Beginning Object-Oriented Programming with C#

The ideal beginner's guide to C# and object-oriented programming Wrox beginners' guides have the perfect formula for getting programming newcomers up and running. This one introduces beginners to object-oriented programming using C# to demonstrate all of the core constructs of this programming framework. Using real-world situations, you'll discover how to create, test, and deliver your programs and how to work with classes, arrays, collections, and all the elements of object-oriented programming. Covers exactly what beginners, even those with no prior programming experience, need to know to understand object-oriented programming and start writing programs in C# Explains the advantages and disadvantages of C#, and tips for understanding C# syntax Explores properties, encapsulation, and classes; value data types; operands and operators; errors and debugging; variables; and reference types Shows how to use statement repetition and program loops, understand arrays and collections, and write your own classes Also covers inheritance and polymorphism Beginning Object-Oriented Programming with C# uses the tried-and-true Wrox formula for making this popular programming method easy to learn. Beginning Object-Oriented Programming with C# Contents Introduction Part I: Getting Started Chapter 1: Introducing C# A Short History of Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) Installing C# Downloading Visual Studio Professional A Test Program Using C# Creating a Project The C# Integrated Development Environment The Major IDE Windows Using the Source Code Window Adding a Toolbox Object to a Windows Form Changing the Text of a Label Object Running the Program Summary Chapter 2: Understanding Objects Understanding Objects Everyday Use of Objects Class Properties Class Methods How Many Properties, How Many Methods? Classes Are Simplifications of Objects What Do I Do After I’ve Defined a Class? Instantiating an Object of a Class I Have an Object...Now What? Why Hide the Data Inside an Object? Getting Started with Objects Developing a Program Plan Where to Start? The Five Program Steps The Five Program Steps Creating a Simple Application Using Objects Using the Program Steps to Create a Program Plan 1: Initialization 2: Input 3: Process 4: Display 5: Termination Using C# to Implement Your Program Plan Critique of the btnDisplayOutput Click Event Code Summary Part II: Understanding C# Syntax Chapter 3: Understanding Data Types Computer Data Integer Data Types Range of Integer Data Types Understanding Binary Numbers Signed Integer Values Which Integer Should You Use? Variable Naming Rules and Conventions Floating-Point Data Types Which Floating-Point Data Type Should You Use? Monetary Values: The Decimal Data Type Using IntelliSense to Locate Program Errors Syntax Rules and Error Messages The Boolean Data Type Summary Chapter 4: Understanding C# Statements Basic Building Blocks of a Programming Language Operands and Operators Expressions Statements Operator Precedence Overriding the Default Precedence Order Defining Variables Defining a Variable from the Compiler’s Point of View Step 1: Preliminary Syntax Checking Step 2: Symbol Table Checking Step 3: Defining a Variable Using a Variable in a Program The Bucket Analogy Types of Program Errors Syntax Errors Semantic Errors Logic Errors The Visual Studio Debugger The Debugging Process Making Repetitious Debugging Easier Using the Visual Studio Debugger Setting a Breakpoint Using a Breakpoint to Examine Variables Single-Stepping the Program Defensive Coding Write Your Code So That Someone Else Can Easily Understand It Use Program Comments Use Meaningful Variable Names Avoid Magic Numbers Use a Consistent Coding Style Take a Break Use a Second Set of Eyes Summary Chapter 5: Understanding Reference Data Types String Variables Defining a String Reference Variable The Meaning of null Why Reference Types Are Different from Value Types Reference Variable Rules Reference Type Variables Versus Value Type Variables Why Do Reference Variables Work the Way They Do? Pass by Value Versus Pass by Reference A Little Efficiency Gain Using String Variables String Concatenation Shorthand Assignment Operators String Manipulation String Length Letting IntelliSense Show You Properties and Methods Using an IntelliSense Option An Important Distinction Between Properties and Methods Thinking About Object Properties and Methods Strings and Escape Sequences Verbatim String Literals DateTime Reference Objects DateTime and ToString( ) Conversions Class Constructors Invoking the Application The UpdateTimeInfo( ) Method Overloaded Methods Method Signatures The Refresh Button Summary Chapter 6: Making Decisions in Code Relational Operators Using Relational Operators—The if Statement The if-else Statement Shorthand for Simple if-else: The Ternary Operator Style Considerations for if and if-else Statements Nested if Statements RDC Logical Operators Using the Logical Operators Associativity The switch Statement Summary