Advanced Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 (Mps)

, Microsoft Pr

ISBN:1572318937, Edition: 2nd, 1998-11

Price: $59.99

Table of Contents

• Cover
  • LOC Page
• Foreword
• Preface
  • Who Should Read This Book?
  • What Is Covered in This Book?
  • Acknowledgments
  • And Finally
• Chapter 1 -- On Error GoTo Hell
  • Tip 1:Inconsistent as it is, try to mimic Visual Basic's own error handling scheme as much as possible.
  • Tip 2: Use line numbers in your source code.
  • Tip 3: Raise exceptions when possible because return values will be ignored.
  • Tip 4: Automatically log critical MsgBox errors.
  • Tip 5: Have an error handler in every routine.
  • Tip 6: Write meaningful error logs (to a central location if possible).
  • Tip 7: Use assertions.
  • Tip 8: Don't retrofit blind error handlers.
  • Tip 9: Trace the stack.
  • Tip 10: Use a ROOS (Resource Only OLE Server).
  • Tip 11: Replace useful intrinsic objects with your own.
  • Tip 12: Check DLL version errors.
  • Tip 13: Use Microsoft System Information (MSINFO32.EXE) when you can.
  • Tip 14: Treat error handling like transaction processing.
  • Tip 15: Don't test your own software or write your own test plans.
  • Tip 16: Stress test your applications.
  • Tip 17: Use automated testing tools.
  • Tip 18: Consider error values.
  • Tip 19: Tighten up Visual Basic's type checking.
  • Tip 20: Define constants using a TypeLib or an Enum.
  • Tip 21: Keep error text in a resource file.
  • Tip 22: Always handle errors in controls and components (that you build).
  • Tip 23: Use symbolic debugging information.
• Chapter 2 -- Taking Care of Business (Objects)
  • Data Access Layer
  • Factory-Worker Objects
  • Action Objects
  • Clients
• Chapter 3 -- IIS This A Template I See Before Me?
  • Just What Is a Web Application?
  • What Does Visual Basic 6 Need for Web Application Development?
  • Conclusion
• Chapter 4 -- Programming With Variants
  • Overview of Variants
  • Internal Structure
  • Using Variants Instead of Simple Data Types
  • Using Variants Instead of Objects
  • Other Variant Subtypes
• Chapter 5 -- Developing Applications In Windows CE
  • What Is Windows CE?
  • Getting Under the Hood
  • Windows CE and the IT Department
  • Visual Basic Development
• Chapter 6 -- Staying in Control
  • An Expensive Tale
  • What Are We Trying to Accomplish?
  • Some Strategic Issues
  • Some Attitude Issues
  • Getting Our Hands Dirty
  • Some Visual Basic 6 Tools
  • Final Thoughts
  • Required Reading
• Chapter 7 -- Minutiae
  • Stuff About the Compiler
  • Stuff About Optimization
  • Stuff About Objects, Types, and Data Structures
  • Stuff About Type Libraries
  • Stuff About Smarties
  • Other Stuff
• Chapter 8 -- Visual Basic Programmer's Guide To Successful Dating
  • A Little About the Date Rules
  • So How Does Visual Basic Help My Dating Success?
  • Going Under the Covers: Dating Assignments
  • Being Seen with Your Dates in Public: User Interface Issues
  • Where to Take Your Dates: Storage Issues
  • When It's Time to Move On: Migration Issues
  • Find Out More About Your Date's Background
  • Conclusion
• Chapter 9 -- Well, at Least It Compiled OK!
  • The Purpose of Testing
  • The Formal Test Cycle
  • Testing Visual Basic Code
  • Test Plans
  • Test Scripts
  • Planning a Code Component
  • Performance Testing
  • Preparing a Suitable Test Environment
  • A Final Word of Caution
• Chapter 10 -- Starting with Bases Loaded
  • Why Base Code?
  • What to Include in a Template
  • Subclassing Functions and Subroutines
  • Common Forms
  • Hide Your API Calls
  • Registry Tools
  • Resource Files
  • Custom Controls
  • Documentation
  • Building Your Own Base Code
  • Changing Base Code
  • Templates
  • Summary
• Chapter 11 -- Mixed Languages With Visual Studio
  • What Is Mixed Language Programming?
  • Using a Single Entry Point
  • Using COM Instead of Normal DLL Entry
• Chapter 12 -- Databases Are For Dorks
  • Do It Once, Do It Right, and Forget It Forever
  • Three Approaches to Client/Server Interactions
  • Componentizing All of This
  • Epilogue
• Chapter 13 -- Programming On Purpose
  • Managing Windows
  • Dealing with Complexity
  • After the Dust Has Settled
• Chapter 14 -- Didn't I Write That Function Last Week?
  • Issues Affecting Code Reusability
  • The Business Case for Reuse
  • The Keys to Reuse
  • Meeting Reuse Requirements Effectively
  • Reuse Issues for the Programmer
• Chapter 15 -- How To Juggle 30 Balls Blindfolded
  • A Visual Basic Quality Crisis?
  • Risk Management
  • Critical Factors in Successful Enterprise Development
  • Case Study
  • Getting Started
  • The Early Stages
  • Ways of Ensuring Quality
  • Why Are You Prototyping?
  • Creating a Foundation with a Pathfinder Project
  • Proving the Technical Architecture
  • Focusing on Design
  • Understanding Objects
  • Investing in Reuse
  • Finding the Right Tools
  • Configuration Management: Just Do It!
  • Documentation
  • Testing
  • Build Planning
  • Year 2000
  • Concluding Thoughts
• Chapter 16 -- Accessibility in Visual Basic - Making Your Application Work For Everyone
  • What Is A Disability?
  • The Fundamentals of Accessibility Development
  • Advanced Accessibility Features
  • Microsoft Active Accessibility
  • Making Accessibility Part of Your Development Process
  • Legal Stuff
  • More Information
• Chapter 17 -- Three Steps to Employment Heaven - How To Recruit And Retain Developers
  • Where to Start?
  • Step 1: Finding Great Developers
  • Step 2: Recruiting Great Developers
  • Step 3: Retaining Great Developers
• Appendix A -- Coding Conventions
  • The Need for Coding Conventions
  • Naming Conventions
  • Coding Conventions
  • In-Line Documentation
  • Type Prefixes
  • Other Conventions
• Appendix B -- Sample Answers to the Technical Test in Chapter 17
• Appendix C -- TMS Developer's Framework
• Appendix D -- Visual DateScope 2000 and VBA2000
  • Visual DateScope 2000 Fact File
• Appendix E -- Keeping Current with TMS
  • Other Newsgroups