Introduction

The .NET Framework provides a common object-based framework for creating forms. All programming languages will use the same forms which are called Windows Forms. This gives C++ users an easier way to create forms, and Visual Basic users gain more control over their forms. Windows Forms are classes inherited from the Forms class. You can also inherit existing forms to extend or change their functionality. The process of working with forms has undergone some fundamental changes from the process used in previous versions of Visual Basic. We discuss how to create Windows Forms at design time and how to programmatically manipulate them at runtime. It is also important to understand the events for Windows Forms and how they can be utilized. Visual Basic uses the following types of forms: standard forms, MDI forms, and dialog boxes. We discuss working with each of these types of forms.

Another change that will take a little getting used to is adding and using controls on forms. We won t go into much detail on the controls themselves until the next chapter, though. You use menus to allow users easy access to functionality within your program. Users are also accustomed to context menus as well. You will need to understand how to create these menus at design time and manipulate them at runtime. You use toolbars for frequently used commands, and you use status bars to indicate various items of interest to the user.

Binding controls on a form to data sources was...