Bøger af Matthew MacDonald

*Includes 15 controls (programs) covering a wide range of situations; provides both a working coded solution to their problem as well as the thinking behind it *Controls can be 'cut and pasted' or used as templates for readers to build their own controls

This book will follow the proven pattern of its previous .NET 2.0 and .NET 1.1 editions, teaching novice users how to use ASP.NET by gradually building their knowledge of the technology up in a pyramidal fashion chapter by chapter. Comprehensively revised for both ASP.NET 3.5 and the new C# 3.0 language this book presents the easiest path to ASP.NET 3.5 mastery. This is one of the first books introducing novices to this important new technology area, and is written specifically in their coding language of preference. The book is written by a proven and award winning .NET author that has been following the technology release cycle since its inception.

* Steers reader through the spectrum of ASP.NET web programming concepts. * Developers and programmers can learn language and theory simultaneously. * Professional ASP.NET developers and wannabes can master the core techniques to develop good coding practices to enhance their long-term skill set.

*Takes advantage of lateness to market by including experienced real-world knowledge of ASP.NET development as well as core information * Single volume covering both C# and VB.NET.

Beginning ASP.NET in VB .NET guides you through Microsoft's technology for building dynamic websites. This book will enable you to build dynamic web pages on the fly, and it assumes only the most basic knowledge of Visual Basic .NET. The book provides exhaustive coverage of ASP.NET, guiding you from your first steps right up to the most advanced techniques, such as querying databases from within a web page and performance tuning your site. Within these pages, you'll find tips for “best practices” and comprehensive discussions of key database and XML principles you'll need to know in order to be effective with ASP.NET. The book also emphasizes the invaluable coding techniques of object orientation and code behind, which will start you off on the track to build real-world websites right from the beginning—rather than just faking it with simplified coding practices. By the time you've finished the book, you will have mastered the core techniques and have all the knowledge you need to begin work as a professional ASP.NET developer.

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 you need 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 revolu- tionizes 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 C#: 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 Windows. You don't just learn about anchoring and docking, you 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.

Microsoft Office is the most widely used software suite in the world. The half-dozen programs in Office 2010 are packed with amazing features, but most people just know the basics. This entertaining guide not only gets you started with Office, it reveals all kinds of useful things you didn't know the software could do -- with plenty of power-user tips and tricks when you're ready for more.Create professional-looking documents. Learn everything you need to know to craft beautiful Word documents.Stay organized. Keep track of your email, calendar, and contacts with Outlook.Crunch numbers with ease. Assemble data, make calculations, and summarize the results with Excel.Make eye-catching presentations. Build PowerPoint slideshows with video and audio clips, animations, and more.Build Access databases quickly. Make your data easy to find, sort, and manage.Manage your files more efficiently. Use the new Backstage view to quickly work with your Office files.Get to know the whole suite. Learn to use other handy Office tools: Publisher, OneNote, and Office Web Apps.

Excel, the world's most popular spreadsheet program, has the muscle to analyze heaps of data. Beyond basic number-crunching, Excel 2010 has many impressive features that are hard to find, much less master -- especially from online help pages. This Missing Manual clearly explains how everything works with a unique and witty style to help you learn quickly.Navigate with ease. Master Excel's tabbed toolbar and its new backstage viewPerform a variety of calculations. Write formulas for rounding numbers, calculating mortgage payments, and moreOrganize your data. Search, sort, and filter huge amounts of informationIllustrate trends. Bring your data to life with charts and graphics -- including miniature charts called SparklinesExamine your data. Summarize information and find hidden patterns with pivot tables and slicersShare your spreadsheets. Use the Excel Web App to collaborate with colleagues onlineRescue lost data. Restore old versions of data and find spreadsheets you forgot to save

It's not hard to get developers interested in ASP.NET. Without exaggeration, ASP.NET is the most complete platform for web development that's ever been put together. It far outclasses its predecessor, ASP, which was designed as a quick-and-dirty set of tools for inserting dynamic content into ordinary web pages. By contrast, ASP.NET is a full-blown platform for developing comprehensive, blisteringly fast web applications. In this book, you'll learn everything you need to master ASP.NET 2.0. If you've programmed with a previous version of ASP.NET, you'll sail through the basics and quickly begin learning about the exciting new features in version 2.0. If you've never programmed with ASP.NET, you'll find that this book provides a well-paced tour that leads you through all the fundamentals and gives you a ba- stage pass so you can see how the ASP.NET internals really work. ASP.NET from 1.0 to 2.0 As you no doubt already know, ASP.NET is Microsoft's next-generation technology for creating server-side web applications. It's built on the Microsoft .NET Framework, which is a cluster of closely related new technologies that revolutionize everything from database access to distributed appli- tions. ASP.NET is one of the most important components of the .NET Framework-it's the part that enables you to develop high-performance web applications and web services.