Chapter 7: Statement Repetition Using Loops Program Loops Good Loops, Bad Loops The Three Conditions of a Well-Behaved Loop The for Loop Increment and Decrement Operators Sequencing in a for Loop When to Use a for Loop Nested for Loops Use the Debugger as a Learning Tool while Loops Why Have More Than One Type of Loop? do-while Program Loops The continue Statement Summary Chapter 8: Understanding Arrays and Collections What Is an Array? Some Array Details Array Element Versus Array Index N – 1 Rule Casts The ListView Object Arrays Are Objects Multidimensional Arrays Initializing Arrays Variations for Initializing an Array Which Array Definition/Initialization Syntax Is Best? Code Like a User Initializing Multidimensional Arrays Initializer Lists for String Objects Ragged Arrays Defining Ragged Arrays at Runtime Collections ArrayList Objects Summary Part III: Writing Your Own Classes Chapter 9: Designing Classes Class Design Scope Block Scope Local Scope Class Scope Namespace Scope Visualizing Scope Why Does C# Support Scope? Think Before You Write Designing a Program The Five Program Steps Initialization Step Input Step Process Step Display Step Termination Step Look at the Forest, Not Just the Trees UML Light Access Specifiers Access Specifiers and Scope The static Keyword UML Methods Design Intent and Access Specifiers for Methods Class Property and Method Names Think Like a User The clsDates Design namespace Modifier Class Organization static Data Versus Instance Members Property and Helper Methods General Methods User Interfaces Versus User Interfaces Summary Chapter 10: Designing and Writing Custom Classes Constructors Default Constructors Nondefault Constructors Constructor Overloading Constructor Sloppiness Fixing the Constructor Problem Always Call the Default Constructor Property Methods Property Methods and Getters and Setters Property Method Rules How the get Property Methods Work How Does Visual Studio Know Whether to Use the get or set Statement Block? What to Do if an Error Occurs in a Property Method Method Coupling and Cohesion Cohesion Coupling Class Design for Deck-of-Cards Program UML Class Diagram for Shuffle Deck Program Class Constants and Properties Class Methods The clsCardDeck Code Class Properties, Constructor, and Property Methods Class General Methods Designing a Card Game Using clsCardDeck Design Considerations What Kind of Architecture? Sideways Refinement Summary Chapter 11: Exception Handling and Debugging Overview Bugs Syntax Errors Semantic Errors Logic Errors Input Errors Data Validation Limit User Input Check Boxes Combination Boxes Date and Time Input Exception Handling try-catch Statement Blocks Anticipating a Specific Exception Fuzzy Exception Messages The finally Statement Block Program Debugging The Nature of the Beast Detection Isolation The Visual Studio Debugger The Locals Window The Immediate Window Single-Stepping Through the Program Backing Up from a Breakpoint The Debug Toolbar Finding the Bug Scaffold Code Toggling Scaffold Code Defensive Coding Summary Chapter 12: Generics What Are Generics? Recursion Data Problems Introduction to Generics Generics Versus ArrayLists Boxing and Unboxing Generic Quicksort Using Generics with Constraints and Interfaces Interfaces Why Use an Interface? Using an Interface How Do You Know an Interface Is Implemented for a Data Type? Summary Part IV: Storing Data Chapter 13: Using Disk Data Files Directories The DriveInfo Class Directory Class DirectoryInfo Class File Class FileInfo Class Types of Files Textual Versus Binary Data Files Sequential Versus Random Access Files Sequential Files Advantages and Disadvantages of Sequential Files Random Access Files Fixed Record Sizes Advantages and Disadvantages of Random Access Files Serialization and Deserialization To Serialize or Not to Serialize MDI, Menus, and File Dialogs Summary Chapter 14: Using Databases What Is a Database? The Structure of a Database Database Tables, Fields, and Records Designing Fields for a Database Table Data Normalization Creating Your Own Databases Using SQL Server Management Studio Using SQL The SELECT Statement The WHERE Predicate The ORDER BY Clause Aggregates A DBMS System Displaying Database Data Without Data Binding Performing the Query Edit a Record (UPDATE) Summary Chapter 15: Using LINQ Using LINQ Query Keywords Summary Part V: Advanced Topics Chapter 16: Inheritance and Polymorphism What Is Inheritance? An Inheritance Example The Base and Derived Classes The protected Access Specifier Advantages of Inherited Relationships Base Classes Are Not Derived Classes Abstract Classes Polymorphism Extension Methods Summary Chapter 17: Printing and Threading Using a Printer Threading A Threading Program What Have You Gained with Threading? Refactoring Rename Extract Method Summary Chapter 18: Web Programming Static Web Pages Dynamic Web Pages Summary Appendix: Answers to Exercises Index Advertisement **The ideal beginner's guide to C# and object-oriented programming**__Beginning Object-Oriented Programming with C#__