Target Audience

This course covers all major aspects of programming with C# using the Microsoft Visual Studio IDE. It is aimed at programmers who are already able to code with simple C# applications and wish to broaden their knowledge with a greater understanding of the C# API.

Pre-requisites

An understanding of programming with C# or C++ is required. Students must be able to code simple Applications and Classes. Knowledge of this can be gained by attending the C# Primer course CS02.

Course Objectives

The aim of this course is to give students a fully rounded general knowledge of programming with C#. Whereas the C# Primer (CS02) course provides basic skills, this course moves onto more advanced topics including Advanced Programming topics, Collections, Threads, I/O and Windows Applications. During the course the student will write many applications and classes ensuring that the statements taught are fully understood and practical experience is gained. The course is taught using Microsoft’s Visual Studio IDE. The skills needed to use this software are presented as part of the course. On completion of this course the student will be able to:

•     Take advantage of and understand Interfaces and Delegates
•     Understand and use Collections, ArrayLists and Dictionaries
•     Create and handle Exceptions
•     Use the C# Input/Output classes
•     Understand and use Serialization to achieve persistence
•     Understand multi-threading and synchronization and use the various techniques available to create separate threads
•     Create Windows Based applications

Course Environment

Development will be performed using:

•     Microsoft Visual Studio

Course Details

ADVANCED C# PROGRAMMING SUBJECTS

Operator Overloading, Indexers, User Defined Casts

Attributes, Preprocessor Directives, Unsafe Code

Delegates

OBJECTS, METHODS AND CLASSES

Abstract Classes, Methods and Properties

Sealed Classes and Methods

Interfaces

Defining an Interface, Implementing an Interface

The Garbage Collector - Cleaning up Unused Objects

Disposing, Destructors

COLLECTIONS

ArrayList, Hashtables, Enumerator

THREADS & SYNCHRONIZATION

What are Threads?

Creating Threads

Thread class, ThreadStart Delegate

Controlling Threads

Thread Priority, Terminating Threads, Thread Synchronization

ERROR HANDLING

C# Exceptions

Exception Hierarchy, try / catch Processing, The finally Block, Exception Methods

Creating new Exceptions

The ‘throw’ Statement, Error and Exception Classes, User Defined Exceptions

I/O

The C# I/O API

The File, FileInfo, Directory and DirectoryInfo classes

Streams, Readers and Writers

Reading and Writing to Binary and Text Files

Serialization - Persistence of Objects

INTRODUCTION TO VISUAL APPLICATIONS

Forms, Controls, Menus, Dialogs, Common Dialogs

Laying out forms

Delegates and Events

Constituent and Custom Controls

Custom Events

Course Format

Practical sessions make up a large part of the course, allowing delegates to demonstrate and reinforce the lectures given. During these sessions the delegate will build a simple but complete application. Examples are used extensively, ranging from simple code 'snippets' to full applications with complete ‘real world’ functionality. These are supplied at the start of the course and it is encouraged that the delegates execute and ‘experiment’ with these under the instructor’s guidance as they are introduced. These examples are available to take away, along with the delegate’s own work. The comprehensive Student Guide supplied is fully indexed serving as a useful reference tool long after the course has finished. Delegates will also be able to access a free help-line with technical questions relating to topics covered on the course.