VisualBasic .NET For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) [Paperback]

Wallace Wang (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 29, 2001 | ISBN-10: 0764508679 | ISBN-13: 978-0764508677 | Edition: 1

Would you like to write Windows programs but don’t know where to start?

Visual Basic. NET, the latest distribution of Microsoft’s programming language was designed to let anybody—even people with no prior programming experience—create sophisticated programs with stunning user interfaces, quickly and easily. A true marvel of computing technology, Visual Basic .NET combines BASIC, the only programming language specifically designed to teach beginners how to program, with a completely intuitive drawing program that lets you create cool user interfaces without having to write a single line of code.

Written by computer book author and well-known stand-up comic Wallace Wang, Visual Basic .NET For Dummies offers you a fun and easy way to master VB .NET programming. Featuring crystal-clear explanations along with dozens of working examples, it gives you what you need to tap the power of Visual Basic .NET.  In no time you’ll:

• Design a user interface
• Create pull-down menus
• Write programs on any scale—both large and small
• Debug your programs
• Write your own code
• Work with loops, subrouting, and decision commands
• Use object-oriented techniques in your programming

Visual Basic .NET For Dummies was designed to give you the confidence and skills you need to start building Windows programs right away—not turn you into a computer scientist. To that end, it features hands-on, jargon-free coverage of the full range of practical VB .NET topics, including:

• Getting started and using the Visual Basic .NET interface
• Creating full-featured user interfaces
• Making menus--including pull-downs, submenus, growing menus, pop-up menus—and showing dialog boxes
• Writing BASIC code
• Making programs appear intelligent by using loops and decision commands
• Writing small subprograms and combining them to make large, robust programs
• Getting a handle on object-oriented programming

Visual Basic .NET For Dummies is the pain-free way to get up to speed on Visual Basic programming and all the new features in Visual Basic .NET.

Editorial Reviews

From the Back Cover

Dive into object-oriented programming and other VB .NET features

Create Basic programs with Microsoft's new .NET framework

The pain-free way to get up to speed on the new Visual Basic .NET Do you want to write Windows programs but don't know where to start? Relax! From creating menus and writing code to working with loops, subrouting, and object-oriented techniques, this friendly guide is just what you need to tap the power of Visual Basic .NET.

The Dummies Way(TM) Explanations in plain English "Get in, get out" information Icons and other navigational aids Tear-out cheat sheet Top ten lists A dash of humor and fun

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About the Author

Wallace Wang is the bestselling author of Beginning Programming For Dummies, 2nd Edition, Steal This Computer Book 2, and many other books. In addition to writing computer books, he also performs stand-up comedy in Las Vegas and has appeared on the TV show A&E's "Evening at the Improv."

Product Details

• Paperback: 432 pages
• Publisher: For Dummies; 1 edition (November 29, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764508679
• ISBN-13: 978-0764508677
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #673,331 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #47 in Books > Computers & Technology > Databases > Database Design

More About the Author

I may be the only computer book author who hates computers. I love what computers can do but I hate the fact that they're so complicated, hard to use, unreliable, and downright troublesome. Besides writing computer books, I also enjoy performing stand-up comedy just to do something creative that involves human beings as opposed to machines.

I've been involved in computers, stand-up comedy, teaching, writing, and game designing for most of my life. In the computer industry, I've written over 50 computer books. Initially I focused primarily on Microsoft products such as Visual Basic and Microsoft Office. Later I switched focus to the Macintosh, iPhone, and iPad as I've watched the trend of computing shift from the PC/Microsoft dominated world to the mobile/Apple-influenced world. I've also shifted my programming focus from Delphi/Pascal and Visual Basic to Objective-C and LiveCode (a HyperCard clone) to create Macintosh and iPhone/iPad programs.

In the stand-up comedy world, I've been performing stand-up comedy for over 20 years, having appeared on A&E's "Evening at the Improv" and SiTV's "Latino Laugh Festival" along with appearing at the Riviera Comedy Club in Las Vegas. Currently I'm focusing my comedic writing skills towards occasional comedy performances but mostly towards screenwriting. You can read my screenwriting blog at The 15 Minute Movie Method (www.15minutemoviemethod.com). I've collected the best ideas from my screenwriting blog and condensed them into an e-book also called "The 15-Minute Movie Method," which is available as an e-book.

