forms and Visual Basic. The course introduces database programming in Windows, including use of Language Integrated Query (LINQ) in .NET 3.5. The course covers powerful newer Windows Forms features, such as new controls, new data binding, and ClickOnce deployment for creating smart client applications.

 

The course begins with a fundamental discussion of Windows Forms architecture and programming simple Windows Forms applications “from scratch.” Then the use of Visual Studio 2008 and the Forms Designer is introduced, which is used throughout the remainder of the course. Simple controls are covered, such as buttons, labels, textboxes, checkboxes, radio buttons and group boxes. List controls are surveyed, including list box, combo box, list view, and DomainUpDown. Dialogs are discussed in detail, including modal and modeless dialogs and associated controls. Menus, toolbars and status bars are covered.

 

Advanced topics are introduced, including parent/child and owner/owned relationships, MDI, programming the Clipboard, and visual inheritance. Advanced controls are introduced, including the tree view and tab control. Resources are discussed, including their use in localization. The Application class is covered. Applications settings are discussed, including use of configuration files and the Registry. The course concludes with an introduction to data access in Windows applications, including LINQ, and with coverage of newer Windows Forms features.

 

Numerous programming examples and exercises are provided. The student will receive a comprehensive set of notes and all the programming examples.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

·         Understand the fundamentals of Windows Forms architecture

·         Acquire proficiency in the use of Visual Studio to create professional class Windows applications

·         Gain a thorough grounding in the important controls provided by Windows Forms

·         Learn how to implement dialogs, menus, toolbars and status bars

·         Learn how to use advanced controls, such as tree views, splitters and tabbed dialogs

·         Understand the use of resources and application settings in Windows Forms applications

·         Learn how to implement data access using ADO.NET and binding of controls

·         Use Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to access data from Windows Forms programs

·         Gain an understanding of newer controls, data binding and ClickOnce deployment

 

Course Duration:  5 days

 

Audience: This course is designed for experienced application developers and architects responsible for Windows applications in a Microsoft environment.

 

Prerequisites:  Experience programming the .NET Framework using Visual Basic.

 

1.      Introduction to Windows Forms

What Are Windows Forms?

Windows Forms Class Hierarchy

Building a Form

The Application Class

Trapping Events

Buttons

Labels and Textbox Controls

 

2.      Visual Studio and the Forms Designer

Using the Forms Designer

Code Generated by Forms Designer

Adding Event Handlers

Creating Attractive Forms

Creating Easy To Use Forms

 

3.      Using Controls

Checkbox, Radio Button, and Group Box

Numeric Up/Down

Trackbar

Progress

MonthCalendar

DateTimePicker

 

4.      List Controls

Listbox and Combo box

DomainUpDown

ListView

Storing Objects in List Controls

 

5.      Working with Dialogs

Modal vs. Modeless Dialogs

Message Boxes

Common Dialogs

Creating a Modal Dialog

Configuring the Dialog Result

Access Data from the Dialog

Validating Data

Error Provider Control

Modal Dialogs

Creating a Modeless Dialog

 

6.      Menus, Toolbars and Status Bars

Main Menus

Context Menus

Building a Status Bar

Building a Toolbar

Using the Timer Control

 

7.       Advanced Windows Forms Topics

Parent/Child Relationships

Owner/Owned Relationships

Top-Most Forms

Multiple Document Interface

Managing Parent/Child Menus

Programming the Clipboard

Visual Inheritance

 

8.      Using Advanced Controls

Panel

TreeView

Splitter

Tab Control

 

9.      Resources

Image Resources

Resource Files

String Resources

Working with Resources in Visual Studio

Resource Managers

Cultures and Internationalization

Building Localizable Forms

 

10.  Applications and Settings

Application Class

Processing and Filtering Windows Messages

Application Lifetime and Events

Configuration Files

Windows Registry

 

11.  Data Access and Data Binding

ADO.NET Overview

.NET Data Providers

Using DataReaders

Data Sets

Data Tables

Data Views

Data Binding

Interacting with XML Data

Language Integrated Query (LINQ)

Bridging Objects and Data

Using Object Relational Designer

Filtering, Ordering and Aggregation

Inserts, Deletes and Updates

 

12.  Newer Features in Windows Forms

ToolStrip Control

SplitContainer Control

Web Browser Control

DataGridView Control

Other Newer Controls

New Data Binding

Application Settings

BackgroundWorker Component

ClickOnce Deployment

 

Appendix A. Learning Resources

System Requirements

 

Course exercises require Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 and MSDN on Windows XP. SQL Server 2005 Express or SQL Server 2008 Express is required for the database chapters. IIS is required to demonstrate ClickOnce deployment. See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.

 

A good minimal hardware profile for this course consists of a 2 GHz or better CPU, 512 MB of RAM, and at least 4 GB of free disk space for tools installation and courseware.