Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

For introductory courses in Visual Basic Programming, offered in departments of Information Technology, Computer Science or Business. Merging the concept of a lab manual with that of a conventional textbook, the Deitels have crafted an innovative approach that enables students to learn programming while having a mentor-like book by their side. This best-seller blends the Deitel signature Live-Code Approach with their Application-Driven methodology. Students learn programming and Visual Basic by working through a set of applications. Each tutorial builds upon previously learned concepts while learning new ones, An abundance of self assessment exercises are available at the end of most chapters to reinforce key ideas. This approach makes it possible to cover a wealth of programming constructs within the Visual Basic 2008 environment.Key topics include Language Integrated Query (LINQ), Visual Programming, Framework Class Library (FCL), Controls (Buttons, TextBoxes, ListBoxes, Timers, ComboBoxes, RadioButtons, Menus, Dialogs), Event Handling, Debugger, Algorithms, Control Structures, Methods, Random-Number Generation, Arrays, Classes, Objects, Collections, Mouse & Keyboard Event Handling, Strings, Files, Database, Graphics, Multimedia, GUI Design and Web applications. Deitel accomplishes this by making highly technical topics as simple as possible. The Third Edition is fully updated for Visual Studio 2008, Visual Basic 2008 and .NET 3.5.

Table of contents provided by Syndetics

• 1 Drawing Application
• Introducing Computers, the Internet and Visual Basic
• 1.1 What Is a Computer?
• 1.2 Computer Organization
• 1.3 Machine Languages, Assembly Languages and High-Level Languages
• 1.4 Visual Basic
• 1.5 Other High-Level Languages
• 1.6 Structured Programming
• 1.7 Key Software Trend: Object Technology
• 1.8 The Internet and the World Wide Web
• 1.9 Introduction to Microsoft .NET
• 1.10 Test-Driving the Visual Basic Drawing Application
• 1.11 Web Resources
• 1.12 Wrap-Up
• 2 Welcome Application
• Introducing the Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition IDE
• 2.1 Test-Driving the Welcome Application
• 2.2 Overview of the Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition IDE
• 2.3 Creating a Project for the Welcome Application
• 2.4 Menu Bar and Toolbar
• 2.5 Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition IDE Windows
• 2.6 Auto-Hide
• 2.7 Using Help
• 2.8 Saving and Closing Projects in Visual Basic
• 2.9 Web Resources
• 2.10 Wrap-Up
• 3 Welcome Application
• Introduction to Visual Programming
• 3.1 Test-Driving the Welcome Application
• 3.2 Constructing the Welcome Application
• 3.3 Objects Used in the Welcome Application
• 3.4 Wrap-Up
• 4 Designing the Inventory Application
• Introducing TextBoxes and Buttons
• 4.1 Test-Driving the Inventory Application
• 4.2 Constructing the Inventory Application
• 4.3 Adding Labels to the Inventory Application
• 4.4 Adding TextBoxes and a Button to the Form
• 4.5 Wrap-Up
• 5 Completing the Inventory Application
• Introducing Programming
• 5.1 Test-Driving the Inventory Application
• 5.2 Introduction to Visual Basic Code
• 5.3 Inserting an Event Handler
• 5.4 Performing a Calculation and Displaying the Result
• 5.5 Using the Debugger: Syntax Errors
• 5.6 Wrap-Up
• 6 Enhancing the Inventory Application
• Introducing Variables, Memory Concepts and Arithmetic
• 6.1 Test-Driving the Enhanced Inventory Application
• 6.2 Variables
• 6.3 Handling the TextChanged Event
• 6.4 Memory Concepts
• 6.5 Arithmetic
• 6.6 Using the Debugger: Breakpoints
