Core Windows Application Development With Visual Studio 2005

Introduction

Elements of this syllabus are subject to change.

This three-day instructor-led workshop provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop Microsoft( Windows( Forms applications using Microsoft Visual Studio( 2005. The workshop focuses on user interfaces, program structure, and implementation details.

Audience

This workshop is intended for corporate or independent software vendor (ISV) application developers who have a desire to learn more about specific technology areas in Windows application development.

At Workshop Completion

After completing this workshop, students will be able to:

· Create a simple Windows

Forms application.

· Configure standard controls.

· Build menus.

· Display and edit data by using data-bound controls.

· Provide user assistance and enhance usability.

· Create consistent applications by using dialogs and forms inheritance.

· Add print and report functionality to a Windows Forms application.

· Perform asynchronous tasks by using the BackgroundWorker component.

· Deploy a Windows Forms application by using ClickOnce.

Prerequisites

Before attending this workshop, students must:

· Be able to manage a solution environment using the Visual Studio 2005 integrated development environment (IDE) and tools

· Understand Microsoft .NET

Framework 2.0 and the Common Language Runtime

· Be able to program an application using a .NET Framework 2.0 compliant language

· Know how to make assemblies available to other applications

· Have a basic understanding of XML, including XML declaration, elements, attributes, and namespaces.

Course Outline

Unit 1: Creating a

Simple Windows Forms Application

This unit introduces the fundamental skills required to create a simple Windows Forms application. It explains how to configure form properties and how to add controls to a form. It also deals with events and explains how to create event handlers at design time and run time.

Lessons

· Components of a Windows

Forms User Interface

· Event Handling in a

Windows Forms Application

Lab 1: Creating a Simple

Windows Forms Application

· Exercise 1. Adding and

Configuring Windows Forms and Controls

· Exercise 2. Creating

Event Handlers and Monitoring Events· Exercise 3. Adding

Controls and Handlers at Run Time

· Exercise 4. Adding a Form

Keyboard Handler (if time permits)

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Describe the various components of a Windows Forms application.

· Explain how to handle events in a Windows Forms application.

· Add and configure Windows

Forms and controls.

· Create event handlers and monitor events.

· Add controls and handlers to a form at run time.

· Apply best practices when designing forms.

Unit 2: Configuring

Standard Controls

This unit introduces many of the controls from the Visual Studio Toolbox. It teaches how to add and configure these controls and explains how to group them into different categories by function.

Lesson

· Windows Forms Controls by

Function

Lab 2: Configuring Standard Controls

· Exercise 1. Creating the

EmployeeViewer Form

· Exercise 2. Creating the

ReportGenerator Form

· Exercise 3. Creating the

ReportGeneratorHelp Form

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain the functions of the major categories of Windows Forms controls.

· Create a form to select and view images by using the SplitContainer, TreeView, PictureBox, ToolStrip, and other controls.

· Create a form to specify report criteria by using the TableLayoutPanel, ListView, MonthCalendar,

ComboBox, and other controls.

· Create a form to view a

Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Help file by using a WebBrowser control.

Unit 3: Building Menus

This unit introduces the

MenuStrip control and the ContextMenuStrip component. It explains how to create and configure form menus and context menus in an application. It also deals with the ToolStripItems that can be added to the container of a MenuStrip or

ContextMenuStrip.

Lesson

· Menus in Windows FormsLab 3: Building Menus

· Exercise 1. Creating and

Configuring a MenuStrip Control

· Exercise 2. Creating and

Configuring a ContextMenuStrip Component

· Exercise 3. Hiding and

Disabling a ToolStripMenuItem

· Exercise 4. Creating and

Configuring a ToolStripComboBox (if time permits)

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain the structure of a menu in a Windows Forms application.

· Create and configure a

MenuStrip control.

· Create and configure a

ContextMenuStrip component.

· Hide and disable a

ToolStripMenuItem.

· Apply best practices for menu design and development.

Unit 4: Displaying and

Editing Data by Using Data-Bound Controls

This unit introduces the controls that can be used to display data from a data source. It shows how to use Visual Studio 2005 to create data sources and add data-bound controls to a form. It also demonstrates how to use the DataGridView control to display and update data retrieved by using a data source.

Lessons

· Binding Data to a Control

· DataGridView Control

Lab 4: Displaying and

Editing Data by Using Data-Bound Controls

· Exercise 1. Adding a Data

Source to a Project

· Exercise 2. Binding Data to a Control

· Exercise 3. Creating a

Bound Form by Using the BindingSource and BindingNavigator Components

· Exercise 4. Displaying

Data by Using the DataGridView Control

· Exercise 5. Binding to

Data at Run Time (if time permits)

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain simple and complex data binding.

· Describe the scenarios in which the DataGridView control is used.

· Add a data source to a project.

· Bind data to a control at run time.

