This video tutorial will demonstrate how to use Rapid Application Development (RAD) software. We will be using the free version of IronSpeed Designer to automatically generate the visual basic application from a database.
The first thing we will do is go over the prerequisite software. If you do not already have it, you need:
1) Internet Information Services (IIS) or ASP.NET Development Server- IIS is a personal web server that comes with Windows XP Pro (it is not included in the Home Edition). ASP.NET Devopment Server is a free personal development server that comes with SDK version of Net Framework 2.0. You can download ASP.NET Development Server here.
2) SQL Server 2005 Express and Management Studio for SQL Server - see the post on Installing SQL Server.
3) Iron Speed Designer - there is a free trial version that never expires that you can download.
Then, we will build a small table that contains people's names and phone numbers. We will call the table Contact. After building the table, we will use Iron Speed Designer to generate the VB source code for the application.
If you really want to learn the details of programming with Visual Studio, I highly recommend the series from Learn Visual Studio. They offer several videos for free to try it out. I personally have a Lifetime Subscription and have spent 100s of hours watching their videos. Most live training classes and video tutorials for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video. Also, if you want to save 30% off the retail price of Learn Visual Studio, please click on the link provided at the beginning of this paragraph.
There is an index of over 700 video tutorials on various programming languages and databases at this post.
This video tutorial shows how to add speech recognition to a simple dictation application. You can cut-n-paste the source code by clicking here: Source Code for Speech Recognition
If you do not have Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1, you must download and install it for this application to work. You can download it by clicking here: Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1
Here are the steps involved in this tutorial:
1. Get the source code.
2. Install Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1 (if have not already done it)
3. Create New Project in VB 2005 Express
4. Add the reference to Microsoft Speech Object
5. Add the controls to the form
6. Cut-n-paste source code to code for form
7. Train your computer to understand you using Start/Control Panel/Speech
8. Run your Speech Recognition Application
If you really want to learn the details of programming with Visual Studio, I highly recommend the series from Learn Visual Studio. It is an awesome site for learning Visual Studio, and they allow you to download several videos for free to try it out. I personally have a Lifetime Subscription and have spent 100s of hours watching their videos. I am very pleased with the amount of information that they provide, and I believe it is an extremely good value. Most live training classes and video tutorials for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video. Also, if you want to save 30% off the retail price of Learn Visual Studio, please click on the link provided at the beginning of this paragraph.
There is an index of over 700 video tutorials on various programming languages and databases at this post.
In this tutorial, we learn how to add speech to a visual basic application. You can download the VB source code for this project by clicking on this link: Text-To-Speech
Once you have downloaded the source code, you need to open Visual Basic Express 2005 and clicking on File/Open Project. Then, navigate to where you downloaded the source and click on the file that has the .sln (solution) extension.
Three steps are important in using speech in a VB application:
1. Add a reference to Microsoft Speech Object by going to Project/Add Reference/Com tab
2. Add the Imports SpeechLib statement at the top of the module that will be using the speech.
3. Create a new SpVoice object and call Voice() to read the text.
If you have any problems locating the Microsoft Speech object, you may need to download Microsoft Speech SDK 5.1
If you desire to learn the details, I highly recommend the series from Learn Visual Studio. It is one of the best sites for learning Visual Studio that I have found, and they allow you to download many videos for free to try it out. I have a Lifetime Subscription to Learn Visual Studio and have spent hundreds of hours watching their videos. I am very satisfied with the amount of information that they provide, and I think it is an extremely good value. Most video tutorials and live training classes for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video. You can save 30% off of the retail price for Learn Visual Studio by clicking on the link at the beginning of this paragraph.
You can find a summary of over 700 video tutorials on a wide variety of programming topics at this post.
If you would like to learn more about Visual Studio, I highly recommend the series from Learn Visual Studio. It is one of the best resources for learning Visual Studio that I have found, and they allow you to download several videos for free to try it out. I personally have a Lifetime Subscription to Learn Visual Studio and have spent 100s of hours watching their videos. I am very happy with the amount of information that they provide, and I believe it is an extremely good value. Most video tutorials for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video. Right now, you can save 30% off the retail price of Learn Visual Basic by clicking on the link mentioned at the beginning of this paragraph.
