Datasheet

Summary
You’ve now seen how the various components of Visual Studio 2005 form the complete package for cre-
ating solutions. Reviewing the default layout for Visual Basic programs, the following list outlines a typ-
ical process for creating a solution:
1. Use the File menu to create a solution.
2. Use the Solution Explorer to locate the form that needs editing and click the View Designer but-
ton to show it in the main workspace area.
3. Drag the necessary components onto the form from the Toolbox.
4. Select the form and each component in turn and edit the properties in the Properties window.
5. Use the Solution Explorer to locate the form and click the View Code button to access the code
behind the form’s graphical interface.
6. Use the main workspace area to write code and design the graphical interface, switching
between the two via the tabs at the top of the area.
7. Use the toolbars to start the program.
8. If errors occur, review them in the Error List window and Output window.
9. Save the project using either toolbar or menu commands and exit Visual Studio 2005.
While many of these actions can be performed in other ways (for instance, right-click on the design sur-
face of a form and you’ll find the View Code command), this simplified process shows how the different
sections of the IDE work in conjunction with each other to create a comprehensive application design
environment.
In subsequent chapters you’ll learn how to customize the IDE to more closely fit your own working
style, and how Visual Studio 2005 takes a lot of the guesswork out of form design.
14
Chapter 1
05_598465 ch01.qxp 7/17/06 3:36 PM Page 14