Step into Programming with Visual Basic .NET
Edition: 5
Copyright: 2019
Pages: 325
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$91.46
Step into Programming is written for those with no prior programming experience. The authors cover major programming concepts in a simple and concise language, with thorough explanation and ample examples. All the examples are in Visual Basic .NET 2012. This book is also a quick read for those who have prior programming experience and want to learn Visual Basic .NET.
It is a well known fact that learning how to program for the first time is an overwhelming task for most students. Therefore, having a readable textbook and an effective teaching approach is crucial.
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1.1 Getting Visual Basic .NET
1.2 Visual Basic .NET Language
.NET Framework
Visual Basic .NET Programming Language is
A Visual Basic .NET program consists of two major parts
Visual Basic .NET IDE
Files Created in a VB .NET Project
1.3 Getting Started with Visual Basic .NET
Getting Familiar with the IDE
1.4 Three Basic Controls
TextBox Control
Label Control
Button Control
1.5 Important Properties
Name Property
Naming Convention for Objects
Text Property
1.6 Accessing the Property of an Object in the Code
Assignment Operator (_)
String Literal/Constant
My First VB Program
1.7 Program Development Life Cycle (PDLC)
Follow the PDLC for This Example
1.8 What Is an Event?
1.9 String Concatenation &, +
Inserting a Line Feed in the Output String
How to Add Additional Text to the Existing Text in a Label
How to Clear the Text Displayed in a Textbox or Label
1.10 Methods
Focus Method
Clear Method
Close Method
Putting It All Together
Setting the Tab Order of the Objects
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 2 Variables
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Data Values in a Program
2.3 Variables
Name
Data Type
Value
Scope
Lifetime
2.4 Variable Naming Rules
Suggested Naming Standards
2.5 Data Types in Visual Basic .NET
String Data Type
Data Types for Numeric Data
Other Data Types in VB .NET
2.6 Deciding Which Data Type to Use
2.7 Variable Definition
Multiple Declarations
How a Declaration Works
2.8 Assignment Operator (=)
2.9 Scope of a Variable
2.10 Lifetime of a Variable
2.11 Comments
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 3 Arithmetic Operators
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Arithmetic Operators in VB .NET
Power Operator (^)
Multiplication Operator (*)
Real Division (/)
Integer Division (\)
Modulus Operator (Mod)
Addition and Subtraction Operators (_, _)
3.3 Arithmetic Expression
Precedence Rules
3.4 Arithmetic in VB .NET
Lvalue and Rvalue
Changing the Value Stored in a Variable
What Happens When Operands Are of Different Data Types?
3.5 Combined Assignment Operators
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
3.6 Explicit-type Conversion
Converting a String to Its Numeric Equivalent
Converting the Numeric Data to String
3.7 Formatting the Numeric Output
3.8 Translating Formulas to VB .NET
3.9 Named Constants
3.10 Different Types of Errors
3.11 Module Scope Identifiers
Counting and Accumulating
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 4 Selection
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Using Pseudocode to Write Selection Structures
4.3 Using Flowcharts to Depict Selection Structures
4.4 Relational Operators
Relational Expression or Condition
4.5 If Statement (One-Way Decision)
General Syntax and Flowchart
4.6 If / Else Statement (Two-Way Decision)
General Syntax and Flowchart
4.7 Nested If Statement
If / ElseIf Statement
4.8 Select Case Statement
General Syntax
4.9 Comparing String Data
How Are Characters Stored in the Computer’s Memory?
How to Perform a Case-Insensitive Comparison
4.10 String Manipulation Methods
Length Property
Trim() Method
SubString Method
IndexOf Method
4.11 Logical Operators
Logical Expression
Logical And
Logical Or
Logical Not
Precedence Rule
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 5 Data Validation
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Why Use Data Validation
5.3 Using a MessageBox
5.4 Data Validation
Existence Check
Type Check
Range Check
Pattern Check
Code Check
Checking if a RadioButton Is Selected
Validate Selection in a ComboBox
5.5 Major Steps in Validating the Data
Exit Sub
Part A: Existence Check
Part B: Type Check
Part C: Range Check
Part D: Pattern Check
Part E: Code Check
Part F: Radio Button Selection Check
Part G: ComboBox Selection Check
5.6 Exception Handling in VB .NET
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 6 Modularity
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Why Modularize?