There is a summary of over 700 video tutorials on programming at this post.
This is the second of a series of video tutorials for people that are getting started with Visual Studio. In this second video, we will just show you how to use Starter Kits in Express Edition 2005 for Visual Basic. To see the video in full-screen mode, click on the heading for the tutorial.
If you really want to learn the details, I highly recommend the series from Learn Visual Studio - right now, you can save 30% off retail price by clicking the link mentioned earlier in this sentence. It is one of the best resources for learning Visual Studio that I have found, and they allow you to download several videos for free to try it out. I personally have a Lifetime Subscription to Learn Visual Studio and have spent 100s of hours watching their videos. I am very happy with the amount of information that they provide, and I believe it is an extremely good value. Many training videos for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video.
You can find a summary of over 700 video tutorials on programming at this post.
Quick 8-minute tutorial shows how to load, compile, and run the RSS Screen Saver Starter Kit for Visual Basic Express 2005. We also cover how to find and download other starter kits.
Quick 8-minute tutorial shows how to modify the title and background images for the Screen Saver. We also cover how to change the options for the Screen Saver. Finally, we install the screen saver on the computer.
Further Study
Microsoft has a one hour webcast on the RSS Screen Saver Starter Kit that is excellent. The first portion covers goes over a lot of what was covered in the above tutorials, but the second part talks about how one would extend the starter kit by replacing the RSS feed by reading files right on your computer.
This is the first of a series of video tutorials for people that are getting started with Visual Studio. We will focus on the express editions. The series will demonstrate how easy it is to get started. In this first video, we will just show you how to install Visual Studio Express Edition 2005 for Visual Basic. To see the video in full-screen mode, click on the heading for the tutorial.
If you really want to learn the details, I highly recommend the video series from Learn Visual Studio - you can even save 30% off the retail price by clicking on the link in this sentence. It is one of the best resources I have found for learning Visual Studio, and you get to try out a number of videos for free - no strings attached. I personally have a Lifetime Subscription to Learn Visual Studio and have spent 100s of hours watching their videos. Most video tutorials for Visual Studio cost around $25 per hour (see AppDev.com, Learnkey.com, etc.), but Learn Visual Studio only costs about 70 cents per hour of video.
You can learn more about the different versions of Visual Studio by viewing this post.
You can find a summary of over 700 video tutorials on programming at this post.
Quick 2-minute tutorial shows how to install Visual Studio Visual Basic Express 2005.
Other Tutorials in This Series
Part 2 - Using RSS Screen Saver Starter Kit - Video tutorial demonstrates the use of starter kits in Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition. The RSS Screen Saver Starter kit is compiled and run. The title for the screen saver and the background images are modified. Finally, the screen saver is installed on the computer.
This is a work in progress - More to episodes will be coming…Please bookmark this post and check back often.
The .NET framework is a software component that is included with Microsoft Windows operating system, or it can be downloaded separately and added to it. NET Framework 3.0 was originally called WinFX. It is the current version of the NET Framework, and it is more of an add-on to NET Framework 2.0 than a whole new framework, as the major components of the 2.0 version are included within 3.0.
There were two main components of the Net Framework 2.0.
1. Framework Class Library - contains the building blocks (bricks) that are used to build all other classes.
2. Common Language Runtime (CLR) - This is similar to Java's Virtual Machine, in that is unique to each operating system and acts as middle person between an intermediate language and the language that the operating system speaks.
In general, the NET Framework acts as an intermediary between .NET applications and the operating systems that they execute on. It is as if .NET application languages are written in English (Visual Basic.NET), Spanish (C#), and French (J#) and the operating systems are written in Greek (Windows), Hebrew (Linux), and Latin (Mac). In order for the hardware to understand what the applications are trying to do, the modern languages (English, Spanish, and French) are first translated (compiled) into assemblies (or executables) in a common language of the Middle Ages, say Middle English. This common language(Middle English) is called the Common Intermediate Language (CIL) in the Microsoft world.
