Microsoft Programming Technologies

1. Microsoft Programming Technologies • By George Squillace • New Horizons of Michigan • MCT, MCSE, MCDBA, CompTIA A+, CompTIA Network+ • MCITP – Database Administration • MCITP – Enterprise Messaging • www.e-Squillace.com " V2.0

2. API = Application Programming Interface Enables Easy Separation & Change of Related Components Both Software & Hardware Interfaces Exist: Examples: ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) ODBC OLE-DB MAPI (Messaging) NetBIOS First, What is an API? Diagram Source: http://www.e-squillace.com/tech/techdiagrams/What_is_the_value_of_an_API.htm

3. Custom ApplicationBuilding Blocks • Source/Reference Diagram:http://www.e-squillace.com/tech/techdiagrams/DatabaseConstruction.htmThen, use the List Box to select the “Database Application Building Blocks” diagram • Notice the Primary “Layers” of the Custom-Built Application: • Front-End • User Interface • Office App • Custom Windows App • Custom Web App • ADO • Back-End (SQL) • Database API • OLE-DB • SQL Server Database Engine

4. ADO is an Data Access API Between Custom-Built Applications and a Data Source ADO = ActiveX Data Objects An API that Simplifies Connecting a Front-End Application to a Database What is ADO?

5. “Front-End” v. “Back-End” Programming • Front-End • Custom Windows application • Custom Web application • Many Custom-made Applications Involve a Database, and in a Microsoft realm, this means ADO Programming is Involved • Back-EndDatabase Design • Built Using Transact-SQL and/or GUI Tools • Stored Procedures • Views • Functions • Triggers Diagram Source: www.e-Squillace.com/Tech/TechDiagrams/DatabaseConstruction.htm

6. Example of a Database-Oriented Custom Windows Application

7. Example of a Database-OrientedWeb Application

8. Object-Oriented Programming (.NET) v. Procedural Programming (SQL) • Object-Oriented Programming • References are Made to Existing “Machinery” within a Named Heirarchy • Objects Have Properties and Methods • Properties… • …describe the Information & Attributes About an Object (.i.e., Red v. Blue, Times Roman v. Verdana) • Methods • Actions the Object Can Take • Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Requires an Object Model and is Event-Driven • Procedural Programming • Procedural Programming is Often Batch-Oriented

9. What is the .NET Framework?(a.k.a. What is the .NET Framework, and Why Do I Care?) • Picture the Framework Like a “Black Box” of Built-In Functionality or Machinery

10. Where Does Visual Studio “Fit” into this Equation, and What is an IDE? • Visual Studio is Used, In Part, to Create Front-End Applications • Windows Applications • Web Applications (ASP-based) • Many Other Components that “Execute” (Run Code) • Definition: “IDE”, or “Integrated Development Environment” • The Software Tool Used to Create & Debug Programming Code • Often Specific to a Particular Programming Language • A Number of Languages are Available within Visual Studio’s IDE (later in this presentation)

11. What is a Visual Studio Solution? • A Solution is a Collection of One or More Related Projects • A Solution Represents the Sum of All Components to be Deployed Click on picture for larger view. You may have to press F11 within your Browser to go to Full Screen mode

12. What is a Visual Studio Project? • A Project is a Deployable Component Created & Coded Within Visual Studio • A Project is Based on a Template, which Defines Two Important Characteristics of the Project: • The Language in which the Project is Coded • The Type or Class of Component to be Created, Such as: • Windows Application (Windows Forms) • Web Application • Windows Service • Web Service, etc.) • A Solution Can Contain Multiple Projects, Each Based on a Different Language

13. Projects Are Created in One of the Following Available .NET Language(s) • VB .NET • C# .NET • J++ .NET • C++ .NET • Each Language has Strengths and Weaknesses • Regardless of the above Language Used to Code a Project, when the Project is Built Visual Studio creates code in an Intermediate Language rather than Compiled. The Intermediate Language is called “Microsoft Intermediate Language” Code (MSIL), and is pronounced “Missle” code.

14. Presenter-Led Demonstration: Create a Windows Forms Application Using Visual Basic .NET • Create a Project • Add a MenuStrip Control • Insert Standard Items • Add a ToolStrip Control • Insert Standard Items • Add a Label • Reveal Code behind the Label • Add a Button • Reveal the Code behind the Button • Investigate the Code Behind the Objects • Add Code that Demonstrates “Intellisense” (Defined Next Slide)

15. Intellisense • An Auto-completion Capability When Entering Code Behind Objects • Intellisense is Aware of the Object-Model (Objects/Properties/Methods) of the Current Object • Hence, Object-Oriented Programming • Demonstrate Use of Intellisense when Adding MsgBox() code to a Label Object Click on picture for larger view. You may have to press F11 within your Browser to go to Full Screen mode

16. Related Visual Studio 2005 Courses: • 2546, Core Application Development • 2547, Advanced Windows Application Development • 2543, Core Web Application Development (ASP) • 2544, Advanced Web Application Development • 2541, Core Data Access Development (ADO) • 2542, Advanced Data Access Development • 2548, Core Distributed Application Development • 2549, Adv. Distributed Application Development • Compare the Above Courses to “Application Building Blocks” Graphic Earlier in the Presentation

17. Resources • http://www.e-squillace.com/nh, then click on the very tiny “For AEs” link in the lower, right-hand corner of the page.