How to Use the Code Samples

You’ll find many samples—both Windows Forms and ASP.NET Web applications—throughout this book that demonstrate important security concepts. The code samples are available on this book’s Web site at http://www.microsoft.com/mspress/books/6432.asp . To download the sample files, simply click the Companion Content link in the More Information menu on the right side of the Web page. This will load the Companion Content page, which includes links for downloading the sample files. To install the sample files, run the executable setup file downloaded from the Companion Content page, and follow the instructions in the setup program. A link to the sample code will be created on your Programs menu under Microsoft Press.

There are two sets of sample code, one set for Visual Basic .NET 2002 and one set for Visual Basic .NET 2003. The two sets are functionally equivalent; the reason for providing two sets is that Visual Basic .NET 2003 projects use a different file layout than Visual Basic .NET 2002. The setup program installs the two sets of sample code to directories named VB.NET 2002 and VB.NET 2003, with subdirectories organized by chapter number, having names such as CH01_Encryption, underneath these directories. Within the text, we refer you to the appropriate sample by directory name, such as CH01_Encryption, as needed. If you like to perform the steps as presented in the step-by-step exercises, start with the sample application located in the Start directory; or if you’d prefer to view the completed code, open the application located in the Finish directory. The system requirements for running the sample code files are the same as the requirements for Visual Basic .NET itself—ensure your computer has Visual Basic .NET 2002 or Visual Basic .NET 2003. Nothing extra is required. In addition, to run the Web samples, you’ll also need Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5 or later and Internet Information Services (IIS) 5.0 or later. Although some exercises in this book refer to Microsoft Access or Microsoft SQL Server, these particular exercises are completely optional—the code in the sample files has been designed to run perfectly even if you haven’t installed these products.

Create a Desktop Shortcut for Running Tools

Several samples throughout the book ask you to launch administrative tools or .NET Framework tools from the Visual Studio .NET Command Prompt. For the sake of convenience, you should consider adding a link to the Visual Studio .NET command prompt to your desktop. The following steps show you how to add a Visual Studio .NET command-prompt link to your desktop:

1. Open the Start menu, and navigate to the Visual Studio .NET Command Prompt located under the Visual Studio .NET Tools menu (located under the Microsoft Visual Studio .NET menu).

2. While holding down the right mouse button, drag the Visual Studio .NET Command Prompt to your desktop.

3. Release the right mouse button, and choose Create Shortcuts Here from the shortcut menu.

You should now have a convenient link to the Visual Studio .NET Command Prompt on your desktop.