The Common Language Runtime (CLR) component of the NET Framework takes this intermediate language and translates it into the corresponding words that each of the operating system understands. Thus, there is a different Common Language Runtime Component for each operating system. At the present time, the only operating system that has a complete Common Language Runtime component for it is Windows, but there is a project called Mono that is attempting create an open source common language runtime component for Linux, Solaris, Mac OS, and Windows. When that occurs, .NET applications will truly become "platform independent."
The .NET Framework is used to:
1. Provide Huge Chunks of Pre-written Routines - The principle advantage of the NET framework is that it takes many of the operations(security, memory management, exception handling, etc.) that are performed over and over again, and allows them to only be coded once.
2. Provide Platform Independence - .NET languages (Visual Basic, C#, J#) are compiled to an intermediate state (Common Intermediate Language), and then, the Common Language Runtime component translates that into a language that the specific operating system can understand. This allows one to code in the high-level language of Visual Basic or whatever without having to worry about what machine it will end up executing on.
3. Provide Language Independence The Common Type System (CTS) is used to insure that all .NET langauges use the same types for descriptions for fields. These languages also have access to the Base Class Library (BCL) to reduce the amount of low-level coding that must be done in each language.
4. Provide Simplified Deployment - Special care must be taken to make sure that new installations of software do not interfere with previously installed versions. The .NET Framework is designed to help avoid these types of problems from occurring.
Four New Components Added With NET Framework 3.0
1. Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF - code-named Avalon) - As the name implies, this component deals with the "presentation" layer of net applications. This the coolest new feature for most users. It uses XML and vector graphics to present 3-D images, allowing rotation, panning, etc.
2. Windows Communication Foundation (WCF - code-named Indigo) - This component provides a service-oriented messaging system which allows programs to interoperate locally or remotely similar to web services.
3. Windows Workflow Foundation (WWF - Workflow) - Allows one to use workflows to automate business tasks by connecting code to business model diagrams.
4. Windows CardSpace (WCS - code-named InfoCard) - This component stores a person's digital identities to help integrate the user's experience as they go from one web site or application to another. This helps to eliminate the need for so many user ids and passwords so that a person can seemlessly move from one task to another.
.NET 3.0 - A "View from space"…-NetFX…
Here is a 4-minute video that gives a high-level introduction to NET Framework 3.0. It gives an interesting overview of the four new components (November 16, 2006).
Chris Bowen: Introduction to the .NET Framework
Here is a hour and twenty-five minute in depth look at the four new components of NET 3.0 by Chris Bowen (Apr 18, 2007). Unfortunately, you cannot see much of the whiteboard on the video, but you can hear what he has to say if you are interested in getting into more of the details.
WinFX in Financial Services
Here is an six-minute video example where Lab49 founder Daniel Chait demonstrates how they have used the 3-D features of Windows Presentation Foundation to help them understand the financial markets.
WPF Controlled by external sensors
Here is a six-minute video of how Brian Warner demonstrates that external sensors can be used to control WPF (February 05, 2007).
Ink Features in WPF
Here is a five-minute video demonstration of how WPF enhances Inking with tablet PCs (September 12, 2006).
Intro to WPF Part 1: XamlPad
A five-minute tutorial that introduces you to XAML (Mar 30, 2006).
My First Workflow
This 15-minute video by Stephen Thomas is an excellent introduction to workflows.
NET Framework 3.5
The next version of the NET Framework will be NET Framework 3.5. It is currently in beta testing. NET Framework 3.5 includes a entirely new version of the CLR. The CLR will be 3.0, as opposed to the 2.0 version that was used with NET Framework 3.0. Other new features will be LINQ queries, extension methods, and anonymous types with static type inference.
Final Note: If you would like to try to use some of the NET Framework 3.0 features, you must first download the NET Framework 3.0 software from Microsoft. Then, if you are using Visual Studio 2005 or the Express Editions of 2005, you have to download Visual Studio 2005 extensions for .NET Framework 3.0 (WCF & WPF)
Microsoft has an in depth series of webcasts at www.msdn.com that explain the details of using NET Framework 3.0. The series is broken down into a "Getting Started" section, and then one section for each of the 4 major components of NET Framework 3.0. Here is the information on the overview webcast that is contained in the "Getting Started" section.
