Since their introduction, the MCSD certification
exams have
been enthusiastically received by
VB programmers who
consider certification very important to their professional
credibility.
Programmers tend to be specialists--they tend to do the
same kind of programming over and over. The MCSD exam is
targeted at technical generalists--developers familiar with
a broad array of Microsoft technologies and development
approaches that are incorporated into Visual Basic. With
its comprehensive overview of core technology areas,
MCSD in a Nutshell is the perfect study guide and
resource to help developers master technologies that are
less familiar to them. In fact, its thorough review of
Visual Basic-related development technologies also makes
this an excellent tutorial for experienced VB programmers
who wish to get up to speed on speed on some technology
with which they work infrequently, if at all.
Most certification books are really tutorials in
disguise. In contrast, this book focuses on the advanced
topics about which developers are actually tested on the
exam.
Topics include:
- Understanding COM
- Creating ActiveX Code Components
- Creating ActiveX Controls
- Creating and Using ActiveX Documents
- Creating Internet-Aware Applications
- Testing and Debugging
- Integrating Help with an Application
- Optimizing an Application
- Package and Deployment
- Incorporating Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS)
- Working with Data Using ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
Incredibly, most certification books appear to assume
that the reader has no prior experience with VB
programming. In contrast, this book assumes an intermediate
to advanced programmer who is concerned with learning more
about each of the core technologies that are covered by the
exam. And unlike some certification books, MCSD in a
Nutshell is written by an author who has successfully
passed the certification exams.
Contents
Preface
Chapter 1. Introduction
Chapter 2. Visual Basic Overview
Forms
Menus
Controls
Passing Parameters by Reference or by Value
Naming Conventions
Chapter 3. Understanding COM
The Technologies and the Exams
COM and ActiveX: A VB Programmer's Perspective
Understanding COM
Putting ActiveX Objects to Work
Creating ActiveX Objects
Using the Object Browser
In-Process Versus Out-of-Process Servers
Creating Three-Tiered Client/Server Applications
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 4. Creating and Testing ActiveX Code Components
The Technologies and the Exams
Creating ActiveX Code Components in Visual Basic
Calling Object Servers Asynchronously Using Callbacks
Creating System Callbacks Using AddressOf
Creating Remote Servers
Creating Multithreaded Components
Testing and Debugging ActiveX Code Components
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 5. Creating ActiveX Controls
The Technologies and the Exams
Understanding ActiveX Controls
Creating a Control's User Interface
Creating a Control's Developer Interface
Integrating a Control with Its Container
Setting Procedure Attributes
Testing and Debugging ActiveX Controls
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 6. Creating and Using ActiveX Documents
The Technologies and the Exams
Understanding ActiveX Documents
Working with ActiveX Document Projects
Effectively Using UserDocument Events
Integrating an ActiveX Document with Its Container
Creating Multiple Document Projects
Asynchronously Receiving Data
Testing and Debugging ActiveX Documents
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 7. Working with Data
The Technologies and the Exams
Universal Data Access
Manipulating Data Using ActiveX Data Objects
Using the ADO Data Control
The Data Environment Designer
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 8. Creating Internet-Aware Applications
The Technologies and the Exams
Adding Browser Capabilities to a Program Using the WebBrowser Control
Using Automation with Internet Explorer
Using the Internet Transfer Control
Using the Winsock Control
Creating Dynamic Web Pages Using DHTML
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 9. Testing and Debugging
The Technologies and the Exams
Implementing Error Handling
Using Visual Basic's Debugging Tools
Using Conditional Compilation
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 10. Implementing Help
The Technologies and the Exams
A Brief History of Help
Assigning a Help File to a Project
Understanding Help Context IDs
Linking Help Topics to Objects
Adding What's This Help to a Form
Displaying Help Using the Common Dialog Control
Distributing Help with Your Application
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 11. Optimizing an Application for Distribution
The Technologies and the Exams
Setting Compiler Optimizations
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 12. Creating Microsoft Transaction Server Components
The Technologies and the Exams
What Is MTS?
Installing MTS
Configuring MTS
Creating Packages
Creating MTS Components Using Visual Basic
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 13. Packaging and Deploying an Application
The Technologies and the Exams
Making Components Backward Compatible (or Not Breaking What Works)
Understanding File Dependencies
Creating a Setup Program Using the Package and Deployment Wizard
Deploying a Package Using the Package and Deployment Wizard
Managing Packaging Scripts
Creating and Deploying Packages in Silent Mode
Creating an AutoRun CD-ROM
Using License Keys for ActiveX Controls
Distributing a Component over the Internet
Distributing DCOM Servers
Managing the Windows System Registry
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Chapter 14. Visual SourceSafe and the Visual Component Manager
The Technologies and the Exams
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe
The Visual Component Manager
Key Facts
Applying What You've Learned
Highlighter's Index
Index