• 6.7 Internet and Web Resources
• 6.8 Wrap-Up
• 7 Wage Calculator Application
• Introducing Algorithms, Pseudocode and Program Control
• 7.1 Test-Driving the Wage Calculator Application
• 7.2 Algorithms
• 7.3 Pseudocode
• 7.4 Control Structures
• 7.5 If...Then Selection Statement
• 7.6 If...Then...Else Selection Statement
• 7.7 Constructing the Wage Calculator Application
• 7.8 Assignment Operators
• 7.9 Formatting Text
• 7.10 Using the Debugger: The Watch Window
• 7.11 Wrap-Up
• 8 Dental Payment Application
• Introducing CheckBoxes and Message Dialogs
• 8.1 Test-Driving the Dental Payment Application
• 8.2 Designing the Dental Payment Application
• 8.3 Using CheckBoxes
• 8.4 Using a Dialog to Display a Message
• 8.5 Logical Operators
• 8.6 Designer-Generated Code
• 8.7 Wrap-Up
• 9 Car Payment Calculator Application
• Introducing the Do While...Loop and Do Until...Loop
• Repetition Statements
• 9.1 Test-Driving the Car Payment Calculator Application
• 9.2 Do While...Loop Repetition Statement
• 9.3 Do Until...Loop Repetition Statement
• 9.4 Constructing the Car Payment Calculator Application
• 9.5 Wrap-Up
• 10 Class Average Application
• Introducing the Do...Loop While and Do...Loop Until Repetition Statements
• 10.1 Test-Driving the Class Average Application
• 10.2 Do...Loop While Repetition Statement
• 10.3 Do...Loop Until Repetition Statement
• 10.4 Creating the Class Average Application
• 10.5 Wrap-Up
• 11 Interest Calculator Application
• Introducing the For...Next Repetition Statement
• 11.1 Test-Driving the Interest Calculator Application
• 11.2 Essentials of Counter-Controlled Repetition
• 11.3 Introducing the For...Next Repetition Statement
• 11.4 Examples Using the For...Next Statement
• 11.5 Constructing the Interest Calculator Application
• 11.6 Wrap-Up
• 12 Security Panel Application
• Introducing the Select Case Multiple-Selection Statement
• 12.1 Test-Driving the Security Panel Application
• 12.2 Introducing the Select Case Multiple-Selection Statement
• 12.3 Constructing the Security Panel Application
• 12.4 Wrap-Up
• 13 Enhancing the Wage Calculator Application
• Introducing Function Procedures and Sub Procedures
• 13.1 Test-Driving the Enhanced Wage Calculator Application
• 13.2 Classes and Procedures
• 13.3 Function Procedures
• 13.4 Using Sub Procedures in the Wage Calculator Application
• 13.5 Using the Debugger: Debug Toolbar
• 13.6 Wrap-Up
• 14 Shipping Time Application
• Using Dates and Timers 289
• 14.1 Test-Driving the Shipping Time Application
• 14.2 Date Variables
• 14.3 Building the Shipping Time Application: Design Elements
• 14.4 Creating the Shipping Time Application: Inserting Code
• 14.5 Wrap-Up
• 15 Fund Raiser Application
• Introducing Scope, Pass-by-Reference and Option Strict
• 15.1 Test-Driving the Fund Raiser Application
• 15.2 Constructing the Fund Raiser Application
• 15.3 Passing Arguments: Pass-by-Value vs. Pass-by-Reference
• 15.4 Option Strict
• 15.5 Wrap-Up
• 16 Craps Game Application
• Introducing Random-Number Generation
• 16.1 Test-Driving the Craps Game Application
• 16.2 Random-Number Generation
• 16.3 Using Enumerations in the Craps Game Application
• 16.4 Using Random Numbers in the Craps Game Application
• 16.5 Wrap-Up
• 17 Flag Quiz Application
• Introducing One-Dimensional Arrays and ComboBoxes
• 17.1 Test-Driving the Flag Quiz Application
• 17.2 Introducing Arrays
• 17.3 Declaring and Allocating Arrays
• 17.4 Constructing the Flag Quiz Application
• 17.5 Sorting Arrays
• 17.6 Wrap-Up
• 18 Student Grades Application
• Introducing Two-Dimensional Arrays and RadioButtons
• 18.1 Test-Driving the Student Grades Application
