Microsoft Visual Basic (VB) 2008: Microsoft LINQ Using VB 2008

Course Overview

In this course, you will learn to use the exciting new .NET Framework 3.5 feature, Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to easily create complex data-independent queries. In addition, you will learn about the new language features added to Visual Basic in Visual Studio 2008 in order to make LINQ possible.

You will start by working through a quick overview of LINQ, and how it applies to working with collections of objects, retrieving data stored in SQL Server, and creating XML content. Subsequent topics introduce new LINQ-oriented language features, LINQ to Objects, LINQ to DataSets, LINQ to SQL, LINQ to XML, and LINQ to Entities. By the time you have completed the course, you will have a good understanding of now only how to construct LINQ queries to work with data, but also how to use the features added to Visual Basic that support LINQ.

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Related Courses

• Microsoft .NET 3.0/3.5: Architectural Overview: Hands-On
• Microsoft Visual Basic .NET (VB.NET) 2008: Programming
• Microsoft Visual Basic (VB) 2008: Programming with Visual Basic 2008
• Microsoft ASP.Net 3.5: Using Visual Studio 2008 and Visual Basic 2008

Audience

This course is for .NET programmers interested in learning the fundamentals of LINQ.

Prerequisites

A good working knowledge of .NET in general and more specifically, with programming ADO.NET. Please note that this course does not cover the fundamentals of Visual Studio 2008 or .NET Framework.

Course Outline

Introducing LINQ

• Language Integrated Query
• Data Access, Historically
• LINQ to the Rescue
• LINQ Providers
• Structure of a LINQ Query
• The Three Stages of a LINQ Query
• Returning Multiple Values
• Deferred Execution

Language Extensions for LINQ

• LINQ and Languages
• Implicitly Typed Local Variables and Object Initializers
• Implicit Type Declarations
• Object Initializers
• Lambda Expressions, Extension Methods, and Anonymous Types
• Lambda Expressions
• Extension Methods
• Anonymous Types

LINQ to Objects

• Using LINQ with In-Memory Collections
• What Can You Query?
• Arrays
• Generic Lists
• Generic Dictionaries
• Strings
• Other Collections (Non-Generic Collections)
• LINQ Operators and Extension Methods
• Working with Data
• Creating Sequences
• Selecting Sequences
• Retrieving a Single Element
• Filtering Sequences
• Ordering Sequences
• Verifying Sequences
• Converting Sequences
• Positioning within Sequences
• Calculating Sequences
• Set Operations

LINQ to SQL

• LINQ and Relational Data
• Creating an Object Model
• The DataContext Class
• Entity Classes
• Associations Between Entities
• Querying Data
• Simple Queries
• Scalar Functions
• Aggregate Functions
• Querying Related Tables
• Lambda Expressions
• Extension Methods
• Grouping
• Joins
• Modifying Data
• Using Stored Procedures
• Configuring the Update Behavior of Entity Classes
• LINQ to SQL vs. DataSets

More LINQ to SQL

• LINQ to SQL Advanced Features
• Deferred Loading
• Read-Only Queries
• Compiled Queries
• Direct Execution of Queries
• Transactions
• Cascading Deletes
• Tracking Changes
• Creating and Deleting Databases
• Validating Data
• Using LINQ to SQL in a Windows Applications
• Exploring the Data Layer
• Exploring the User Interface
• Using LINQ to SQL in a Web Application
• Working with Customers
• Working with Orders
• Working with Products

LINQ to DataSet

• Review of DataSets
• Retrieving and Modifying Data
• Querying Data with LINQ to DataSet
• Querying Data in Tables
• Querying Tables in Untyped DataSets
• Querying Tables in Typed DataSets
• LINQ to DataSet and DataViews
• Binding to Data
• Convert Query Results to a List
• Copy Query Results to a DataTable
• Create a DataView from Query Results

LINQ to XML

• Creating and Manipulating XML Content
• Creating XML Content
• Traversing XML
• Updating XML Content
• Verifying XML Content Using a Schema
• Using LINQ to Query XML Content
• Simple LINQ Queries
• Anonymous Types in LINQ to XML
• Using Extension Methods with LINQ to XML
• LINQ to XML and Lambda Expressions
• Transforming XML Using LINQ
• Creating New Output
• Filling in the Details
• Using Visual Basic's Replacement Tokens

LINQ to Entities

• Overview of the Entity Framework
• Creating an Entity Data Model
• The ObjectContext Class
• Entity Classes
• Associations Between Entities
• Querying Data
• Simple Queries
• Scalar Functions
• Aggregate Functions
• Querying Related Tables
• Lambda Expressions
• Grouping
• Joins
• Differences Between LINQ to Entities and LINQ to SQL
• Modifying Data
• Using Stored Procedures
• Configuring the Update Behavior of Entity Classes