Advantages of Modularity
Disadvantages
6.3 Modularity in VB .NET
6.4 General Procedures
General Syntax
6.5 Built-In Functions in VB .NET
6.6 General Functions
General Syntax
Invoking the Function
Further Modularization
Modularize the Problem
6.7 Passing Parameters
Pass-By-Value
Pass-By-Reference
When to Use ByVal / ByRef?
6.8 How to Choose between Function and Procedure
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 7 Repetition Structures
7.1 Why Use Loops?
7.2 Introduction
7.3 Terminology
7.4 Different Kinds of Loops
Pre-test Loops
Post-test Loops
Repetition Structures in VB .NET
7.5 For. . . Next Loop
Key Points to Remember
For Loop with Negative Step Value
For Loop with a Step Value other than 1
7.6 Do-While. . . Loop
Key Points to Remember
7.7 Do-Until. . . Loop
Key Points to Remember
Post-test Loops
7.8 Do. . . Loop-While
Key Points to Remember
7.9 Do. . . Loop-Until
Key Points to Remember
7.10 Exit Do | Exit For
Infinite Loop
7.11 Do. . . Loop
7.12 Nested Loops
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 8 Arrays
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Definition
8.3 Declaring a One-Dimensional Array
8.4 Index | Subscript
8.5 Accessing Array Elements
8.6 Working with One-Dimensional Array
8.7 ListBox Control
Important Properties
Important Methods
8.8 Parallel Arrays
Data Structure
8.9 Displaying the Output in Tabular Format
PadRight(n)
PadLeft(n)
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 9 Dynamic and Two-Dimensional Arrays
9.1 Dynamic Arrays
9.2 Declaration
9.3 Resizing a Dynamic Array
How to Shrink a Dynamic Array
Data Structure with Module Scope
9.4 Two-Dimensional Arrays
9.5 More on Arrays
9.6 Searching and Sorting
9.7 Sequential Search
Sequential Search Algorithm
9.8 Bubble Sort
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 10 User-Defined Data Types .
10.1 Structure
Declaration Syntax (keywords are in bold)
10.2 Structure Variable
10.3 Accessing the Data Members
10.4 Assigning One Structure Variable to Another
Data Structure
10.5 InputBox Function
The Way the InputBox Works
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 11 Multiform Projects
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Adding a Form to a VB .NET Project
Form’s Name Property and Form File Name
11.3 Important Methods of the Form Object
Show() Method
ShowDialog() Method
Close() Method
11.4 Important Events of the Form Object
Form Load Event
Activated Event
Form Closing Event
11.5 Creating the Skeleton of the Event Procedures
in the Code Window
11.6 Global Variables
Code Module
Declaring a Global Identifier
Data Structure
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 12 Files
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Input | Output File
12.3 Categories of Files
Sequential Access File
Random Access File
Binary File
12.4 VB .NET Classes and Methods
A Brief Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
Brief Overview of the .NET and Its Class Library
12.5 Writing Data to the Sequential Access File
12.6 Reading Data from a Sequential Access File
Steps for Reading from a Sequential Access File
Split Method
12.7 Case Study
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 13 Exception Handling
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Try-Catch Statement
General Syntax
13.3 The Exception Object
13.4 Try-Catch-Finally Statement
General Syntax
13.5 Using Multiple Catch Blocks
13.6 Understanding the Exception Call Stack
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 14 Introduction to Databases
14.1 Introduction
14.2 What Is a Database?
14.3 Access as a RDBMS Example
14.4 VB .NET and MS Access Data Types
14.5 Brief Introduction to ADO .NET 220
Data Source
Data Adapter
DataSet
14.6 Connecting to MS Access Database in VB .NET
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Appendix A Debugging
A.1 Introduction
A.2 Four Steps to Debugging
A.3 Debugging in VB .NET
Appendix B The Graphical User Interface
B.1 Introduction
B.2 Importance of GUI Guidelines
B.3 General Rules of Thumb for GUI Development
B.4 Windows GUI Development Guidelines
Appendix C Coding Standards
C.1 Introduction
C.2 Why Coding Standards?
