Course No.
Course Length:

This course teaches Microsoft Visual Basic programmers how to create database applications using components.

At Course Completion

At the end of the course, students will be able to write a Microsoft Visual Basic-based application that accesses data from a database; write a Visual Basic-based application that uses component object model (COM) components; create an ActiveX control; create a COM component; and list the opportunities that Visual Basic developers have to incorporate Internet technologies into their applications.

Prerequisites

This course assumes the student has a good working knowledge of the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system. Potential students should be able to accomplish the following tasks before taking this training:

• Create an application with multiple forms and add functionality for multiple events to the controls on those forms
• Write a Function procedure and a Sub procedure, and invoke them from Event procedures
• Declare variables and use conditional statements
• Describe the purpose and use of each of the controls in the Toolbox
• Add a simple menu interface to an application
• Retrieve and validate information from a user
• Add a custom control to a project
• Describe the relationship between properties, methods, and objects
• Add run-time error handling to an application
• Run the application and use debug mode within the Visual Basic environment
• Create an EXE file from the project files
• Design and use a relational database
• Use SQL syntax to create database queries

Topics:

• Understanding Microsoft Visual Basic-based development
• Creating an application
• Debugging and error handling
• Compiling an EXE file
• Overview of the State University Bookstore application

Labs:

• Essentials

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Use Visual Basic to create a simple application and an executable file for users.
• List the files that comprise a Visual Basic-based application.
• Use the Visual Basic debugging tools.
• Add run-time error handling to a procedure.

Topics:

• Universal data access
• Connecting to a data source
• Getting data from a connection
• Organizing data
• Presenting data

Labs:

• Using visual data access tools

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the visual data access tools that come with Visual Basic.
• Use the visual data access tools to create a connection to a data source and access data from the connection in an application.
• View the structure of a database using the Data Environment designer and the Data View window.
• Create database queries using Query Builder.
• Create data-bound forms using the Data Environment designer, Data Form Wizard, and the ADO Data control.
• Create a report using the Data Report designer

Topics:

• Designing an application
• Creating class modules
• Adding properties, methods, and events
• Using a class module
• Creating data-bound class modules

Labs:

• Using class modules

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Explain the benefits of using class modules in an application.
• Use a class module to create a COM component within a Visual Basic project.
• Create a COM component that exposes properties, methods, and events.
• Create and use data-bound class modules.

Topics:

• Creating an ActiveX control
• Exposing properties, methods, and events
• Testing a control
• Creating property pages
• Creating a data-bound control
• Creating a data source control

Labs:

• Building an ActiveX control
• Data-binding an ActiveX control

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of using ActiveX controls.
• Create an ActiveX control that exposes properties, methods, and events.
• Use control events to save and load persistent properties.
• Test and debug an ActiveX control.
• Create and enable property pages for an ActiveX control.
• Enable the data-binding capabilities of an ActiveX control.
• Create an ActiveX control that is a data source.

Topics:

• Overview of ActiveX Data Objects (ADO)
• Handling data access errors
• Connecting to a data source
• Retrieving data from a data source
• Sorting and searching data
• Updating data
• Using disconnected data
• Creating dynamic record sets
• Understanding performance considerations

Labs:

• Using ADO

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the major components of the ADO object model.
• Explain how to handle errors using ADO.
• Connect to a data source using ADO.
• Use an ADO record-set object to retrieve and manipulate data.
• Describe and use a disconnected record set.
• Use an ADO record-set object to store nondatabase data.

Chapter 6: Advanced Data Access Issues

Topics:

• Overview of Microsoft SQL Server security
• Using cursors
• Enforcing data integrity
• Executing statements on a database

Labs:

• Advanced data access issues

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Discuss SQL Server security implementations.
• Describe different cursor locations and when to use a specific cursor type.
• Use a stored procedure to execute a statement on a database.
• Handle referential integrity errors.
• Describe ways to enforce data integrity.

Topics:

• Introduction to using COM components
• Creating a client application
• Using Microsoft Internet Explorer

Labs:

• Using COM components

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the main steps required to use an external COM component in a Visual Basic-based application.
• Create a Visual Basic-based client application that uses a COM component.
• Create a Visual Basic-based application that handles events from a COM component.
• Create a Visual Basic-based application that automates Internet Explorer.

