Chapter 2: The Visual Studio .NET Development Environment

Chapter 2: The VisualStudio .NET DevelopmentEnvironment Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Getting Started with VB .NET • Visual Studio .NET can be used for • Visual Basic • Other programming languages • Start application. Go to: • Start menu -> (All) Programs -> Microsoft Visual Studio .NET -> Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Creating a Project Using Visual Basic .NET • Project • Collection of files related to a VB .NET application • Template: • Pattern for creating a specific type of application • When creating a new project: • Must identify type of project as Visual Basic • Identify template (Windows or Console Application) • Specify project name and location Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Understanding How VB .NET Organizes Your Programs • Solution Explorer window • Shows hierarchical arrangement of items • Properties window • Contains information about file properties • File names: • Use .vb extension • Named Module1.vb by default Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Using the Text Editor • Provides standard text-editing capabilities • Also provides: • Color-coding • Code indentation • Code completion (IntelliSense feature) • Comment • Statement included for documentation purposes only; not read by the compiler (computer) • Starts with a ‘ (e.g., ‘this is a comment) • VB .NET automatically generates some code Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Using the Text Editor (continued) • IntelliSense • Helps you complete lines of code by matching words • Recognizes partial class and method names • Suggests possible matches for name you are typing Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Displaying Line Numbers • Go to Tools (on the menu bar) • > Options -> Text Editor folder • > Basic Subfolder • Click the Line Numbers checkbox • Click OK Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Renaming Module1.vb • Assign descriptive names to programs you write • Should rename from default names • In the Solution Explorer window, click Module1.vb. • File properties of Module1 appear in the Properties window • Use Properties window to change name • Make sure the module is renamed in the source code Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Renaming Module1.vb (cont.) Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Compiling And Executing a Visual Basic .NET Program • Select Debug from the menu bar • Click Start Without Debugging • If there are errors: • Message box displayed Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Using the Visual Form Designer • Windows application • Runs in Windows environment • Visual form editor: • Windows Form Designer • Can select icons representing various components • Place and arrange components on window • Code is automatically written to match visual form Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Creating a Windows Application • Use Windows Application template • Use Layout toolbar • To control appearance and position of components • The form’s grid • Helps layout components • Not visible when application runs Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Customizing the Appearance of a Form • Handle • Use to resize objects • Pointer changes to double arrow • Resize form by clicking and dragging handle • Modifiable form elements: • Size • Background color • Title • Name • Position Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

The Text property does not change the name of the form. The Name property does. Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Adding Components to a Form • Use Toolbox • Hidden window on left side of main window • Double-click toolbox items to add to form or drag them to the form • When adding buttons • Must identify action that will take place when button pressed • Once the button is placed on the form, double-click the button to reveal the code for it Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Adding Form Components (cont.) • Drag and drop a LABEL from the Toolbox to the form • Rename it from the Properties window (see next PPT slide) Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Drag and drop a BUTTON • Name it; add code Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Exploring the Debugging Tool • Debugger • Helps you isolate errors • Breakpoint • Flag that tells debugger to temporarily suspend execution of program at a particular point • Can view information about program • May help determine source of problem Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Getting Started with the Debugger • Debugger • Intended to help identify errors in program that occur while program is running • Cannot help to find coding/syntaxerrors that prevent program from being built successfully (Review Syntax errors) • Helps find logic errors • HOWEVER does not fix them for you Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Setting Breakpoints • Position cursor in code window • Right-click • Select Insert Breakpoint from popup menu • Program execution is suspended just before line of code where breakpoint is set • Execute program in debug mode Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Exploring the Help Facility • Help features: • Search for help on specific item • Browse table of contents • Scroll through alphabetized index of topics • Dynamic help • Identifies help topics in response to actions • Displays topics depending on currently selected window or item • Context-sensitive help Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Exploring Context-Sensitive Help • Invoke by pressing F1 key • Obtain help on virtually any • Keyword • Component • Window • Other element of VB .NET Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Summary • Visual Studio .NET • Set of software tools that helps you code, debug, and test a system as you develop it • Provides many options that allow you to customize appearance of screen and the tools • Uses hierarchical arrangement of solutions and projects to organize programs Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Summary (continued) • The VB .NET text editor • Supports color-coding, indentation, and code completion features • Compile and execute VB .NET program • Using options on Build and Debug menus • Visual form editor • Visual development tool • Generates code from forms Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Summary (continued) • Debugger • Tool that helps identify problems • Help facility of VB .NET provides many options for accessing help Visual Basic .NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Chapter 2: The Visual Studio .NET Development Environment