Getting Started with .NET
What is .NET?
Why .NET?
Advantages of .NET
Examining a .NET Application
Introducing Assemblies
Types of Programs
Using the Command-Line Compiler
Microsoft Intermediate Language (MSIL)
Using Visual Studio
A .NET Console Application
Debugging & Handling Exceptions
Handling Errors
Fixing Logic Errors

Data Types & Variables
Introducing Variables & Data Types
Variables
Data Types
Integer, Floating-Point, Decimal Types
Char, String, Bool Types
Object Data Type
Constants, Enumerations & Structures
Converting between Data Types
Operators

Using the .NET Framework
Using .NET Framework Classes
Generating Random Numbers
Getting Information about the Computer
Working with XML
File Input & Output
Working with Strings
Fields & Properties of the String Class
Methods of the String Class
Formatting Strings
Using the StringBuilder Class
Working with Dates & Times
Properties of the DateTime Structure
Methods of the DateTime Structure
Using the TimeSpan Structure

Branching & Flow Control
Branching in Code
Conditional Branching
Repeating Code Blocks
Unbounded Looping
Looping a Specific Number of Times
The foreach Loop
Unconditional Branching
The break Statement
The goto Statement
The continue Statement

Classes & Objects
Introducing Classes & Objects
Using Class Properties
Calling Class Methods
Creating Your Own Classes
Adding XML Comments
Using the Class View Window in Visual Studio
Using the Class Designer
Adding Code
Adding Methods
Working with the Object Test Bench
Working with Classes
Value Types vs. Reference Types
Nulling Reference Variables & Disposing
Deterministic Finalisation
Overriding Object Class Functionality
Manipulating Object References
Instance vs. Static Members

Properties & Methods
Overview of Properties & Methods
Properties
Calculating Values for Properties
Validating Values in Properties
Methods
Passing Arguments to Methods
Methods in Classes
Class Constructors
Saving & Retrieving Information
Returning & Passing Arrays
Instance & Static Members

Object-Oriented Techniques
Inheritance
Derived Classes
Abstract Classes & Members
Sealed Classes & Members
Interfaces
Implementing an Interface
Interfaces in the .NET Framework
Organising Classes
Partial Classes
Nested Classes
Namespaces

Working with Arrays
Introducing Arrays
Creating & Filling Arrays
Initialising Arrays
Retrieving Data from Arrays
Arrays and Method Parameters
Arrays in the .NET Framework
Manipulating Arrays
Sorting Arrays
Searching in Arrays
Creating Indexers
Adding an Enumerator

Delegates & Events
Motivating Delegates
Using an Event Interface Class
Introducing Delegates
Named vs. Anonymous Delegates
Delegate vs. MultiCast Delegate
Working with Events
Declaring and Raising Events
Multiple Event Handlers
Exceptions & Multiple Event Handlers
Manually Invoking each Listener
Using the .NET Event Design Pattern

Generics
Introducing Generics
Generic Methods
Generic Classes
Advantages of Generics
Generics & Arrays
Sorting Arrays
Using IComparer Interface
Sorting with Generic Comparisons
Searching with Generic Predicates
Generic Interfaces
Generic Constraints
Generics & Lists
Collection Storing using ArrayList
Collection Storing using a Generic List
Sorting with the List Class

Handling Exceptions
Perspective on Exception-Handling
Exception-Handling in .NET
No Error Handling
Adding a Simple try/catch Block
Unhandled Exceptions
Using an Exception Object
Catching Specific Exceptions
The Exception Hierarchy
Raising Errors
Using the throw Keyword
Exception-Handling Options
Passing Error Information
Running Code Unconditionally
The finally Block
Cleaning Up - the using Statement
Creating Exception Classes

Collection Classes
Generics, Collections & Interfaces
The Generic Collection Interface
Working with The List Class
Working with Predicates
Dictionaries, Stacks & Queues
Storing Key/Value Pairs in a Dictionary
SortedDictionary & SortedList Classes
Using Queues & Stacks
Creating Custom Generic Collection Classes
Consuming the Custom Collection Class