Topics:

• Introduction to COM components
• Creating COM components
• Creating an object model
• Adding error handling

Labs:

• Building COM components

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Compile a project with class modules into a COM component.
• Create an object model in a COM component.
• Debug and test a COM component.

Topics:

• Optimizing an application
• Deploying an application
• Deploying an ActiveX control

Labs:

• Deploying the StateUBookstore solution

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe a variety of techniques for optimizing the performance of an application.
• Use the GetSetting and SaveSetting statements to save application-specific information to the registry.
• Use resource files.
• Create a Setup program using Package and Deployment Wizard.
• Package an ActiveX control for use on a Web site.

Topics:

• Using the WebBrowser control
• Creating Active Documents
• Creating dynamic hypertext markup language (DHTML) applications
• Creating Microsoft Internet Information Server applications

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the ways Visual Basic can enhance a Web site.
• Create applications that use the WebBrowser control.
• Explain what Active Documents are.
• Create an Active Document.
• Use the DHTML Page designer to create client-side code components.
• Use the Webclass designer to create server-side code components.

Topics:

• Optimizing an application
• Deploying an application
• Deploying an ActiveX control

Labs:

• Deploying the StateUBookstore solution

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe a variety of techniques for optimizing the performance of an application.
• Use the GetSetting and SaveSetting statements to save application-specific information to the registry.
• Use resource files.
• Create a Setup program using Package and Deployment Wizard.
• Package an ActiveX control for use on a Web site.

Topics:

• Using the WebBrowser control
• Creating Active Documents
• Creating dynamic hypertext markup language (DHTML) applications
• Creating Microsoft Internet Information Server applications

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the ways Visual Basic can enhance a Web site.
• Create applications that use the WebBrowser control.
• Explain what Active Documents are.
• Create an Active Document.
• Use the DHTML Page designer to create client-side code components.
• Use the Webclass designer to create server-side code component

This course will teach Microsoft Visual Basic programmers, who currently build desktop applications and access corporate databases, the basics of how to build three-tier client/server solutions.

At Course Completion

At the end of the course, students will be able to:

• Compare traditional client/server development with Internet development and describe Microsoft's enterprise development strategy.
• Use the Application Architecture Model from the Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF) to organize applications into user, business, and data services.
• Use the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system to build component object model (COM) dynamic-link libraries (DLLs) and implement them in a multi-user environment using Microsoft Transaction Server (MTS).
• Use MTS to address application infrastructure issues associated with building server-side COM objects that are used by many clients.
• Create COM objects that use MTS services to participate in transactions and that use security.
• Use programming techniques to increase the scalability of COM objects.
• Use ActiveX Data Objects from the middle tier to access data and invoke business and data services implemented in SQL.
• Implement business and data services in a Microsoft SQL Server database through the use of stored procedures and data integrity features.
• Apply basic debugging, error handling, and security techniques in a three-tier application.

Prerequisites

This course assumes that the student has intermediate programming competency with the Microsoft Visual Basic programming system. Before attending this course, students must be able to demonstrate the following skills:

• Build and debug a simple Visual Basic application
• Invoke and control an Automation server, such as Microsoft Excel or Microsoft Word, from a Visual Basic application
• Create code components using Visual Basic and invoke them from a client application
• Use ActiveX Data Objects to open a database and work with record sets

Completing either of the following courses satisfies the prerequisite skills listed above:

• Course 1013: Mastering Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Development
• Course 1017: Mastering Web Site Development Using Microsoft Visual InterDev 6.0

Topics:

Introduction to Microsoft enterprise development

Applying the development tools

Introduction to Microsoft Visual Studio 98, Enterprise Edition, development studio tools and features

Case study using Microsoft technologies

Introduction to the sample application: Island Hopper

Lab:

Exploring Island Hopper, the lab case study

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the architecture of an enterprise solution using the Microsoft enterprise development strategy.
• Discuss and select the Microsoft development tools, products, and technologies that are most appropriate for solving a given business problem.
• Describe the attributes of the business problem that will be solved in this course, and in what way Microsoft technologies were used to build the technical solution.
• Use Application Performance Explorer (APE) to analyze the impact of choosing different technologies for the sample application.
• Use the development environment of Visual Basic 6.0, Enterprise Edition, to accomplish basic tasks such as creating new projects.

