MCSD in a Nutshell: The Visual Basic Exams

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.

Table of 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

About the Author :
James Foxall is a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer (MCSD) and Vice President of Tigerpaw Software, Inc., a Microsoft Certified Solution Provider specializing in commercial database applications and known for the award-winning Tigerpaw Business Suite. His experience in creating distributed, certified Microsoft Office compatible software has made him an authority on application interface and behavior standards of applications designed for the Microsoft Windows and Office environment. James has personally written over 90,000 lines of commercial production Visual Basic code in both single-programmer and multiple-programmer environments. James has written several computer books on both Visual Basic and Microsoft Access including the definitive work, Practical Standards for Microsoft Visual Basic. He has also written for Access/Office/VBA Advisor magazine and is an international speaker on Microsoft Access and Visual Basic. In addition to speaking and writing, James has taught Visual Basic at the college level, and has been featured on numerous television news shows, in trade publications, and in newspaper articles for his technology expertise.