Written especially for those readers coming to VB.NET from an earlier version of Visual Basic,
VB.NET in a Nutshell offers a quick language tour as well as a nicely thorough reference to all standard VB objects, methods, and properties. Even if you are a raw beginner, this concise reference is really all you need to get onboard with the new version of the world's most popular programming language.
The first sections of this text zero in on what's new and different in VB.NET. From the basics of the language, centering on data types and object-oriented features, this quick-start guide highlights essential language features that every VB.NET programmer needs to know. There's also material here on the underlying .NET framework, from deployment basics (like .NET assemblies) to built-in namespaces. Coverage of delegates and event handling shows how to process events. The substantially different exception handling model of VB.NET is contrasted with the older ways of handling errors.
The heart of this title has to be its reference material (over 400 pages), primarily on the built-in core VB classes in the new .NET version. While there were rumors that VB.NET changed VB completely, this material should reassure you. By providing APIs that resemble older versions, VB programmers still can leverage common string, date, and time and other functions. Every object, method, and property is described, along with sample code, and differences with VB6. A standout here are `gotchas` when using the new APIs compared to VB6. Besides objects and APIs, there is also coverage of language keywords (for logical, looping, and branching statements), too.
The book closes with several useful reference sections, one of which details all the new features to be found in VB.NET. This is almost a must-read for anyone facing the new VB.NET for the first time. Another appendix here lists VB.NET language APIs. While it's true that you can use many languages with .NET, VB.NET Language in a Nutshell covers the APIs that will give VB.NET its real flavor as a new programming language. Both a quick-start guide and a worthwhile reference to use everyday at your desk, this title is a great way to start using VB.NET in real projects quickly. --Richard Dragan
Topics covered: Introduction to VB.NET Variables and data types (including arrays, collections and parameter, and arguments) Object-oriented programming in VB.NET (classes, inheritance, polymorphism and overloading) Overview of the .NET Framework The Common Language Runtime (CLR) Managed execution Assemblies and VB.NET .NET namespaces (including the system namespace) Delegates and events Error handling in VB.NET (including exception handling techniques) Comprehensive language reference to VB.NET objects Methods and properties (including sample code, programming tips/gotchas, VB.NET vs. VB6 differences) Reference to what's new in VB.NET Language elements and operators in VB.NET Using the VB.NET command-line compiler Unsupported VB 6 language elements
User review
Great reference book!
I absolutely highly recommend this book.
Having read through several .NET books with no rhyme or reason whatsoever as to how they're put together, I was hoping this book would become a concise _beginning_ point of reference for me.
Boy was I wrong! I use this book constantly. The first week I had it, I referenced it almost daily, and not just for the quick-fix-reminders (in which order do those stupid DateDiff arguments come?). There are nine chapters before the actual reference, which are a veritable tome of information not found anywhere else (at least, not by me). In fact, I'd venture to say that the chapter on OOP should be required reading before you can even download the framework. There are a lot of concepts in that chapter that are required even to build simple apps in ASP.NET (not to mention VB.NET) that in Classic ASP were not necessary.
So, who is VB.NET in a Nutshell good for? The book goes into great detail about the differences between VB 6 and VB.NET: each chapter includes the relevant differences to the topic at hand; and each reference entry includes a section on VB6/VB.NET differences. So if you're looking for a book to ease your transition to the .NET world, this is all you need. If you are new to programming, then you have several chapters on the major concepts, as well as a roughly 450-page section on the VB.NET Language. In fact, on page xi of the preface, it actually says (and I paraphrase): Developers who know Visual Basic; developers who know other programming languages; and developers who are new to programming. Well, shucks, that's pretty much anyone who's reading this review, isn't it?
Stop reading now. Buy it.
I said stop.
User review
A Fair Review
This is basically a reference book to VB.NEt Functions.
The book is divided into 2 parts.
Part 1: Gives you A very simplified introduction to VB.NET
and is only 143 small pages.(If you put them together it is only 71 normal page). So do not expect much from this book.
Part 2: about 400 pages is only a reference to the functions.
Button line:
Do not buy this if:
You want to learn VB.NET throughly.
Still I bought it, only because at $2.5(I bought it for that price) it is a good deal for an Index book.
User review
CD not for VS.NET 2003
A very handy reference manual. Be aware that the included CD will not integrate the book into Visual Studio.NET 2003.
User review
This is a `In a Nutshell` book
I think the book stands up to it's title. It's a quick tour of the VB.NET language for the pro(specially for VB6 users). After i took some courses in VB.NET i was looking for books to read further and this out of many i read has the most clarifying and to the point examples. Certainly has not detailed explanations but that's not it's purpose. It's an overview and i think a bright one.
User review
Another Solid Reference by O'Reilly
Let me say this: THIS IS NOT A `HOW TO` BOOK. Aside from that, anyone who is using VB .NET will love and rely on this valuable and well-organized reference. The `In a Nutshell` series by O'Reilly is among the best out there.