Topics:

Introduction to MSF

MSF Team Model

MSF Process Model

MSF Application Architecture Model

Island Hopper

Lab:

Reviewing the Island Hopper physical design

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Explain the origins of MSF, and how it evolved from the best practices at Microsoft and in the computer industry into a widely accepted framework for solution development.
• Explain the Solution Development Discipline (SDD) as a part of MSF, which is focused on the construction phase of the information technology life cycle.
• Describe the characteristics of each member's role in the MSF Team Model.
• List the Microsoft tools that facilitate team development.
• List and describe the major phases and deliverables in the MSF Process Model, and understand what part of the process this course focuses on in the construction of the Island Hopper sample application.
• Describe the use of user, business, and data services in the MSF Application Architecture Model.
• Differentiate conceptual, logical, and physical design of components in the Application Architecture Model, and understand the physical design of the Island Hopper sample application components.

Topics:

Implementing business services in Microsoft Visual Basic

Creating COM DLLs in Visual Basic

Working with COM DLL projects

Implementing an interface

Lab:

Building a component

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the various ways that business services are implemented in an enterprise solution that is developed using Visual Basic.
• Use a class module to create an object within a Visual Basic project.
• Create a COM DLL that exposes methods.
• Create a client application that uses a COM DLL.
• Debug and test a COM DLL.

Introduction to MTS

MTS architecture

Using MTS Explorer

MTS security architecture

Deploying an MTS component

Lab:

Adding a component to MTS

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• List the issues related to developing multi-user three-tier applications.
• Explain how MTS addresses these issues.
• Describe the MTS architecture.
• Create a package with MTS Explorer.
• Add an existing component to the MTS package.
• Set declarative security on a component or package.
• Configure a client computer to use an MTS component.

Topics:

Transactions

Context object

Component configuration issues

Security (programmatic)

Visual Basic-related issues

Scaling

MTS programming tips

Debugging

Error handling issues

Labs:

Creating an MTS component

Creating a shared property

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe what a transaction is, and the benefits of the ACID properties.
• Describe how MTS performs a two-phase commit with a distributed transaction.
• Call the Context object's methods from a component to participate in transactions.
• Use MTS Explorer to specify transaction properties for a component.
• Use programmatic security in a component to authorize a caller's actions.

Topics:

Universal data access

ActiveX Data Object architecture

Object model overview

Connections

Using ActiveX Data Objects from the middle tier

Using stored procedures from ActiveX Data Objects

Debugging

Error handling

Security

Lab:

Using ActiveX Data Objects to implement data services

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Compare and contrast the Microsoft data access technologies available for use in enterprise development.
• Understand how ActiveX Data Objects can be used to access and update a data source.
• Write middle-tier components that implement business and data services using ActiveX Data Objects.
• Call a stored procedure from ActiveX Data Objects.
• Implement error handling in an ActiveX Data Object component.

Topics:

Introduction to Microsoft SQL Server

Using data integrity

Querying data

Programming with T-SQL

Writing stored procedures

SQL Server security

Labs:

Using the Visual Database tools

Creating and debugging stored procedures

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Explain the role of data integrity when implementing data services in an enterprise solution.
• Choose when to implement services in database or MTS objects.
• Implement business and data services by using stored procedures.
• Write a stored procedure that uses advanced SQL programming constructs, such as conditional branching and looping structures, and error checking.
• Write a stored procedure that can be used by other services, such as a client application written with Visual Basic, and that generates return codes and performs error checking.
• Debug a stored procedure.
• Describe the characteristics of SQL transactions and explain how they work with MTS transactions

Introduction to COM

Interfaces

Dual interfaces

Globally Unique Identifiers (GUIDs) and the registry

COM threading models

Labs:

Examining key registry settings

Using OLEVIEW

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe what COM is, and the problems COM solves.
• Create multiple interfaces per class using Microsoft Visual Basic, and use OLEVIEW to view IDL files.
• Describe Automation and dual interfaces, and use the correct type of Visual Basic binding based on performance and flexibility requirements.
• Understand GUIDs and basic registry settings, and control them with Visual Basic project settings.
• Describe basic threading model concepts, use the Visual Basic Run Unattended switch, and control reentrancy issues when using the multiple apartment threading model.

