Microsoft Visual Basic 2013 Step by Step

Book Preface

Microsoft Visual Basic 2013 is an important upgrade and enhancement of the popular Visual Basic programming language and compiler, a technology that enjoys an installed base of millions of programmers worldwide. Visual Basic 2013 is not a standalone product but a key component of Microsoft Visual Studio 2013—a comprehensive development system that allows you to create powerful applications for Microsoft Windows 8.1, the Windows desktop, the web, Windows Phone 8, and a host of other environments.

Whether you purchase one of the commercial editions of Visual Studio 2013 or you download Visual Basic Express 2013 for a free test-drive of the software, you are in for an exciting experience. The latest features of Visual Basic will increase your productivity and programming prowess, especially if you enjoy using and integrating information from databases, entertainment media, webpages, and websites. In addition, an important benefit of learning Visual Basic and the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment (IDE) is that you can use many of the same tools to write programs for

Microsoft Visual C# 2013, Microsoft Visual C++ 2013, HTML5 and JavaScript, and other popular languages. Microsoft Visual Basic 2013 Step by Step is a comprehensive introduction to Visual Basic programming using the Visual Basic 2013 software and Windows 8.1. I’ve designed this practical, hands-on tutorial with a variety of skill levels in mind. In my opinion, the best way to master a complex technology like Visual Basic is to follow the premise that programmers learn by doing. Therefore, by reading this book and working through the examples, you’ll learn essential programming techniques through carefully prepared tutorials that you can complete on your own schedule and at your own pace.

Although I have significant experience with college teaching and corporate project management, this book is not a dry textbook or an “A to Z” programmer’s reference; instead, it is a practical hands-on programming tutorial that puts you in charge of your learning, developmental milestones, and achievements. By using this book, programmers who are new to this topic will learn Visual Basic software development fundamentals in the context of useful, real-world applications; and intermediate Visual Basic programmers can quickly master the essential tools and techniques offered in the Visual Basic 2013 and Windows 8.1 upgrades.