C.3 Suggested Coding Standards
Appendix D Additional Controls
D.1 Introduction
D.2 CheckBox Control
D.3 RadioButton Control
D.4 ComboBox Control
D.5 DateTimePicker Control
D.6 PictureBox Control
Appendix E Integrating Excel into VB .NET
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Adding Reference to a COM Object
E.3 Excel Objects
E.4 How to Access an Excel Spreadsheet
E.5 How to Create an Excel Spreadsheet
E.6 How to Manipulate Data in an Excel Sheet
E.7 Two Dimensional Array and Excel
E.8 Saving Data to a CSV File
Appendix F Answers to Review Questions
Guity Ravai has a Master’s degree in computer science from the Department of Computer Science at
Purdue University with a concentration in databases. She is a faculty member in the department of
Computer & Information Technology at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She has been teaching
computer programming courses using Visual Basic, C, C# and C to undergraduate students since
1998. Currently, Guity teaches all the service programming courses offered in the department along with
the first core programming course for the majors. On average she has more than two hundred students
each semester.
Ibrahim Baggili received his PhD at the College of Technology at Purdue University. He has earned
a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Technology with a concentration in Network Engineering
Technology and a Master of Science degree in computer programming for mobile platforms. Ibrahim
is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of New Haven (UNH), CT at the Department of
Computer Science - Tagliatela College of Engineering. His area of research and teaching expertise is in
Cyber Forensics and Cyber Criminal investigations. Prior to his post at UNH, Ibrahim was an Assistant
Professor at Zayed University in the UAE at the College of Technological Innovation, where he directed
the Advanced Cyber Forensics Research Laboratory (ACFRL).
Step into Programming is written for those with no prior programming experience. The authors cover major programming concepts in a simple and concise language, with thorough explanation and ample examples. All the examples are in Visual Basic .NET 2012. This book is also a quick read for those who have prior programming experience and want to learn Visual Basic .NET.
It is a well known fact that learning how to program for the first time is an overwhelming task for most students. Therefore, having a readable textbook and an effective teaching approach is crucial.
Chapter 1 Getting Started
1.1 Getting Visual Basic .NET
1.2 Visual Basic .NET Language
.NET Framework
Visual Basic .NET Programming Language is
A Visual Basic .NET program consists of two major parts
Visual Basic .NET IDE
Files Created in a VB .NET Project
1.3 Getting Started with Visual Basic .NET
Getting Familiar with the IDE
1.4 Three Basic Controls
TextBox Control
Label Control
Button Control
1.5 Important Properties
Name Property
Naming Convention for Objects
Text Property
1.6 Accessing the Property of an Object in the Code
Assignment Operator (_)
String Literal/Constant
My First VB Program
1.7 Program Development Life Cycle (PDLC)
Follow the PDLC for This Example
1.8 What Is an Event?
1.9 String Concatenation &, +
Inserting a Line Feed in the Output String
How to Add Additional Text to the Existing Text in a Label
How to Clear the Text Displayed in a Textbox or Label
1.10 Methods
Focus Method
Clear Method
Close Method
Putting It All Together
Setting the Tab Order of the Objects
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 2 Variables
2.1 Introduction
2.2 Data Values in a Program
2.3 Variables
Name
Data Type
Value
Scope
Lifetime
2.4 Variable Naming Rules
Suggested Naming Standards
2.5 Data Types in Visual Basic .NET
String Data Type
Data Types for Numeric Data
Other Data Types in VB .NET
2.6 Deciding Which Data Type to Use
2.7 Variable Definition
Multiple Declarations
How a Declaration Works
2.8 Assignment Operator (=)
2.9 Scope of a Variable
2.10 Lifetime of a Variable
2.11 Comments
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 3 Arithmetic Operators
3.1 Introduction
3.2 Arithmetic Operators in VB .NET
Power Operator (^)
Multiplication Operator (*)
Real Division (/)
Integer Division (\)
Modulus Operator (Mod)
Addition and Subtraction Operators (_, _)
3.3 Arithmetic Expression
Precedence Rules
3.4 Arithmetic in VB .NET
Lvalue and Rvalue
Changing the Value Stored in a Variable
What Happens When Operands Are of Different Data Types?