In 1992, I got my first cat and after reading a basic cat care book, I found that none of the advice offered had any basis in reality for dealing with the quirks and whims of a real cat. Based on that experience, I wrote a parody of a cat care book called "How to Live with a Cat (When You Really Don't Want To)." This book is now available as an e-book.

In the teaching world, I've taught at community colleges around San Diego as well as teaching at the University of Zimbabwe in Africa. Currently I teach an online Microsoft Word course through a company called Ed2Go.

In the writing world, I've written for several magazines including Computer Power User (CPU), Boardwatch Magazine, and Technical Analysis of Stocks and Commodities. I also write a weekly Macintosh column in an online computer magazine called ComputorEdge (www.computoredge.com). In addition, I've ghost written several books for real estate experts, stock day trading specialists, and network marketing millionaires. In 2008, I also helped San Diego State University's film department win their first student Emmy when they filmed my sitcom pilot, "Three of a Kind."

In the game designing world, I've created and published a game in 1983 called "Orbit War," which was published by Steve Jackson Games (the game is now out of print). The game simulated low orbital combat between satellites. I'm currently designing educational games for teaching various college level topics such as organic chemistry, calculus, and geometry.

I'm interested in always learning something new and combining my various skills and experience to stay ahead of changing technology and I enjoy writing about complex topics and making them easy to understand.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Barely for beginners..., February 18, 2003

By 

Douglas Wilson (Does it matter? Really?) - See all my reviews

This review is from: VisualBasic .NET For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

I have another of Wallace Wang's books--"Steal this Book," which I found amusing and useful, and in my search for something to supplement a poorly written text for a class in vb.net, ran across this. I am dissappointed and have to agree with the other reviewer here who noted something like "why use 50 pages for what you can do in 350." The text is the most basic I have seen out of greater than twenty (I've looked at), and uses over the first half of the book just explaining why a programmer might like to align his objects and basic tripe like this. For non-designers even, this is poorly written. The reader won't get into anything really useful until the book is almost complete and then you'll be like "what the..."

I needed a reference because the text I'm using by Diane Zak, did not even explain the most basic things like "why define a variable" and honestly, for ten dollars less than the Wang book, Sybex' "Visual Basic .NET Complete" is a bargain and even has this question indexed! I like "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Visual Basic .NET" for a beginners book, by Clayton Walnum, though I'm still reviewing it, and there's a multitiude of good high-end works on the subject. Wallace Wang really needs to reassess this technical end, because the entire compilation of information in this book was covered in the first couple of chapters in Zak's. One extreme to the other. Both inadequate. I would be hard pressed recommending this for even a "dummie."

5 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars For Dummies....., June 2, 2002

By 

PistolPete "Pete" (DC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: VisualBasic .NET For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

Having no experience in programming, this book provided an excellent introduction to VB.NET. I had looked some other books but found them to be written for programmers, not newbies. I gave this book a 4 because although it does deliver the basics of VB.NET in a easy to understand way, it has some worthless examples. I can understand some simple examples not to confuse the reader, but I also want steady progression throughout the book to some half-way decent real-world examples. If you get this book, which I do recommend for newbies, supplement it with one of the books from the big guns (Wrox, O'Reilly etc...).

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book is practical, clear, a good book to start, December 23, 2001

By 

Emmanuel Evrard (Normandy, France) - See all my reviews

This review is from: VisualBasic .NET For Dummies (For Dummies (Computers)) (Paperback)

As a programmer of VB 6 (since VB1) I needed update informations on the new VB Net.

The author W.Wang explain directly what you need to know without loosing you in useless comments or philosophy. In each chapter, you will find clear examples and clear explanations.

This book is a good book to start and to continue for most of your project.You may even use this book as a reference near your desk for the every day work.

You will probably still need another book if you need to program database or ASP or for cross reference...(like "Visual Basic.Net database programming for dummies". This book is well made as well.)

In conclusion, This book is practical, clear, a good place to start and to continue to program for most of your project.

Emmanuel Evrard