Do you build Microsoft .NET applications? In this session, learn how to use .NET Framework to build better end-to-end solutions using the DinnerNow.net sample application. From a Windows Presentation Foundation client to a Windows Communication Foundation service tier driven by Windows Workflow Foundation, walk through a solution from whiteboard to Windows PowerShell script, and everything in between. We highlight management, security, workflow, services, and mobile applications, in different areas of the DinnerNow solution. Come to this session to see how one piece fits into a bigger solution, or how the .NET Framework can be leveraged to increase agility in application development.
Presenters: Matthew Winkler, Architect, Microsoft Corporation, and David Aiken, Architect Evangelist, Microsoft Corporation
Visual Studio is a suite of products developed by Microsoft that allow one to build .NET applications, which execute within the .NET framework. The current version is Visual Studio 2005, and that version is the focus of this article.
Previous versions include Visual Studio 6.0, Visual Studio .NET 2002, and Visual Studio .NET 2003. The next version is code named "Orcas," and the official name is Visual Studio 2008.
Major Components of Visual Studio 2005
Visual Studio 2005 supports four .NET languages:
Visual Basic .NET
Visual C#.NET
Visual J# .NET
Visual C++ .NET
Visual Studio also includes two other important components:
Microsoft Development Environment
Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express or Developer Edition
Visual Studio 2005 Product Line
Express Editions
Visual Studio Express Editions are completely free (with no time restrictions), and they contain "starter kits" that are pre-written applications. These starter-kits make it easy for beginners to get their feet wet without writing any code. The Express Editions only support a single .NET language (which is specified in the name of the edition), except for Visual Studio Web Developer, which supports both Visual C# and Visual Basic.
The Visual Studio Express Editions include SQL Server 2005 Express Edition with them to allow you to design your applications around a local database. However, you can not make remote connections to databases not located on your machine. All full versions of Visual Studio 2005 do allow you to connect to remote databases.
Visual Studio 2005 Full Editions
There are three full editions of Visual Studio 2005:
Visual Studio Standard Edition - support all of the .NET languages (VB, VC#, VC++, and VJ#). The standard edition has simplified menus and has mobile device support. It is the only full version that comes with SQL Server 2005 Express; all other full versions include SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
Visual Studio Professional Edition - includes everything in the standard edition plus full menus, remote debugging,Crystal Reports, and additional deployment capabilities. The Professional Edition comes with SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition.
Visual Studio Tools for Office - only supports two .NET languages: Visual Basic and Visual C#. This edition provides support for Excel 2003, Word 2003, InfoPath 2003, and Outlook 2003. There is no mobile device support, and only local debugging is provided. With regard to databases, SQL Server 2005 Developer Edition and Microsoft Access 2003 are included.
Visual Studio Team System Editions
The Team System editions are designed to help team members collaborate on projects. The Team System editions include Visual Studio Professional, Visual Studio Tools for Office, Visio and UML modeling, Visual Safe Source Sade, and Team Foundation Client. Visual Studio Team Foundation Server is included with all Team Editions and is limited to five connections. The Team Foundation Server is used for team reporting, project management, and work item and bug tracking.
The .NET applications and services operate within the .NET Framework (pronounced "dot net framework"). .NET applications do not directly access the operating system. Instead, they use the .NET framework, and the .NET framework accesses the operating system and hardware. The framework consists of two components:
The framework manages memory management, code execution, etc., and that is why .NET applications are called "managed applications."
The Common Type System makes sure that all .NET applications use the same data types.
The Visual Basic Compiler converts the humanly readable source code into an intermediate language. This intermediate language is also called Microsoft Intermediate Language (or MSIL), and it is contained in an assembly. Assemblies have either a .exe (executable) or .dll (class library) extension. The Common Language Runtime (CLR) converts the intermediate language into the native language needed by the operating system. This is what makes .NET applications platform independent. Currently the CLR is only available on Windows Systems, but someday CLR's could be developed of Unix and Linux. This would allow .NET applications to execute in these environments.