· Use the BindingSource component and BindingNavigator control to create a data-bound Windows Form.

· Use the DataGridView control to display and update tabular data from a data source.

Unit 5: Providing User

Assistance and Enhancing Usability

This unit introduces many of the controls and techniques that can be used to create an application that is flexible and intuitive and that provides timely feedback to the user. It shows how to add and configure the available user assistance controls to provide

ToolTips, Help, and information about errors. It also describes the accessibility features of Windows Forms and explains how to implement globalization and localization in an application.

Lessons

· Providing User Assistance

· Implementing Accessibility Features

· Implementing Globalization and Localization

Lab 5: Providing User

Assistance and Enhancing Usability

· Exercise 1. Adding and

Configuring User Assistance Controls

· Exercise 2. Implementing Accessibility Features

· Exercise 3. Implementing

Globalization and Localization

· Exercise 4. Running a

Procedure at Set Intervals (if time permits)

· Exercise 5. Displaying

Data Source Errors (if time permits)

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Describe the components that can be used to provide user assistance.

· Add and configure user assistance controls on a Windows Form.

· Explain the accessibility features available to implement in a Windows Forms application.

· Implement accessibility features within a Windows Forms application.

· Explain the high-level processes involved in globalization and localization in a Windows Forms application.

· Implement globalization and localization in a Windows Form.

Unit 6: Creating

Consistent Applications by Using Dialog Boxes and Forms InheritanceThis unit introduces the built-in dialog boxes that can be used to prompt users when they are performing common tasks and to provide users with a familiar interface. It explains how to add and configure dialog boxes that enable users to open and save files and to set font and color properties. This unit also explains how to create and use a custom dialog box. In addition, this unit explains the concept of forms inheritance and describes how to create a consistent interface for Windows

Forms applications.

Lessons

· Dialog Boxes in a Windows

Forms Application

· Windows Forms InheritanceLab 6: Creating

Consistent Applications by Using Dialog Boxes and Forms Inheritance· Exercise 1. Adding and

Configuring Dialog Box Components

· Exercise 2. Creating a Custom Dialog Box

· Exercise 3. Implementing

Windows Forms Inheritance· Exercise 4. Modifying an

Existing Form to Inherit from a Base Form (if time permits)

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Describe the various standard preconfigured dialog boxes available to a Windows Forms application.

· Explain the concept of

Windows Forms inheritance and the reasons for using inheritance.

· Add and configure dialog box controls on a Windows Form.

· Create a custom dialog box.

· Implement Windows Forms inheritance.

Unit 7: Printing Content and Creating Reports

This unit provides an introduction to the components that can be used to preview and print reports from a Windows Forms application. This unit covers the predefined dialog boxes that simplify the processes involved, and it explains how to use these dialog boxes to retrieve print settings and page setup options from the user.

In addition, this unit explains how to display a report in a Windows Forms application by using the

CrystalReportViewer component

Lessons

· Printing in a Windows

Forms Application

· Reporting in a Windows

Forms Application

Lab 7: Printing Content and Creating Reports

· Exercise 1. Adding Print

Capability to a Windows Forms Application

· Exercise 2. Implementing

Reporting by Using the CrystalReportViewer Component

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain how to print a report in a Windows Forms application.

· Describe how to create and view reports in a Windows Forms application.

· Use the components provided with Visual Studio 2005 to add print capability to a Windows Forms application.

· Display a Crystal report by using the CrystalReportViewer component.

Unit 8: Performing

Asynchronous Tasks by Using the BackgroundWorker Component

This unit introduces the main concepts of asynchronous programming and then focuses on the

BackgroundWorker component. It explains how to work with the methods and events of the BackgroundWorker component to add asynchronous functionality to a Windows

Forms application.

Lesson

· Asynchronous Tasks in

Windows Forms Applications

Lab 8: Performing

Asynchronous Tasks by Using the BackgroundWorker Component

· Exercise 1. Running and

Canceling a Background Process by Using the BackgroundWorker Component

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain the concepts and processes involved in asynchronous programming.

· Run and cancel a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.

· Describe best practices for using the BackgroundWorker component.

Unit 9: Deploying

Applications by Using ClickOnce

This unit explains how to deploy a Windows Forms application by using ClickOnce. It covers the steps required to prepare, publish, install, and test an application. Finally, this unit explains how to update an application and how to use the automatic update feature of ClickOnce.

Lessons

· Windows Forms Application

Deployment Options

· ClickOnce Technology OverviewLab 9: Deploying

Applications by Using ClickOnce

· Exercise 1. Publishing a ClickOnce Application

· Exercise 2. Installing and Testing a ClickOnce Application

After completing this unit, students will be able to:

· Explain the options for deploying a Windows Forms application.

· Explain the key concepts of ClickOnce technology.

· Publish a ClickOnce application.

· Install and test a

ClickOnce application.

· Describe best practices for using ClickOnce deployment