Professional Visual Studio 2008

Professional Visual Studio 2008

Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 is the latest version in the ongoing evolution of the Integrated Development Environment (IDE), and this resource examines the diverse facets of the IDE'from common tasks to intricate functions to the powerful tools that accompany the main code editing and design windows. Written by a unique author duo and offering an in-depth look at the powerful and fascinating features and techniques of the IDE, this book explores each aspect of the development life cycle from the perspective of how Visual Studio 2008 can make your life easier.

Each chapter is packed with examples that illustrate uses for various tools, commands, and shortcuts of Visual Studio 2008. You will gradually learn to identify where a feature is used, conclude how you can use it to its fullest potential, and then seamlessly apply that feature to help solve real-world problems.

• Introduction
• Part I Integrated Development Environment
• Chapter 1 A Quick Tour
• Let's Get Started
• The Visual Studio IDE
• Chapter 2 The Solution Explorer, Toolbox, and Properties
• The Solution Explorer
• The Toolbox
• Properties
• Chapter 3 Options and Customizations
• Window Layout
• The Editor Space
• Other Options
• Importing and Exporting Settings
• Chapter 4 Workspace Control
• Command Window
• Immediate Window
• Class View
• Object Browser
• Object Test Bench
• Code View
• Document Outline Tool Window
• Control Outline
• Chapter 5 Find and Replace, and Help
• Introducing Find and Replace
• Find in Files
• Replace in Files
• Incremental Search
• Find Symbol
• Find and Replace Options
• Accessing Help
• The Search Window
• Keeping Favorites
• Customizing Help
• Part II Getting Started
• Chapter 6 Solutions, Projects, and Items
• Solution Structure
• Solution File Format
• Solution Properties
• Project Types
• Project Files Format
• Project Properties
• Web Site Projects
• Chapter 7 Source Control
• Selecting a Source Control Repository
• Accessing Source Control
• Offline Support for Source Control
• Chapter 8 Forms and Controls
• The Windows Form
• Form Design Preferences
• Adding and Positioning Controls
• Container Controls
• Docking and Anchoring Controls
• Chapter 9 Documentation Using Comments and Sandcastle
• Inline Commenting
• XML Comments
• Using XML Comments
• Sandcastle Documentation Generation Tools
• Task List Comments
• Chapter 10 Project and Item Templates
• Creating Templates
• Extending Templates
• Part III Languages
• Chapter 11 Generics, Nullable Types, Partial Types, and Methods
• Generics
• Nullable Types
• Partial Types
• Operator Overloading
• Property Accessibility
• Custom Events
• Chapter 12 Anonymous Types, Extension Methods, and Lambda Expressions
• Object and Array Initialization
• Implicit Typing
• Anonymous Types
• Extension Methods
• Lambda Expressions
• Chapter 13 Language-Specific Features.C#.VB.NET
• Chapter 14 The My Namespace
• What Is the My Namespace?Using My in Code
• A Namespace Overview
• Your Turn
• Chapter 15 The Languages Ecosystem
• Hitting a Nail with the Right Hammer
• Introducing F#
• Part IV Coding
• Chapter 16 IntelliSense and Bookmarks
• IntelliSense Explained
• IntelliSense Options
• Extended IntelliSense
• Bookmarks and the Bookmark Window
• Chapter 17 Code Snippets and Refactoring
• Code Snippets Revealed
• Accessing Refactoring Support
• Refactoring Actions
• Chapter 18 Modeling with the Class Designer
• Creating a Class Diagram
• Design Surface
• Toolbox
• Class Details
• Properties Window
• Layout
• Exporting Diagrams
• Code Generation and Refactoring
• PowerToys for the Class Designer
• Chapter 19 Server Explorer
• The Servers Node
• Chapter 20 Unit Testing
• Your First Test Case
• Asserting the Facts
• Initializing and Cleaning Up
• Testing Context
• Managing Large Numbers of Tests
• Part V Data
• Chapter 21 DataSets and DataBinding
• DataSet Overview
• Binding
• Working with Data Sources
• Chapter 22 Visual Database Tools
• Database Windows in Visual Studio 2008
• Managing Test Data
• Previewing Data
• Chapter 23 Language Integrated Queries (LINQ)
• LINQ Providers
• Old-School Queries
• Query Pieces
• Debugging and Execution
• Chapter 24 LINQ to XM