This three-day instructor-led workshop provides students with the knowledge and skills to develop Microsoft Windows Forms applications using Microsoft Visual Studio 2005. The workshop focuses on user interfaces, program structure, and implementation details.
Target Audience:
This workshop is intended for corporate or independent software vendor (ISV) application developers who have a desire to learn more about specific technology areas in Windows application development.
Pre-requisites:
Before attending this course, students must have:
Be able to manage a solution environment using the Visual Studio 2005 integrated development environment (IDE) and tools
Understand Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 and the Common Language Runtime
Be able to program an application using a .NET Framework 2.0 compliant language
Know how to make assemblies available to other applications
Have a basic understanding of XML, including XML declaration, elements, attributes, and namespaces.
At Course Completion:
After completing this course, students will be able to:
Create a simple Windows Forms application.
Configure standard controls.
Build menus.
Display and edit data by using data-bound controls.
Provide user assistance and enhance usability.
Create consistent applications by using dialogs and forms inheritance.
Add print and report functionality to a Windows Forms application.
Perform asynchronous tasks by using the BackgroundWorker component.
Deploy a Windows Forms application by using ClickOnce.
Session 1: Unit 1: Creating a Simple Windows Forms Application
This unit introduces the fundamental skills required to create a simple Windows Forms application. It explains how to configure form properties and how to add controls to a form. It also deals with events and explains how to create event handlers at design time and run time.
Lessons
Components of a Windows Forms User Interface
Event Handling in a Windows Forms Application
Lab : Creating a Simple Windows Forms Application
Adding and Configuring Windows Forms and Controls
Creating Event Handlers and Monitoring Events
Adding Controls and Handlers at Run Time
Adding a Form Keyboard Handler (if time permits)
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the various components of a Windows Forms application.
Explain how to handle events in a Windows Forms application.
Add and configure Windows Forms and controls.
Create event handlers and monitor events.
Add controls and handlers to a form at run time.
Session 2: Unit 2: Configuring Standard Controls
This unit introduces many of the controls from the Visual Studio Toolbox. It teaches how to add and configure these controls and explains how to group them into different categories by function.
Lessons
Windows Forms Controls by Function
Lab : Configuring Standard Controls
Creating the EmployeeViewer Form
Creating the ReportGenerator Form
Creating the ReportGeneratorHelp Form
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the functions of the major categories of Windows Forms controls.
Create a form to select and view images by using the SplitContainer, TreeView, PictureBox, ToolStrip, and other controls.
Create a form to specify report criteria by using the TableLayoutPanel, ListView, MonthCalendar, ComboBox, and other controls.
Create a form to view a Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) Help file by using a WebBrowser control.
Session 3: Unit 3: Building Menus
This unit introduces the MenuStrip control and the ContextMenuStrip component. It explains how to create and configure form menus and context menus in an application. It also deals with the ToolStripItems that can be added to the container of a MenuStrip or ContextMenuStrip.
Lessons
Menus in Windows Forms
Lab : Building Menus
Creating and Configuring a MenuStrip Control
Creating and Configuring a ContextMenuStrip Component
Creating and Configuring a ContextMenuStrip Component
Creating and Configuring a ToolStripComboBox (if time permits)
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the structure of a menu in a Windows Forms application.
Create and configure a MenuStrip control.
Create and configure a ContextMenuStrip component.
Hide and disable a ToolStripMenuItem.
Apply best practices for menu design and development.
Session 4: Unit 4: Displaying and Editing Data by Using Data-Bound Controls
This unit introduces the controls that can be used to display data from a data source. It shows how to use Visual Studio 2005 to create data sources and add data-bound controls to a form. It also demonstrates how to use the DataGridView control to display and update data retrieved by using a data source.
Lessons
Binding Data to a Control
DataGridView Control
Lab : Displaying and Editing Data by Using Data-Bound Controls
Adding a Data Source to a Project
Binding Data to a Control
Creating a Bound Form by Using the BindingSource and BindingNavigator Components
Displaying Data by Using the DataGridView Control
Binding to Data at Run Time (if time permits)
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain simple and complex data binding.
Describe the scenarios in which the DataGridView control is used.
Add a data source to a project.
Bind data to a control at run time.
Use the BindingSource component and BindingNavigator control to create a data-bound Windows Form.
Use the DataGridView control to display and update tabular data from a data source.
