Starting Out with Visual Basic .NET is intended for use in an introductory programming course. Gaddis, Denton and Irvine write in clear, easy-to-understand language. At the same time, they cover all the necessary topics of an introductory programming course. Their text is rich in example programs that are concise, practical, and real world oriented. This approach insures that students not only learn how to use the various controls, constructs, and features of Visual Basic, but why and when.

Table of Contents:
Chapter 1 Introduction to Programming and Visual Basic .NET 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Computer Systems: Hardware and Software 1.3 Programs and Programming Languages 1.4 More About Controls and Programming 1.5 The Programming Process 1.6 Visual Studio and the Visual Basic .NET Environment Chapter 2 Creating Applications with Visual Basic .NET 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Focus on Problem Solving: Building the Hotel Directions Application 2.3 Focus on Problem Solving: Responding to Events 2.4 Modifying the Text property with Code 2.5 Working with the AutoSize, BorderStyle, and TextAlign Properties 2.6 Clickable Images 2.7 Using Visual Basic .NET Help 2.8 Debugging Your Application Chapter 3 Input, Variables, Constants, and Calculations 3.1 Introduction 3.2 Gathering Text Input 3.3 Variables 3.4 Performing Calculations and Working with Numbers 3.5 Formatting Numbers for Output 3.6 Group Boxes, Form Formatting, and the Load Event Procedure 3.7 Focus on Program Design and Problem Solving: Building the Room Charge Calculator Application 3.8 More About Debugging: Locating Logic Errors Chapter 4 Making Decisions and Working with Strings 4.1 Introduction 4.2 The Decision Structure 4.3 The If...Then Statement 4.4 The If...Then...Else Statement 4.5 The If...Then...ElseIf Statement 4.6 Nested If Statements 4.7 Logical Operators 4.8 Comparing, Testing, and Working with Strings 4.9 Focus on GUI Design: The Message Box 4.10 The Select Case Statement 4.11 Introduction to Input Validation 4.12 Focus on GUI Design: Radio Buttons and Check Boxes 4.13 Class-Level Variables 4.14 Focus on Program Design and Problem Solving: Building the Health Club Membership Application Chapter 5 Lists, Loops, Validation, and More 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Input Boxes 5.3 List Boxes 5.4 Introduction to Loops: The Do While Loop 5.5 The Do Until and For...Next Loops 5.6 Nested Loops 5.7 Multicolumn List Boxes, Checked List Boxes and Combo Boxes 5.8 Input Validation 5.9 Tool Tips 5.10 Focus on Program Design and Problem Solving: Building the Vehicle Loan Calculator Application Chapter 6 Sub Procedures and Functions 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Sub Procedures 6.3 Passing Values to a Procedure 6.4 Function Procedures 6.5 More About Debugging: Stepping Into, Over, and Out of Procedures and Functions 6.6 Focus on Program Design and Problem Solving: Building the Bagel and Coffee Price Calculator Application Chapter 7 Multiple Forms, Standard Modules, and Menus 7.1 Introduction 7.2 Multiple Forms 7.3 Standard Modules 7.4 Menus 7.5 Focus on Problem Solving: Building the High Adventure Travel Agency Price Quote Application Chapter 8 Arrays, Timers, and More 8.1 Introduction 8.2 Arrays 8.3 More About Array Processing 8.4 Sub Procedures and Functions that Work with Arrays 8.5 Multidimensional Arrays 8.6 Focus on GUI Design: The Enabled Property, the Timer Control, and Splash Screens 8.7 Focus on GUI Design: Anchoring and Docking Controls 8.8 Random Numbers 8.9 Focus on Problem Solving: Building the Demetris Leadership Center Application Chapter 9 Files, Printing, and Structures 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Using Files 9.3 The OpenFileDialog, SaveFileDialog, FontDialog, and ColorDialog Controls 9.4 The PrintDocument Control 9.5 Structures 9.6 Focus on Problem Solving: Modifying the Demetris Leadership Center Application Chapter 10 Working with Databases 10.1 Introduction 10.2 What Is a Database? 10.3 ADO .NET 10.4 Focus on Problem Solving: The Sounds Incredible Music Store CD Inventory Application Chapter 11 Advanced Database Programming and SQL 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Introduction to SQL 11.3 Using SQL with ADO .NET 11.4 Using the Data Grid Control 11.5 Focus on Problem-Solving: Enhancing the Sounds Incredible Music Store CD Inventory Application 11.6 If You Want to Know More About SQL: Good Database Design Chapter 12 Classes, Exceptions, Collections, and Scrollable Controls 12.1 Introduction 12.2 Classes and Objects 12.3 Creating a Class 12.4 Exceptions and Error Handling 12.5 Collections 12.6 Focus on Problem Solving: Creating the Student Collection Class 12.7 The Object Browser 12.8 Focus on GUI Design: Scrollable Controls Chapter 13 Inheritance, Custom Controls, and Using the Clipboard 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Introduction to Inheritance 13.3 Creating Custom Controls 13.4 Sharing Text with the Clipboard