C# in easy steps

Learn to program with Microsoft's premier programming language. No previous programming knowledge is assumed. With numerous easy-to-follow examples, this title explains the essentials of object-oriented programming with C# and how to build both Windows and web applications using the designers and tools in Visual Studio or the standalone Visual C# product.

This title puts the emphasis on learning by doing, and even novices will have simple programs running after just a few pages. The early chapters explain how to build form-based applications with an explanation of key Windows controls such as buttons, listboxes, tabs and dialogs. Next comes an explanation of the C# language, covering statements, operators, variables and data types, and how to interpret all those semi-colons and curly brackets. There's a complete chapter on the essentials of object orientation. With the fundamentals in place, the reader is taken through creating menus, simple database programming, web-based applications using ASP.Net, and tips for writing robust and high-performance code.

Tim Anderson is a well known author and journalist who specialises in software development. He writes regularly for magazines including Personal Computer World, PC Pro and Application Development Advisor. He also runs a small company engaged in developing custom applications.

1. Getting Started
   • Introduction
   • C# and other languages
   • Installing Visual C#
   • Making sense of the IDE
   • Your first application
   • First look at the Toolbox
   • First look at the Property Editor
   • Getting to know Visual C# forms
   • Placing a button
   • First look at events
   • Your first line of code
   • Setting properties in code
   • A C# adding machine
   • Dealing with errors
   • Help
   • First look at the Solution Explorer
   • Saving your project
   • Reopening an application
2. Controls Explained
   • Controls and methods
   • Using buttons and labels
   • Using TextBoxes
   • Using PictureBoxes
   • Using CheckBoxes
   • Using RadioButtons
   • Using GroupBoxes
   • Using ListBoxes
   • Using ComboBoxes
   • The OpenFileDialog Control
   • Using the timer
   • Using the Tab control
   • Using the Splitter control
   • Using the Toolbar and RichTextBox
   • Using the MonthCalendar control
   • Setting tab order
   • Some other controls
   • Using Anchor and Dock properties
3. C# Language Essentials
   • Start at the beginning
   • The parts of a C# file
   • Introducing data types
   • Doing sums
   • Curly brackets and semicolons
   • Functions and parameters
   • Giving variables a value
   • Variables and scope
   • Using if- else-
   • Using do and while
   • Using for loops
   • Using switch
   • Arrays: dealing with a set of values
   • Using structs
   • Using enums for a range of values
   • Understanding reference types
   • Working with parameters
   • More about casting
4. Object Essentials
   • A first object
   • Classes and objects
   • Constructors and destructors
   • Using Add Field and Add Property
   • A list of books
   • Working with collections
   • Inheritance
   • Encapsulation and interfaces
   • Overloading and overriding
   • Static members
   • Protected and internal members
   • Understanding Namespaces
   • The using directive
   • Object lifetime
   • The using statement
5. Visual Studio Tools
   • Creating a menu
   • Customizing a menu
   • Creating a pop-up menu
   • Making a menu work
   • Working with the code editor
   • Outlining and auto-insertion
   • Using the Clipboard Ring
   • Using Find
   • Introducing the debugger
   • Using breakpoints
   • The Locals and Watches windows
   • Tracking down errors
   • Customizing the Toolbox
   • Using the Add-in Manager
   • Explaining the Reference Manager
   • Setting Visual C# options
   • Setting project properties
   • Creating a standalone application
   • Where Help files come from
6. C# Techniques
   • Catching errors with exceptions
   • Try... Finally
   • Using validation
   • Helping the user
   • How to use ToolTips
   • Printing with Visual C#
   • More about printing
   • Tips for readable code
   • Following code standards
   • Managing multiple forms
   • Introducing MDI
   • Starting a C# application
   • How to read and write to a file
   • Drawing graphics
   • Creating a shared event handler
   • Interrupt with DoEvents
   • Using a Setup Project
   • More about the Setup Project
7. Creating Database Programs
   • Introducing databases
   • Creating a database with Access
   • Designing a table
   • More about database tables
   • The Data Form Wizard
   • Improving the DataForm
   • What is disconnected data?
   • Explaining database objects
   • Showing data in a grid
   • Styling a Datagrid
   • Dealing with large databases
   • Copying a record to the Clipboard
   • Creating a report
   • Showing a report
   • The next step with databases
8. Running C# on the Internet
   • What kind of Web?
   • Introducing Web Forms
   • Creating a Web Form
   • How Web Forms work
   • The Web Forms Toolbox
   • The Page Class and Code-behind
   • The Load event and isPostBack
   • The Session object
   • ASP.NET and databases
   • Showing data in a DataGrid
   • Where next?

• Self extracting binary file of the code examples [Windows Users] (682 KB)