Session 5: Unit 5: Providing User Assistance and Enhancing Usability
This unit introduces many of the controls and techniques that can be used to create an application that is flexible and intuitive and that provides timely feedback to the user. It shows how to add and configure the available user assistance controls to provide ToolTips, Help, and information about errors. It also describes the accessibility features of Windows Forms and explains how to implement globalization and localization in an application.
Lessons
Providing User Assistance
Implementing Accessibility Features
Implementing Globalization and Localization
Lab : Providing User Assistance and Enhancing Usability
Adding and Configuring User Assistance Controls
Implementing Accessibility Features
Implementing Globalization and Localization
Running a Procedure at Set Intervals (if time permits)
Displaying Data Source Errors (if time permits)
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the components that can be used to provide user assistance.
Add and configure user assistance controls on a Windows Form.
Explain the accessibility features available to implement in a Windows Forms application.
Implement accessibility features within a Windows Forms application.
Explain the high-level processes involved in globalization and localization in a Windows Forms application.
Implement globalization and localization in a Windows Form.
Session 6: Unit 6: Creating Consistent Applications by Using Dialog Boxes and Forms Inheritance
This unit introduces the built-in dialog boxes that can be used to prompt users when they are performing common tasks and to provide users with a familiar interface. It explains how to add and configure dialog boxes that enable users to open and save files and to set font and color properties. This unit also explains how to create and use a custom dialog box. In addition, this unit explains the concept of forms inheritance and describes how to create a consistent interface for Windows Forms applications.
Lessons
Dialog Boxes in a Windows Forms Application
Windows Forms Inheritance
Lab : Creating Consistent Applications by Using Dialog Boxes and Forms Inheritance
Adding and Configuring Dialog Box Components
Creating a Custom Dialog Box
Implementing Windows Forms Inheritance
Modifying an Existing Form to Inherit from a Base Form (if time permits)
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Describe the various standard preconfigured dialog boxes available to a Windows Forms application.
Explain the concept of Windows Forms inheritance and the reasons for using inheritance.
Add and configure dialog box controls on a Windows Form.
Create a custom dialog box.
Implement Windows Forms inheritance.
Session 7: Unit 7: Printing Content and Creating Reports
This unit provides an introduction to the components that can be used to preview and print reports from a Windows Forms application. This unit covers the predefined dialog boxes that simplify the processes involved, and it explains how to use these dialog boxes to retrieve print settings and page setup options from the user.
In addition, this unit explains how to display a report in a Windows Forms application by using the CrystalReportViewer component.
Lessons
Printing in a Windows Forms Application
Reporting in a Windows Forms Application
Lab : Printing Content and Creating Reports
Adding Print Capability to a Windows Forms Application
Implementing Reporting by Using the CrystalReportViewer Component
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain how to print a report in a Windows Forms application.
Describe how to create and view reports in a Windows Forms application.
Use the components provided with Visual Studio 2005 to add print capability to a Windows Forms application.
Display a Crystal report by using the CrystalReportViewer component.
Session 8: Unit 8: Performing Asynchronous Tasks by Using the BackgroundWorker Component
This unit introduces the main concepts of asynchronous programming and then focuses on the BackgroundWorker component. It explains how to work with the methods and events of the BackgroundWorker component to add asynchronous functionality to a Windows Forms application.
Lessons
Asynchronous Tasks in Windows Forms Applications
Lab : Performing Asynchronous Tasks by Using the BackgroundWorker Component
Running and Canceling a Background Process by Using the BackgroundWorker Component
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the concepts and processes involved in asynchronous programming.
Run and cancel a background process by using the BackgroundWorker component.
Describe best practices for using the BackgroundWorker component.
Session 9: Unit 9: Deploying Applications by Using ClickOnce
This unit explains how to deploy a Windows Forms application by using ClickOnce. It covers the steps required to prepare, publish, install, and test an application. Finally, this unit explains how to update an application and how to use the automatic update feature of ClickOnce.
Lessons
Windows Forms Application Deployment Options
ClickOnce Technology Overview
Lab : Deploying Applications by Using ClickOnce
Publishing a ClickOnce Application
Installing and Testing a ClickOnce Application
After completing this module, students will be able to:
Explain the options for deploying a Windows Forms application.
Explain the key concepts of ClickOnce technology.
Publish a ClickOnce application.
Install and test a ClickOnce application.
Describe best practices for using ClickOnce deployment.
