VB.NET Language in a Nutshell [Paperback]

Steven Roman PhD (Author), Ron Petrusha (Author), Paul Lomax (Author), Steven Roman (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0596000928 | ISBN-13: 978-0596000929 | Publication Date: October 15, 2001 | Edition: 1

The extensive changes to Visual Basic and the newness of the .NET platform call for a VB .NET reference guide oriented toward professional developers--those deeply experienced in Visual Basic and those adding VB .NET to their list of mastered languages. VB .NET Language in a Nutshell answers the call. As a reference book, it doesn't waste space on simple concepts, but documents, using practical examples, how language elements work, alternative approaches, optimal usage, and potential pitfalls.

As a quick introduction, the first section of VB .NET Language in a Nutshell leads you through the important areas of programming VB .NET, including:

• Variables and Data Types
• Introduction to Object Oriented Programming
• The .NET Framework: General Concepts
• The .NET Framework Class Library
• Delegates and Events
• Error Handling

The meat of the book is the alphabetical reference to the functions, statements, directives, objects, and object members that make up the VB .NET language. As an experienced developer, you can quickly get the whole story on a language element that interests you or seems to be behaving unexpectedly in your code. To ease your transition to .NET, there's a "VB .NET/VB 6 Differences" section for each language element.

A hefty appendix section includes:

• What's New and Different in VB .NET
• Language Elements by category
• Operators
• Constants and Enumerations
• The VB .NET Command Line Compiler
• VB 6 Language Elements Not Supported by VB .NET

No matter how much experience you have programming with VB, this is the kind of book you'll want to have close by, both as your standard reference guide and as a tool for troubleshooting and identifying programming problems.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Written especially for those readers coming to VB.NET from an earlier version of Visual Basic, VB.NET in a Nutshell offers a quick language tour as well as a nicely thorough reference to all standard VB objects, methods, and properties. Even if you are a raw beginner, this concise reference is really all you need to get onboard with the new version of the world's most popular programming language.

The first sections of this text zero in on what's new and different in VB.NET. From the basics of the language, centering on data types and object-oriented features, this quick-start guide highlights essential language features that every VB.NET programmer needs to know. There's also material here on the underlying .NET framework, from deployment basics (like .NET assemblies) to built-in namespaces. Coverage of delegates and event handling shows how to process events. The substantially different exception handling model of VB.NET is contrasted with the older ways of handling errors.

The heart of this title has to be its reference material (over 400 pages), primarily on the built-in core VB classes in the new .NET version. While there were rumors that VB.NET changed VB completely, this material should reassure you. By providing APIs that resemble older versions, VB programmers still can leverage common string, date, and time and other functions. Every object, method, and property is described, along with sample code, and differences with VB6. A standout here are "gotchas" when using the new APIs compared to VB6. Besides objects and APIs, there is also coverage of language keywords (for logical, looping, and branching statements), too.

The book closes with several useful reference sections, one of which details all the new features to be found in VB.NET. This is almost a must-read for anyone facing the new VB.NET for the first time. Another appendix here lists VB.NET language APIs. While it's true that you can use many languages with .NET, VB.NET Language in a Nutshell covers the APIs that will give VB.NET its real flavor as a new programming language. Both a quick-start guide and a worthwhile reference to use everyday at your desk, this title is a great way to start using VB.NET in real projects quickly. --Richard Dragan

Topics covered:

• Introduction to VB.NET
• Variables and data types (including arrays, collections and parameter, and arguments)
• Object-oriented programming in VB.NET (classes, inheritance, polymorphism and overloading)
• Overview of the .NET Framework
• The Common Language Runtime (CLR)
• Managed execution
• Assemblies and VB.NET
• .NET namespaces (including the system namespace)
• Delegates and events
• Error handling in VB.NET (including exception handling techniques)
• Comprehensive language reference to VB.NET objects
• Methods and properties (including sample code, programming tips/gotchas, VB.NET vs. VB6 differences)
• Reference to what's new in VB.NET
• Language elements and operators in VB.NET
• Using the VB.NET command-line compiler
• Unsupported VB 6 language elements

From the Publisher

The second edition is based on Version 1.0 of Visual Studio .NET. Many of the existing reader reviews are from the first edition and have been addressed in the second edition.

For more information on the CD that integrates the book with Visual Studio .NET, please visit the oreilly.com website. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 636 pages
• Publisher: O'Reilly Media; 1 edition (October 15, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0596000928
• ISBN-13: 978-0596000929
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.1 x 1.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,562,527 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Quick read but missing key topics, April 15, 2002

By 

Stephen Boisvert "sboisvert" (UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VB.NET Language in a Nutshell (Paperback)

This book is a good light easy to carry overview but really short on some very significant details (com interop in particular) and has too much on useless topics like how to draw a circle on a form. It works as a readable introduction to vb.net but comes up short as a reference. After reading it I found myself constantly failing to find the information I needed.

Great new additions to vb.net such as regular expressions are largely ignored and the coverage of the .NET framework is very thin.

If you are an experienced vb developer you really should look for a book with more information on how to leverage your existing knowledge. Look for information on com interop and porting.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VB.Net Language In A Nutshell (2nd Edition), November 23, 2002

By 

Christopher Taylor "aspmatrix" (Gilbert, AZ United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VB. NET Language in a Nutshell (2nd Edition) (Paperback)

My experiences with 'Nutshell' books have been both bad and
good. I wasn't sure which I would get with VB.Net Language
in a Nutshell. After reviewing this book I am happy to say
this is a good one. Not only good, superb.