Microsoft Windows Presentation Foundation provides the foundation for building applications and high–quality user experiences in Windows Vista. WPF blends application user interface, documents, and media content to provide richer control, design, and development of the visual aspects of Windows programs.Author Matthew MacDonald shows you how WPF really works. His no–nonsense, practical advice will get you building high–quality WPF applications quickly and easily. MacDonald will take you through a thorough investigation of the more advanced aspects of WPF, and its relation to other elements of the WinFX stack and the .NET Framework 3.5, to complete your understanding of WPF and VB 2008.WPF’s functionality extends to support for tablet PCs and other forms of input device, and provides a more modern imaging and printing pipeline, accessibility and user interface automation infrastructure, data–driven user interface and visualization, as well as the integration points for weaving the application experience into the Windows shell.

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.

Peer-to-peer (P2P) proponents claim that their technology holds the keys to building virtual supercomputers, sharing vast pools of knowledge, and creating self-sufficient communities on the Internet. Peer-to-Peer with VB .NET explores how these design ideas can be integrated into existing .NET applications.This book is an honest assessment of P2P and .NET. It doesn't just explain how to create P2P applications—it examines the tradeoffs that professional developers will encounter with .NET and P2P. It also considers several different approaches (Remoting, .NET networking, etc.) rather than adopting one fixed technology, and includes detailed examples of several popular P2P application types (messenger, file sharer, and distributed task manager).

Sometimes you just need to solve a problem and get on with your work. To that end, Visual Basic 2008 Recipes is a compendium of practical solutions for busy VB .NET programmers. Create time for the more interesting aspects of your VB .NET project by solving common problems with the practical solutions and dozens of code examples in this book. Important .NET 3.5 technologies, such as Windows Presentation Framework (WPF) and Language Integrated Query (LINQ), are covered, and each chapter addresses a specific problem domain, including database access, multimedia, XML manipulation, networking, and security. The code is free to download, so you can use the recipes immediately. Take advantage of quality, ready–made solutions to common Visual Basic programming problems Avoid the tedium of having to reinvent the wheel—focus instead on the more interesting problems specific to your application Learn from and be inspired by what the authors have done. Use their work as stepping stones to solve even more complex problems

When .NET first appeared, it introduced a small avalanche of new technologies. There was a whole new way to write web applications (ASP.NET), a whole new way to connect to databases (ADO.NET), new typesafe languages (C# and VB .NET), and a managed runtime (the CLR). Not least among these new technologies was Windows Forms, a library of classes for building W- dows applications. Although Windows Forms is a mature and full-featured toolkit, it's hardwired to essential bits of Windows plumbing that haven't changed much in the past ten years. Most significantly, Windows Forms relies on the Windows API to create the visual appearance of standard user interface elements such as buttons, text boxes, check boxes, and so on. As a result, these ing- dients are essentially uncustomizable. For example, if you want to create a stylish glow button you need to create a custom c- trol and paint every aspect of the button (in all its different states) using a lower-level drawing model. Even worse, ordinary windows are carved up into distinct regions, with each control getting its own piece of real estate. As a result, there's no good way for the painting in one c- trol (for example, the glow effect behind a button) to spread into the area owned by another control. And don't even think about introducing animated effects such as spinning text, sh- mering buttons, shrinking windows, or live previews because you'll have to paint every detail by hand.

Silverlight is a lightweight browser plug–in that frees your code from the traditional confines of the browser. It’s a rules–changing, groundbreaking technology that allows you to run rich client applications right inside the browser. Even more impressively, it’s able to host true .NET applications in non–Microsoft browsers (like Firefox) and on non–Microsoft platforms (like Mac OS X). Silverlight is still evolving fast, and you need a reliable guidebook to make sense of it.With four–color graphics and screenshots throughout, Pro Silverlight 2 in C# 2008 is the perfect reference: you’ll learn about the features that put Silverlight in direct competition with Adobe Flash, such as rich support for 2D drawing, animations, and media playback, and best of all, you’ll experience the plumbing of .NET and the design model of WPF through Silverlight—all of the same .NET technology that developers use to design next–generation Windows applications. Author Matthew MacDonald provides an expertly crafted tutorial, written from professional developer to professional developer. You’ll learn to create rich media applications using Silverlight in the environment you’re most productive in, no matter what the target platform.

