Finding Your Best Starting Point in This Book
This book is designed to help you build skills in a number of essential areas. You can use this book if you're new to programming, switching from another programming language, or upgrading from Visual Basic 6 or Visual Basic .NET 2003. Use the following table to find your best starting point in this book.
If you are | Follow these steps |
New | |
To programming | Install the practice files as described in the section “Installing the Practice Files on Your Computer” later in this introduction. Learn basic skills for using Visual Basic 2005 by working sequentially from Chapter 1 through Chapter 17. Complete Part IV, “Database and Web Programming,” as your level of interest or experience dictates. |
Upgrading | |
From Visual Basic .NET 2002 or 2003 | Install the practice files as described in the section “Installing the Practice Files on Your Computer.” Complete Chapters 1 through 4, skim Chapters 5 through 17, and complete Chapters 18 through 20. For a discussion of specific features that have changed in this upgrade, read Chapters 1, 4, 5, 7, 8, and 13. |
From Visual Basic 6 | Install the practice files as described in the section “Installing the Practice Files on Your Computer.” Read Chapters 1 through 4 carefully to learn the new features of the Visual Studio 2005 development environment. Pay special attention to the “Upgrade Notes: Migrating Visual Basic 6 Code to Visual Basic 2005” sidebars near the beginning of each chapter, which highlight the significant differences between Visual Basic 6 and Visual Basic 2005. Skim Chapters 5 through 13 to review the fundamentals of event-driven programming, using variables, and writing decision structures. Give special attention to Chapters 5, 6, 9, and 12. Work sequentially from Chapters 14 through 20 to learn the new Visual Basic 2005 features related to user interface design, database programming, and Web programming. |
Referencing | |
This book after working through the chapters | Use the index to locate information about specific topics, and use the table of contents to locate information about general topics. Use the Upgrading Index to see a list of the new features in Visual Basic 2005 and how Visual Basic 6 program code should be upgraded. Read the Quick Reference at the end of each chapter for a brief review of the major tasks in the chapter. The Quick Reference topics are listed in the same order as they're presented in the chapter. |
