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

Beginning with a brief overview of the language, VB.NET Language in a Nutshell covers basic programming concepts, and introduces the .NET Framework Class Library and programming with attributes. The bulk of the book consists of an alphabetical reference to Visual Basic .NET statements, procedures, functions, and objects. Each entry has a standardized listing containing the following information:

• Its syntax, using standard coding conventions
• Differences in the operation of the keyword in Visual Basic .NET and in VB 6.0
• A list of arguments accepted by the function or procedure
• A description of the data type returned by a function
• The finer points of a language element?s usage that are often omitted from or blurred over by other sources
• Tips and warnings that include undocumented behaviors and practical applications for particular language elements
• An invaluable section for diagnosing or avoiding potential programming problems
• A cross-reference to related keywords

On the CD-ROM (included with print edition of the book) is a plug-in that adds a copy of the book's language reference to the dynamic help within Visual Studio .NET. The plug-in requires any edition of Visual Basic .NET or Visual Studio .NET.

No matter how much experience you have programming with VB, you want this book close by, both as a standard reference guide and as a tool for troubleshooting and identifying programming problems.