Microsoft Silverlight allows you to create rich multimedia interfaces with the power and flexibility of Flash, but with the extensibility and the great tools that .NET offers. With Silverlight and ASP.NET Revealed, you’ll learn to use Microsoft’s Silverlight technology in conjunction with ASP.NET and Visual Studio 2008 (code name Orcas). You will ultimately incorporate Silverlight into an ASP.NET web site and use the ASP.NET controls that render Silverlight content. You’ll get the basics of Silverlight, too, making this book a must–read for any web developer curious about Silverlight.

Compared to industrial-strength database products such as Microsoft's SQL Server, Access is a breeze to use. It runs on PCs rather than servers and is ideal for small- to mid-sized businesses and households. But Access is still intimidating to learn. It doesn't help that each new version crammed in yet another set of features; so many, in fact, that even the pros don't know where to find them all. Access 2007 breaks this pattern with some of the most dramatic changes users have seen since Office 95. Most obvious is the thoroughly redesigned user interface, with its tabbed toolbar (or "e;Ribbon"e;) that makes features easy to locate and use. The features list also includes several long-awaited changes. One thing that hasn't improved is Microsoft's documentation. To learn the ins and outs of all the features in Access 2007, Microsoft merely offers online help.Access 2007: The Missing Manual was written from the ground up for this redesigned application. You will learn how to design complete databases, maintain them, search for valuable nuggets of information, and build attractive forms for quick-and-easy data entry. You'll even delve into the black art of Access programming (including macros and Visual Basic), and pick up valuable tricks and techniques to automate common tasks -- even if you've never touched a line of code before. You will also learn all about the new prebuilt databases you can customize to fit your needs, and how the new complex data feature will simplify your life. With plenty of downloadable examples, this objective and witty book will turn an Access neophyte into a true master.

Puzzles and brain twisters to keep your mind sharp and your memory intact are all the rage today. More and more people -- Baby Boomers and information workers in particular -- are becoming concerned about their gray matter's ability to function, and with good reason. As this sensible and entertaining guide points out, your brain is easily your most important possession. It deserves proper upkeep.Your Brain: The Missing Manual is a practical look at how to get the most out of your brain -- not just how the brain works, but how you can use it more effectively. What makes this book different than the average self-help guide is that it's grounded in current neuroscience. You get a quick tour of several aspects of the brain, complete with useful advice about:Brain Food: The right fuel for the brain and how the brain commands hunger (including an explanation of the different chemicals that control appetite and cravings)Sleep: The sleep cycle and circadian rhythm, and how to get a good night's sleep (or do the best you can without it)Memory: Techniques for improving your recallReason: Learning to defeat common sense; logical fallacies (including tactics for winning arguments); and good reasons for bad prejudicesCreativity and Problem-Solving: Brainstorming tips and thinking not outside the box, but about the box -- in other words, find the assumptions that limit your ideas so you can break through themUnderstanding Other People's Brains: The battle of the sexes and babies developing brainsLearn about the built-in circuitry that makes office politics seem like a life-or-death struggle, causes you to toss important facts out of your memory if they're not emotionally charged, and encourages you to eat huge amounts of high-calorie snacks. With Your Brain: The Missing Manual you'll discover that, sometimes, you can learn to compensate for your brain or work around its limitations -- or at least to accept its eccentricities.Exploring your brain is the greatest adventure and biggest mystery you'll ever face. This guide has exactly the advice you need.

ASP.NET 4.5 remains Microsoft's preferred technology for creating dynamic websites, providing developers with unrivaled power and flexibility. Pro ASP.NET 4.5 in C# is the most complete reference to ASP.NET that you will find.

This book is the VB 2005 version of the author's best-selling and highly-praised Pro .NET 2.0 Windows Forms and Custom Controls in C#. From best practices to user interface design tips, to a comprehensive examination of .NET user interface controls, this is a lively and practical work.

Focusing solely on Visual Basic, with no code samples duplicated in other languages, award winning author Matthew MacDonald introduces you to the very latest thinking and best practices for the ASP.NET 4.5 technology.Assuming no prior coding experience, you'll be taught everything you need to know from the ground up.

You can easily create a professional-looking website with nothing more than an ordinary computer and some raw ambition. Want to build a blog, sell products, create forums, or promote an event? No problem! This friendly, jargon-free book gives you the techniques, tools, and advice you need to build a site and get it up on the Web.

Microsoft's Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF) provides the foundation for building applications and high-quality user experiences for the Windows operating system.