3.5 Combined Assignment Operators
Option Explicit On
Option Strict On
3.6 Explicit-type Conversion
Converting a String to Its Numeric Equivalent
Converting the Numeric Data to String
3.7 Formatting the Numeric Output
3.8 Translating Formulas to VB .NET
3.9 Named Constants
3.10 Different Types of Errors
3.11 Module Scope Identifiers
Counting and Accumulating
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 4 Selection
4.1 Introduction
4.2 Using Pseudocode to Write Selection Structures
4.3 Using Flowcharts to Depict Selection Structures
4.4 Relational Operators
Relational Expression or Condition
4.5 If Statement (One-Way Decision)
General Syntax and Flowchart
4.6 If / Else Statement (Two-Way Decision)
General Syntax and Flowchart
4.7 Nested If Statement
If / ElseIf Statement
4.8 Select Case Statement
General Syntax
4.9 Comparing String Data
How Are Characters Stored in the Computer’s Memory?
How to Perform a Case-Insensitive Comparison
4.10 String Manipulation Methods
Length Property
Trim() Method
SubString Method
IndexOf Method
4.11 Logical Operators
Logical Expression
Logical And
Logical Or
Logical Not
Precedence Rule
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 5 Data Validation
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Why Use Data Validation
5.3 Using a MessageBox
5.4 Data Validation
Existence Check
Type Check
Range Check
Pattern Check
Code Check
Checking if a RadioButton Is Selected
Validate Selection in a ComboBox
5.5 Major Steps in Validating the Data
Exit Sub
Part A: Existence Check
Part B: Type Check
Part C: Range Check
Part D: Pattern Check
Part E: Code Check
Part F: Radio Button Selection Check
Part G: ComboBox Selection Check
5.6 Exception Handling in VB .NET
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 6 Modularity
6.1 Introduction
6.2 Why Modularize?
Advantages of Modularity
Disadvantages
6.3 Modularity in VB .NET
6.4 General Procedures
General Syntax
6.5 Built-In Functions in VB .NET
6.6 General Functions
General Syntax
Invoking the Function
Further Modularization
Modularize the Problem
6.7 Passing Parameters
Pass-By-Value
Pass-By-Reference
When to Use ByVal / ByRef?
6.8 How to Choose between Function and Procedure
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 7 Repetition Structures
7.1 Why Use Loops?
7.2 Introduction
7.3 Terminology
7.4 Different Kinds of Loops
Pre-test Loops
Post-test Loops
Repetition Structures in VB .NET
7.5 For. . . Next Loop
Key Points to Remember
For Loop with Negative Step Value
For Loop with a Step Value other than 1
7.6 Do-While. . . Loop
Key Points to Remember
7.7 Do-Until. . . Loop
Key Points to Remember
Post-test Loops
7.8 Do. . . Loop-While
Key Points to Remember
7.9 Do. . . Loop-Until
Key Points to Remember
7.10 Exit Do | Exit For
Infinite Loop
7.11 Do. . . Loop
7.12 Nested Loops
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 8 Arrays
8.1 Introduction
8.2 Definition
8.3 Declaring a One-Dimensional Array
8.4 Index | Subscript
8.5 Accessing Array Elements
8.6 Working with One-Dimensional Array
8.7 ListBox Control
Important Properties
Important Methods
8.8 Parallel Arrays
Data Structure
8.9 Displaying the Output in Tabular Format
PadRight(n)
PadLeft(n)
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 9 Dynamic and Two-Dimensional Arrays
9.1 Dynamic Arrays
9.2 Declaration
9.3 Resizing a Dynamic Array
How to Shrink a Dynamic Array
Data Structure with Module Scope
9.4 Two-Dimensional Arrays
9.5 More on Arrays
9.6 Searching and Sorting
9.7 Sequential Search
Sequential Search Algorithm
9.8 Bubble Sort
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 10 User-Defined Data Types .