I have used this book about 20 times in the last 2 weeks
when I needed to look something up quickly. The funny thing
was that the pile of books I usually keep close by on my
computer table seemed to diminish the more I used it.

I have really only used the VB and VBScript languages (no C
or C++, and just a tiny bit of Java), so going with VB.Net was
definitely the path of least resistance when starting to work
with ASP.Net. This book will be a great asset to someone who
wants to stay in the VB world. Throughout the book you will
find VB.Net / VB 6 differences pointed out. These tips will
really help during the transition to VB.Net.

Chapter by Chapter Summary:

Chapter 1: Introduction
This very short chapter gives a little background on VB and
VB.Net. It is very brief, and I do not know if it is really
needed. Most VB people will know the history of VB, and anyone
getting this book will probably have heard all the info on
VB.Net that is given. That being said it may just be in for
the non-VB people getting the book.

Chapter 2: Program Structure
This chapter goes in to the details and nuts-n-bolts of what
the structure of a VB program is. It also gives quick
overviews of functions, sub procedures, property procedures,
events, console apps and window forms apps.

Chapter 3: Variables and Data Types
This is a good chapter. It talks about everything from
variable properties and scope to arrays and passing objects.
VB data types, binding, and arguments are among the other
things covered. All topics have very concise definitions and
meaningful examples. No extraneous fluff.

Chapter 4: Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
The chapter title pretty well says what this chapter is about.
Encapsulation, Inheritance, Interfaces, Polymorphism, etc. are
all discussed with a VB.Net twist. In reality this chapter and
chapter 1 could have been integrated together, but I won't bust
them too bad on this since I really liked their information on
Garbage Collection.

Chapter 5: The .Net Framework: General Concepts
This is a short 6-page chapter on general .Net Framework
information. Briefly touches on Namespaces, Assemblies, and the
CLR.

Chapter 6: The .Net Framework Class Library
This is another very brief chapter that highlights just a few
of the more than 90 Namespaces in the .Net Framework Class
Library.

Chapter 7: Delegates and Events
This chapter is an 8-page brief on delegates, events, and event
binding. Not much more to really say.

Chapter 8: Attributes
This 10-page chapter goes into Attributes. Their use and syntax,
as well as instruction on using custom attributes is covered.

Chapter 9: Error Handling in VB.Net
This chapter does a great job of explaining Error Handling in
VB.Net. The difference between error detection and error handling
is defined. Structured (Try, Catch, Finally) and unstructured
error handling are discussed. Exception classes, logical errors,
and error constants are also briefly talked about. This is a great
overview chapter.

Chapter 10: The Language Reference
This is THE chapter. This almost 450-page chapter alone is worth
the price of the book. It is a listing of the VB.Net language elements.
There are many things I really like about the way that they cover
the language elements. Besides return values and descriptions of
the elements, they also have included 'Rules at a glance', which
quickly informs you of all the important information as to the
usage of the element. Another thing I like is the 'Programming tips
and gotchas' section that some of the elements have. All are full
of useful information that will save you time. The thing I probably
like the most is the 'VB.NET / VB 6 Differences' blurbs they give
when there is a difference in the language element from VB 6 to
VB.Net. Those blurbs are invaluable to someone transitioning from
the VB 6 world. Excellent, excellent, excellent chapter. Well done.

Appendix A: What is new and different in VB.Net
This appendix specifically covers the changes from VB 6 to VB.Net.
This is an excellent supplement to the 'VB.NET / VB 6 Differences'
blurbs in chapter 10. I also like that they give a listing of the
obsolete programming elements that have been removed from VB.Net.

Appendix B: Language Elements by Category
This is an excellent supplement for chapter 10. It helps you find
which language elements you need to use when approaching a
specific kind of situation. It is a very nice and useful appendix.

Appendix C: Operators
This appendix covers the 4 kinds of Operators in VB.Net. They are
Arithmetic, Assignment, Comparison, and Logical. Order of precedence
is also covered. Excellent reference material.

Appendix D: Constants and Enumerations
This is a reference for all the built-in Constants and Enumerators
for VB.Net. Again, great reference material.

Appendix E: The VB.Net Command-Line Compiler
A reference for the VB.Net command-line compiler. The switches are
well explained.

Appendix F: VB 6 Language Elements Not Supported by VB.NET
This gives an alphabetical listing of the language elements in VB 6
that are not present in VB.Net. Once again, this reference will be
very helpful for those transitioning to VB.Net from VB 6.

Well folks, without a doubt this book is a 10 out of 10. Well done!

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Easy Way To Convert To VB .NET, March 31, 2002

By 

P. Pham "whathot" (vancouver, british columbia Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: VB.NET Language in a Nutshell (Paperback)

Just when you though it was time to kick back and enjoy your accomplishment in the VB world, someone would just had to come and messed it up - "So, have you look into VB .NET yet?". Tell you the truth, a few months ago, you would have to drag me kicking-and-screaming to get me in the .NET water with my VB swimsuit! With all the rumor of many changes to VB, the idea of re-learning VB was like decaffeined coffee!

So for me to convert to VB .NET, it has to be quick and painless. And this book did just that. It cuts right through the red tape and gets straight to the core. VB .NET language are explored from A to Z. Aside from being labeled as a language reference, the authors go extra the mile to include dedicated chapters on significant topics in VB .NET that are new to VB such as class inheritant, new datatypes, .NET concept and framework. Not to mention the little details such as tips and gotchas added along side with the reference section which make this book quite enjoyable to read too.

I recommend this book for the VB fan, including those who are reluctant to convert to VB .NET like I was. This book is will ease your transition to VB .NET quickly and efficiently.