Topics:

Review of Microsoft enterprise development
Review of the Microsoft Solutions Framework
Alternative design considerations

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Recall the architecture of an enterprise solution using the Microsoft enterprise development strategy, and describe how the lab solution fits into this architecture.
• Describe two additional scenarios to the one presented in the class lab solution that would require a different approach or different technologies.
• Explain where to find more information on advanced issues, such as performance, scalability, or security

This course is intended to help you prepare for the Analyzing Requirements and Defining Solution Architectures (70-100) exam.  This course combines text, graphics and review questions to teach you about analyzing requirements and defining solutions architecture. By completing the course, you will acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to prepare for the exams.  The chapters covered provides content that supports the skills measured by the exam.

Prerequisites

This course assumes that the student has a minimum of beginning/intermediate programming skills as demonstrated by the following competencies:

• Understands basic programming terms and concepts
• Is familiar with programming tools (any vendor) for the Microsoft Windows operating system or similar graphical programming environment
• Has built and debugged simple single-user desktop applications
• Is interested in Microsoft's recommendations on building distributed applications using Visual Studio Enterprise Edition

Topics:

What is Architecture?
Microsoft Solutions Framework (MSF)
MSF Enterprise Architecture  Model      
Business, Application, Information, Technology  Perspective
Creating an Enterprise Architecture

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the merits of architecture-first designs.
• Describe the importance of architecture to IT and application success.
• Describe the four perspectives that make up the MSF Enterprise Architecture Model.
• List the elements of each perspective.
• Describe the benefits of a planned enterprise architecture.

Topics:

Features of Enterprise Applications
Enterprise Application Architecture
Guiding Software Principles
Enterprise Application Model
MSF Application Model for Development

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand key features of enterprise applications.
• Understand modern architecture techniques.
• Identify architecture perspectives to use within a typical enterprise application project.
• Identify key principles that guide the Development of enterprise applications.
• List characteristics of the MSF Application Model for Development.

Topics:

Team Model vs. Hierarchical  Model
Project Responsibilities 
The MSF Development Team Model  
Adapting Team Size to Project Size
Large-Project, Small-Project Scaling   
Building,Finding, Improving Successful  Teams
Team Management Tools

                      
Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand the challenges of the hierarchical resource model.
• Understand the rationale behind using the MSF Development Team Model for application development.
• Understand the MSF Development Team Model's roles and responsibilities.
• Understand how to scale the MSF Development Team Model for large and small projects.
• Understand the risks involved in combining team roles.
• Identify the characteristics of effective leaders.
• Identify the means of improving team effectiveness.
• Identify subject areas in which the team must be trained.

Topics:

The Four MSF Phases   
Importance of All Phases
MSF Development Process Model Principles
Using Versioned Releases    
Creating Living Documents    
Scheduling for an Uncertain Fixture    
Managing Tradeoffs, Risks   
Performing Daily Builds    
Using Bottom-Up Scheduling, Versioned Processes  
Team Roles in the MSF Development Process Model    
Artifacts and Deliverables       
Relationships Between Models

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand the characteristics of the Waterfall and Spiral Models and list their disadvantages.
• List the workflows of the Unified Process.
• Understand the benefits of versioned releases and the impact of an interactive approach on development projects.
• Relate team roles and responsibilities to the MSF Development Process Model.
• Analyze development projects to determine process iteration goals.

Topics:

Overview of Project  Envisioning   
Pitfalls   
Envisioning Process   
Risk Management Process     
Sources of Risk     
Types of Risk Management    
Vision Document      
Prototype System          
Project Structure Document  
Master Risk Assessment Document 
Communicating the Vision 
Expanding the Envisioning Process

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Explain the roles that individual team members play during the Envisioning Phase of the development process.
• Describe the Envisioning Phase of the MSF Development Process Model.
• Understand the concept of risk and why continual risk management is important.
• Describe the process of risk assessment.
• Understand the differences between risk mitigation and implementing risk contingency plans.

