Microsoft .NET for Programmers

PREFACE xv
Organization of this book
This book contains eight chapters and three
appendixes:
Chapter 1 Introduction. Chapter 1 provides an
overview of the .NET architecture and introduces
application development using the .NET Framework
class library.
Chapter 2 Understanding types and assemblies. In
chapter 2, we look at fundamental .NET
features including types, assemblies, and the
Microsoft Intermediate Language, or IL. Also, to
illustrate reflection, we develop a simple language
compiler.
Chapter 3 Case study: a video poker machine. The
video poker case study is introduced and
described in chapter 3. We develop simple
COM-based and Internet Explorer-based versions of
the game.
Chapter 4 Working with ADO.NET and databases.
Chapter 4 introduces ADO.NET and
the new disconnected architecture for data access via
the Internet. We also look at XML serialization,
and we implement a data tier for the case study.
Chapter 5 Developing remote services. In chapter 5, we
explore the .NET remoting architecture
and the activation models it offers. We also look at
Windows Services and Microsoft Message
Queuing, and we use what we learn to develop several
new versions of the case study.
Chapter 6 Developing XML Web services. Chapter 6
describes .NET¡ ̄s features for developing
XML Web services. We look at SOAP, WSDL, and
UDDI, and we present a Web service-based
implementation of the case study.
Chapter 7 Creating the Windows Forms user interface.
We explore Windows Forms, the
new class library for the creation of Windows GUI
applications, in chapter 7. We examine the
Windows Forms programming model, and we see how
to design a GUI using the Visual Studio
.NET forms designer. We also implement a Windows
Forms-based version of the case study.
Chapter 8 Creating the Web Forms user interface.
Chapter 8 explores ASP.NET and the Web
Forms classes for the creation of browser-based
applications. We examine the new server controls
and we learn how to create our own user controls. We
also look at designing Web Forms inside
Visual Studio .NET, and we develop a Web
Forms-based version of the case study.
Appendix A Introduction to C#. Appendix A provides
an introduction to the C# programming
language. For readers who have no exposure to C#,
this material provides all you need to
follow the book¡ ̄s examples.
Appendix B The poker engine listings. Appendix B
contains the C# code for the classes that
make up the Poker.dll assembly.
Appendix C The WinPok.cs listing. Appendix C
presents the C# listing of the Windows
Forms-based video poker machine.
Each chapter builds on previous material. So the
chapters are best read in the order presented.