MCSD in a Nutshell: The Visusal Basic Exams

Since their introduction, the MCSD certification exams have been enthusiastically received by VB programmers who consider certification very important to their professional credibility.

Programmers tend to be specialists—they tend to do the same kind of programming over and over. The MCSD exam is targeted at technical generalists—developers familiar with a broad array of Microsoft technologies and development approaches that are incorporated into Visual Basic. With its comprehensive overview of core technology areas, MCSD in a Nutshell is the perfect study guide and resource to help developers master technologies that are less familiar to them. In fact, its thorough review of Visual Basic-related development technologies also makes this an excellent tutorial for experienced VB programmers who wish to get up to speed on speed on some technology with which they work infrequently, if at all.

Most certification books are really tutorials in disguise. In contrast, this book focuses on the advanced topics about which developers are actually tested on the exam.

Topics include:

• Understanding COM
• Creating ActiveX Code Components
• Creating ActiveX Controls
• Creating and Using ActiveX Documents
• Creating Internet-Aware Applications
• Testing and Debugging
• Integrating Help with an Application
• Optimizing an Application
• Package and Deployment
• Incorporating Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS)

Incredibly, most certification books appear to assume that the reader has no prior experience with VB programming. In contrast, this book assumes an intermediate to advanced programmer who is concerned with learning more about each of the core technologies that are covered by the exam. And unlike some certification books, MCSD in a Nutshell is written by an author who has successfully passed the certification exams.

With its comprehensive overview of core technology areas, "MCSD in a Nutshell" is the perfect study guide and resource to help developers master technologies with which they relatively are inexperienced.

With its comprehensive overview of core technology areas, "MCSD in a Nutshell" is the perfect study guide and resource to help developers master technologies with which they relatively are inexperienced.

James Foxall is vice president of development and support for Tigerpaw Software, Inc. (http: //www.tigerpawsoftware.com)—a Microsoft Certified Partner in Omaha, Nebraska, specializing in commercial database applications. James manages the Tigerpaw Business Suite, an award-winning CRM product designed to automate contact management, marketing, service and repair, proposal generation, inventory control, and purchasing. James's experience in creating certified Office-compatible software has made him an authority on application interface and behavior standards of applications for the Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office environments.

James has personally written more than 200,000 lines of commercial production code in both single-programmer and multiple-programmer environments. He is the author of numerous books, including Sams Teach Yourself C# in 24 Hours and Practical Standards for Microsoft Visual Basic .NET, and he has written articles for Access-Office-VBA Advisor and Visual Basic Programmer's Journal. James has a bachelor's degree in management of information systems (MIS), is a Microsoft Certified Solution Developer, and is an international speaker on Microsoft Visual Basic. When not programming or writing about programming, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, doing battle over the chess board, listening to Pink Floyd, playing computer games (Raven Shield multiplayer), and (believe it or not) programming! You can reach James at http: //www.jamesfoxall.com/forums. ) Copyright Pearson Education. All rights reserved.