Creating a Windows application ordinarily requires you to write lengthy and complex code. But Visual Basic 2008 relieves you of this task. It enables you to create an application and its components literally with the click of a button or menu item. It even writes all of the necessary code to get the application started for you. You can view and fine-tune the code, but it spares you a lot of the grunt work.

While the Visual Basic programming language helps you write a Windows application, you still need to write code and be able to plan your application. This course will show you how. You'll learn the building blocks of programming, including using variables, control structures, and loops. You'll find out how to use the large function library built into Visual Basic 2008, including the .NET Framework, as well as how to write and use your own functions. You'll learn how to use the large and varied library of controls Windows offers. And you'll learn how to access files and handle errors. Since Windows applications are event-driven and everything in Visual Basic 2008 is treated as a programmable object, you'll also find out about event-driven and object-oriented programming, concepts important not just in Visual Basic, but also in other programming languages you may want to learn in the future.

Requirements: Required: Visual Basic 2008, free Express edition (software must be installed and fully operational before the course begins); Computer with Windows XP, Vista, Server 2003 or Server 2008; Internet access, e-mail, the Microsoft Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox Web browser, and the Adobe Flash and PDF plug-ins (two free and simple downloads you obtain at http://www.adobe.com/downloads by clicking Get Adobe Flash Player and Get Adobe Reader). Note: this course is not suitable for Macintosh users. Prior programming education or experience is not a prerequisite.