• 18.2 Two-Dimensional Rectangular Arrays
• 18.3 Using RadioButtons
• 18.4 Inserting Code into the Student Grades Application
• 18.5 Wrap-Up
• 19 Microwave Oven Application
• Building Your Own Classes and Objects
• 19.1 Test-Driving the Microwave Oven Application
• 19.2 Designing the Microwave Oven Application
• 19.3 Adding a New Class to the Project
• 19.4 Initializing Class Objects: Constructors and Object Initializers
• 19.5 Properties
• 19.6 Completing the Microwave Oven Application
• 19.7 Controlling Access to Members
• 19.8 Using the Debugger: The Locals Window
• 19.9 Wrap-Up
• 20 Shipping Hub Application
• Introducing Collections, the For Each...Next Statement, Access Keys and Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to Objects
• 20.1 Test-Driving the Shipping Hub Application
• 20.2 Package Class
• 20.3 Using Properties TabIndex and TabStop
• 20.4 Using Access Keys
• 20.5 Collections
• 20.6 Shipping Hub Application: Using Class ArrayList
• 20.7 For Each...Next Repetition Statement
• 20.8 Wrap-Up
• 21 "Cat and Mouse" Painter Application
• Introducing the Graphics Object and Mouse Events
• 21.1 Test-Driving the Painter Application
• 21.2 Constructing the Painter Application
• 21.3 Using a Graphics Object
• 21.4 Handling the MouseDown Event
• 21.5 Handling the MouseUp Event
• 21.6 Handling the MouseMove Event
• 21.7 Distinguishing Between Mouse Buttons
• 21.8 Wrap-Up
• 22 Typing Application
• Introducing Keyboard Events, Menus and Dialogs
• 22.1 Test-Driving the Typing Application
• 22.2 Analyzing the Typing Application
• 22.3 Keyboard Events
• 22.4 IsNot Operator
• 22.5 Menus
• 22.6 Wrap-Up
• 23 Screen Scraping Application
• Introducing String Processing
• 23.1 Test-Driving the Screen Scraping Application
• 23.2 Fundamentals of Strings
• 23.3 Analyzing the Screen Scraping Application
• 23.4 Locating Substrings in Strings
• 23.5 Extracting Substrings from Strings
• 23.6 Replacing Substrings in Strings
• 23.7 Other String Methods
• 23.8 Wrap-Up
• 24 Ticket Information Application
• Introducing Sequential-Access Files
• 24.1 Test-Driving the Ticket Information Application
• 24.2 Data Hierarchy
• 24.3 Files and Streams
• 24.4 Writing to a File: Creating the Write Event Application
• 24.5 Building the Ticket Information Application
• 24.6 Wrap-Up
• 25 Address Book Application
• Introducing Database Programming and Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to SQL
• 25.1 Test-Driving the Address Book Application
• 25.2 Planning the Address Book Application
• 25.3 Creating Database Connections
• 25.4 Programming the Address Book Application
• 25.5 Wrap-Up
• 26 CheckWriter Application
• Introducing Graphics and Printing with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
• 26.1 Test-Driving the CheckWriter Application
• 26.2 GDI+ Introduction
• 26.3 Constructing the CheckWriter Application
• 26.4 PrintPreviewDialogs and PrintDocuments
• 26.5 Creating an Event Handler for the CheckWriter Application
• 26.6 Graphics Objects: Colors, Lines and Shapes
• 26.7 Printing Each Control of the CheckWriter Application
• 26.8 Font Class
• 26.9 Previewing and Printing the Check
• 26.10 Wrap-Up
• 27 Phone Book Application
• Introducing Multimedia with Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF)
• 27.1 Microsoft Agent
• 27.2 Downloading Microsoft Agent Components
• 27.3 Test-Driving the Phone Book Application
• 27.4 Constructing the Phone Book Application
• 27.5 Wrap-Up
• 28 Bookstore Application: Web Applications
• Introducing Visual Web Developer 2008 Express and the ASP.NET Development Server
• 28.1 Multi-Tier Architecture
• 28.2 Web Servers
