User Interfaces in VB .NET: Windows Forms and Custom Controls

Matthew MacDonald

Jan 2008 · Apress

About this ebook

IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, a deluge of .NET books has hit store shelves, each one eager to explain the new programming philosophy of the .NET world. In the excitement, many of these books have left out the tricks and insights needed to really master .NET programming. Part of the problem is that no single work can cover the entire .NET platform-a sprawling, ambitious framework that revolutionizes everything from Internet applications to data access technology. Many .NET books provide a good overview of essential concepts, but they can't deal with the subtleties needed for all types of development. This book represents the start of the second wave of .NET books: closely focused works that give you the insight of experienced developers about a single aspect of .NET programming. User Interfaces in VB .NET: Windows Forms and Custom Controls takes a close look at all the ingredients you can use to design state-of-the-art application interfaces. It also delves into entirely new topics like custom-control design and GDI+, the next -generation painting framework for Wmdows. You won't just learn about anchoring and docking, you'll work with examples that show document view architecture, custom -control layout engines, dockable windows, and hit testing with owner-drawn controls. You also learn how to design irregularly shaped forms, unshackle data binding, and build an integrated help system.

About the author

Matthew MacDonald is an author,educator, and MCSD developer who has a passion for emerging technologies. He isthe author of more than a dozen books about .NET programming. In a dimly-remembered past life, he studied English literature and theoretical physics.