Party Toonz Assessment Update:

So far i have put on all the controls/buttons I need, and have named each one appropriately. I have also created a splash screen.

I am still playing around with the layout to see which design I like the best.

Next post I hope to have started on the at least some of the coding.

Databases

A database is a structured collection of data and information.

Types of databases:
Operational Databases; eg, customer, personal, inventory databases.
Analytical Database; stores data and information extracted from operational and external databases.
Other;
Data, distributed, end-user, navigational databases.

Other types;
Flat file; eg, excel spreadsheet.
Relational database;

Opening Up PDF from application.

I couldn't seem to get the User Documentation PDF to open straight away using the code;
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(Application.StartupPath & "NameOfFile.pdf")

But once i changed the code to;
System.Diagnostics.Process.Start("NameofPDF")
It worked, and opened up as soon as the "Help" button was clicked.

UML Class Diagrams

UML stands for Unified Modeling Language.

Is a type of structure diagram which descibes the structure of the systems by showing all it's classes, attributes, properties and the relationship between the class. It kind of looks like a heirarchy chart.

OpenFileDirectory Notes

Insted of having 'dglOpenFile' at the start of property, we can instead add a 'With dlgOpenFile' and close with an 'End With', and have the properties inbetween.

The 'filter' property filters out which files the user can select.
The 'InitialDirectory' states which folder to open up first. ie. "My Documents."

Cat and Dog Exercise.

In our 'Cat And Dog' exercise, instead of creating classes in one form/object, we can create the classes separately, meaning that it's less clustered, and it can be moved and imported to different projects.

Each class includes properties and methods.

The 'new' method is the 'constructor' of the class, and methods can accept argurments.

Classes and Objects

The main difference is that the Class is the code itself; the code becomes an Object when you start using it.
.



LINKS:
http://www.homeandlearn.co.uk/net/nets11p1.html :Info on Classes and Object, .NET Framework.

http://www.programmersheaven.com/2/Les_VBNET_4_p1 :covers classes, objects, fields, methods/procedures and functions.

Tutorial Links

www.tutorialized.com/tutorials/Visual-Basic/1
www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html
www.pixel2life.com/tutorials/visual_basic/
www.searchwindevelopment.techtarget.com/generic/0,295582,sid8_gci1280709,00.html

Random Notes

Software Development Life Cycle (P.75-)
· Requirement Ananlysis.
· GUI Design: Sketches etc,
· Design Objects: Propeties + Methods.
· Code
· Testing
· Document

Variables.
· = =Assignment Operator.
· Dim = Dimensions.
eg. Dim VariableName As DataType
Dim strFirstName As String = "..."
Dim btnMembershipPaid As Boolean = True

Data Types:
· Integer = 3
· Decimal = 2.45
· Boolean = True or False
· Date - January 1, 2009
...



The rule is: A variable can be referenced only within the region of the program where it is defined.


Event Plan example (p.252)

How to show line numbers in code view.

1. Tools > Options
2. Expand Text Editor
3. Expand Basic
4. Click General
5. Display > Check 'Line Numbers'

ASCII and UNICODE

ASCII stands for American Standard Code for Information Interchange, it is a standard code for displaying and encoding characters in a way that can be understood by a computer.

UNICODE is a series of character encoding standards which intend to support most of the characters in different languages.