• 28.3 Visual Web Developer 2008 Express and the ASP.NET Development Server
• 28.4 Test-Driving the Bookstore Application
• 28.5 Wrap-Up
• 29 Bookstore Application: Client Tier
• Introducing Web Controls
• 29.1 Analyzing the Bookstore Application
• 29.2 Creating ASPX Pages
• 29.3 Designing the Books.aspx Page
• 29.4 Designing the BookInformation.aspx Page
• 29.5 Wrap-Up
• 30 Bookstore Application: Information Tier
• Examining the Database, Creating Database Components and Using LINQ to SQL
• 30.1 Reviewing the Bookstore Application
• 30.2 Information Tier: Database
• 30.3 Using the Server Explorer and Query Builder in ASPX Pages
• 30.4 Wrap-Up
• 31 Bookstore Application: Middle Tier
• Introducing Code-Behind Files and Databound Web controls
• 31.1 Reviewing the Bookstore Application
• 31.2 Programming the Books Page's Code-Behind File and Creating a Databound ListBox
• 31.3 Coding the BookInformation Page's Code-Behind File and Creating a Databound DetailsView
• 31.4 Internet and Web Resources
• 31.5 Wrap-Up
• 32 Enhanced Car Payment Calculator Application
• Introducing Exception Handling
• 32.1 Test-Driving the Enhanced Car Payment Calculator Application
• 32.2 Introduction to Exception Handling
• 32.3 Exception Handling in Visual Basic
• 32.4 Constructing the Enhanced Car Payment Calculator Application
• 32.5 Wrap-Up
• A Operator Precedence Chart
• B ASCII Character Set
• C GUI Design Guidelines
• D Visual Basic 2008 Express Windows Form Designer Tools
• D.1 Internet and Web Resources
• E Keyword Chart
• Glossary
• Index

Author notes provided by Syndetics

Paul J. Deitel , CEO and Chief Technical Officer of Deitel & Associates, Inc., is a graduate of MIT's Sloan School of Management, where he studied Information Technology. He holds the Java Certified Programmer and Java Certified Developer certifications, and has been designated by Sun Microsystems as a Java Champion. Through Deitel & Associates, Inc., he has delivered Java, C, C++, C# and Visual Basic courses to industry clients, including IBM, Sun Microsystems, Dell, Lucent Technologies, Fidelity, NASA at the Kennedy Space Center, the National Severe Storm Laboratory, White Sands Missile Range, Rogue Wave Software, Boeing, Stratus, Cambridge Technology Partners, Open Environment Corporation, One Wave, Hyperion Software, Adra Systems, Entergy, CableData Systems, Nortel Networks, Puma, iRobot, Invensys and many more. He has also lectured on Java and C++ for the Boston Chapter of the Association for Computing Machinery. He and his father, Dr. Harvey M. Deitel, are the world's best-selling programming language textbook authors.

Dr. Harvey M. Deitel , Chairman and Chief Strategy Officer of Deitel & Associates, Inc., has 45 years of academic and industry experience in the computer field. Dr. Deitel earned B.S. and M.S. degrees from the MIT and a Ph.D. from Boston University. He has 20 years of college teaching experience, including earning tenure and serving as the Chairman of the Computer Science Department at Boston College before founding Deitel & Associates, Inc., with his son, Paul J. Deitel. He and Paul are the co-authors of several dozen books and multimedia packages and they are writing many more. With translations published in Japanese, German, Russian, Spanish, Traditional Chinese, Simplified Chinese, Korean, French, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Greek, Urdu and Turkish, the Deitels' texts have earned international recognition. Dr. Deitel has delivered hundreds of professional seminars to major corporations, academic institutions, government organizations and the military.