10.1 Structure
Declaration Syntax (keywords are in bold)
10.2 Structure Variable
10.3 Accessing the Data Members
10.4 Assigning One Structure Variable to Another
Data Structure
10.5 InputBox Function
The Way the InputBox Works
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 11 Multiform Projects
11.1 Introduction
11.2 Adding a Form to a VB .NET Project
Form’s Name Property and Form File Name
11.3 Important Methods of the Form Object
Show() Method
ShowDialog() Method
Close() Method
11.4 Important Events of the Form Object
Form Load Event
Activated Event
Form Closing Event
11.5 Creating the Skeleton of the Event Procedures
in the Code Window
11.6 Global Variables
Code Module
Declaring a Global Identifier
Data Structure
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 12 Files
12.1 Introduction
12.2 Input | Output File
12.3 Categories of Files
Sequential Access File
Random Access File
Binary File
12.4 VB .NET Classes and Methods
A Brief Introduction to Object-Oriented Programming
Brief Overview of the .NET and Its Class Library
12.5 Writing Data to the Sequential Access File
12.6 Reading Data from a Sequential Access File
Steps for Reading from a Sequential Access File
Split Method
12.7 Case Study
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 13 Exception Handling
13.1 Introduction
13.2 Try-Catch Statement
General Syntax
13.3 The Exception Object
13.4 Try-Catch-Finally Statement
General Syntax
13.5 Using Multiple Catch Blocks
13.6 Understanding the Exception Call Stack
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Chapter 14 Introduction to Databases
14.1 Introduction
14.2 What Is a Database?
14.3 Access as a RDBMS Example
14.4 VB .NET and MS Access Data Types
14.5 Brief Introduction to ADO .NET 220
Data Source
Data Adapter
DataSet
14.6 Connecting to MS Access Database in VB .NET
Review Questions
Programming Challenges
Appendix A Debugging
A.1 Introduction
A.2 Four Steps to Debugging
A.3 Debugging in VB .NET
Appendix B The Graphical User Interface
B.1 Introduction
B.2 Importance of GUI Guidelines
B.3 General Rules of Thumb for GUI Development
B.4 Windows GUI Development Guidelines
Appendix C Coding Standards
C.1 Introduction
C.2 Why Coding Standards?
C.3 Suggested Coding Standards
Appendix D Additional Controls
D.1 Introduction
D.2 CheckBox Control
D.3 RadioButton Control
D.4 ComboBox Control
D.5 DateTimePicker Control
D.6 PictureBox Control
Appendix E Integrating Excel into VB .NET
E.1 Introduction
E.2 Adding Reference to a COM Object
E.3 Excel Objects
E.4 How to Access an Excel Spreadsheet
E.5 How to Create an Excel Spreadsheet
E.6 How to Manipulate Data in an Excel Sheet
E.7 Two Dimensional Array and Excel
E.8 Saving Data to a CSV File
Appendix F Answers to Review Questions
Guity Ravai has a Master’s degree in computer science from the Department of Computer Science at
Purdue University with a concentration in databases. She is a faculty member in the department of
Computer & Information Technology at Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana. She has been teaching
computer programming courses using Visual Basic, C, C# and C to undergraduate students since
1998. Currently, Guity teaches all the service programming courses offered in the department along with
the first core programming course for the majors. On average she has more than two hundred students
each semester.
Ibrahim Baggili received his PhD at the College of Technology at Purdue University. He has earned
a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Technology with a concentration in Network Engineering
Technology and a Master of Science degree in computer programming for mobile platforms. Ibrahim
is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of New Haven (UNH), CT at the Department of
Computer Science - Tagliatela College of Engineering. His area of research and teaching expertise is in
Cyber Forensics and Cyber Criminal investigations. Prior to his post at UNH, Ibrahim was an Assistant
Professor at Zayed University in the UAE at the College of Technological Innovation, where he directed
the Advanced Cyber Forensics Research Laboratory (ACFRL).