Topics:

Overview of Project Planning 
Planning Phase and the MSF Design Process
Who Does What During Planning 
MSF Design Process   
Overview of the MSF Design Process  
Conceptual, Logical, Physical Design   
Ongoing Risk Management Process     
Project Plan Approved Milestone and Its Deliverables    
Interim Milestones       
Functional Specification        
Master Project Plan, Schedule

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the interim milestones and deliverables that lead to the Project Plan Approved Milestone.
• List and explain the purpose of various Planning Phase deliverables.
• Explain the roles that individual team members play during the Planning Phase.
• Understand the stages of application design.
• Analyze business requirements and their mappings to an application's design.
• Explain the importance of a Functional Specification.
• Explain the underling principles of MSF scheduling practices.

Topics:

Determining the User Interface   
User Service Layer Considerations      
Selecting a User Service Layer Architecture  
Basics of Interface Design    
Creating the Ul    
Connecting the User and Business Service Layers

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Use basic user interface guidelines to create effective user interface designs.
• Analyze user interface requirements to derive the appropriate user interface technology model.
• Understand different technologies that can be used to implement a user service layer.
• Understand the effects of user service technologies on the deployment of applications.

Topics:

Overview of Business Services     
Component Object Model (COM)                                                     Automation    
COM Support in DistributeEnvironments       
Packaging with MTS             
Designing MTS Packages       
Windows 2000 COM+ Services

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand the Microsoft Component Object model (COM);
• Analyze the role of COM in logical and pysical design models
• Understand COM Capabilities in transactional processing using MTS.
• Understand how objects are used throughout a network and enterprise.

What  Is the Data Service Layer?
Data Modeling
Microsoft Data Access Compnents (MDAC)
Choosing the Right Data Access Technology
Choosing Data Access STrategy
Accessing Host-Based Data

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Identify Microsoft data access technologies.
• Distinguish between the characteristics of relational and non-relational databases.
• Identify data modeling characteristics
• Understand the basics of normalizing data models.
• Identify the most ideal data access technologies to be applied to different types of applications.

Topics:

Managing the Development Environment
Testing Enterprise Applications
Performance Validation
Scaling the Production Environment
Bug Management

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Identify the stages of a production life cycle.
• Apply appropriate security measures to the development environment.
• Understand the benefits of the development, testing, certification and production life cycle.
• Describe a typical day in the production channel.
• Identify performance requirements.
• Explain how to perform software testing and application tuning.
• Understand the process of bug management.
  

Chapter 11: Application Security

Topics:

Authentication Security
Encryption
Access Security

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand how to implement application security requirements.
• Identify security authentication methods.
• Understand basic authentication capabilities of Web services.
• Identify security access methods.
• Identify different methods of encrypting information.
• Understand the benefits of application auditing.
• Identify methods for application auditing.

Chapter 12:  Development Deliverables

Topics:

Overview of the Developing Phase
Development Process
Ongoing Risk Management Process
Scope Complete Milestone and Its Deliverables

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Identify interim milestones and deliverables that lead to the Scope Complete and First Use milestones.
• Understand the roles played by individual team members during the Developing Phase.
• Apply a zero-defect mindset to development projects.
• Understand the testing process's impact on software quality.
• Understand the bug-tracking process.

Chapter 13: Product Stabilization

Topics:

Overview of Stabilization
Stablilization Process
Ongoing Risk Management Process
Release Milestone and Its Deliverables
Product Deployment

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Understand each team role's responsibilities in shipping the final release.
• Identify the steps in the process of stabilizing an application.
• Understand the incremental process of shipping the right product.
• Identify the deliverable for a Final Product release.
• Understand methods for deploying a product.

Chapter 14:  Project Review

Topics:

Case for Project Review
Project Review Considerations
Preparation for a Project Review Meeting
Organizing a Project Review Team
Capturing Feedback
Accountability

Skills:

Students will be able to:

• Describe the benefits of a project review.
• Evaluate the relationship between a project review and the Software Capability Maturity Model.
• Identify some practical considerations involved in project reviews.