Table of Contents

Part I: Language Constructs and Environment

Chapter 1: Visual Studio 2012

Visual Studio 2012

Visual Basic Keywords and Syntax

Project ProVB_VS2012

Enhancing a Sample Application

Useful Features of Visual Studio 2012

Summary

Chapter 2: The Common Language Runtime

Framework Profiles and Platforms

Elements of a .NET Application

Cross-Language Integration

IL Disassembler

Memory Management

Namespaces

Creating Your Own Namespaces

The My Keyword

Extending the My Namespace

Summary

Chapter 3: Objects and Visual Basic

Object-Oriented Terminology

Working With Visual Basic Types

Commands: Conditional

Value Types (Structures)

Reference Types (Classes)

Parameter Passing

Working with Objects

Creating Classes

Object-Oriented Concepts

Summary

Chapter 4: Custom Objects

Inheritance

Multiple Interfaces

Abstraction

Encapsulation

Polymorphism

Summary

Chapter 5: Advanced Language Constructs

Preparing the Sample Application

Lambda Expressions

Using Lambda Expressions

Async and Await

Iterators

Summary

Chapter 6: Exception Handling and Debugging

System.Exception

Handling Exceptions

Logging Errors

Summary

Part II: Business Objects and Data Access

Chapter 7: Arrays, Collections, and Generics

Arrays

Collections

Generics

Creating Generics

Summary

Chapter 8: Using XML with Visual Basic

An Introduction to XML

XML Serialization

System.Xml Document Support

LINQ to XML

XSL Transformations

XML in ASP.NET

Summary

Chapter 9: ADO.NET and LINQ

ADO.NET Architecture

Basic ADO.NET Features

.NET Data Providers

The DataSet Component

Working with the Common Provider Model

Connection Pooling in ADO.NET

Transactions and System.Transactions

Summary

Chapter 10: Data Access with the Entity Framework

Object-Relational Mapping

Entity Framework Architecture

Mapping Objects to Entities

Summary

Chapter 11: Services (XML/WCF)

Web Services

The Larger Move to SOA

Building a WCF Service

Building a WCF Consumer

Working with Data Contracts

Namespaces

Summary

Part III: Specialized Topics and Libraries

Chapter 12: XAML Essentials

Features Shared by All XAML Platforms

The XAML Markup Language

The Layout System

Controls and Content

Resources in XAML

Data Binding

Data Templates and ItemControls

Styles

Control Templates

Summary

Chapter 13: Creating XAML Applications for Windows 8

How XAML Differs in Windows 8

Windows 8 UI Conventions

UI/UX Guidelines

New Visual Elements in Windows 8

Changes to the Visual Designer in Visual Studio 2012

Application Templates in Visual Studio 2012

Implementing a Live Tile

Implementing Contracts

Summary

Chapter 14: Applications with ASP.NET, MVC, JavaScript and HTML

Visual Studio Support for ASP.NET

Server-Side Development

Client-Side Web Development

Building Windows 8 Style Apps with HTML and JavaScript

Summary

Chapter 15: Localization

Cultures and Regions

Translating Values and Behaviors

ASP.NET Resource Files

Summary

Chapter 16: Application Services

Using IIS for Application Services

Windows Services

Characteristics of a Windows Service

Interacting with Windows Services

Creating a Windows Service

Creating a Windows Service in Visual Basic

Creating a File Watcher Service

Communicating with the Service

Custom Commands

Passing Strings to a Service

Debugging the Service

Summary

Chapter 17: Assemblies and Reflection

Assemblies

The Manifest

Assemblies and Deployment

Versioning Issues

Basics of Reflection

Dynamic Loading of Assemblies

Summary

Chapter 18: Security in the .NET Framework

Security Concepts and Definitions

Windows Store Projects

The System.Security.Permissions Namespace

Managing Code Access Permission Sets

User Access Control

Defining Your Application UAC Settings

Encryption Basics

Summary

Chapter 19: Parallel Programming Using Tasks and Threads

Launching Parallel Tasks

Transforming Sequential Code to Parallel Code

Parallelizing Loops

Specifying the Desired Degree of Parallelism

Creating and Managing Tasks

Summary

Chapter 20: Deploying XAML Applications via the Window 8 Windows Store

A New Deployment Option for Windows 8 Apps

Getting an Account at the Windows Store

Requirements for Apps in the Windows Store

Working with the Windows Store in Visual Studio 2012

Side-loading for LOB Apps in an Organization

Summary

Introduction