Visual Basic Developer Centre > Learn > Visual Basic How Do I Video Series

"How Do I" Videos — Visual Basic

On this page you will find dozens of videos designed for all Visual Basic developers, from the novice to the professional. New videos are added regularly, so check back often.

Visual Basic Video Topics

VS 2010 VB Language Features Series
Visual Studio IDE Series
WPF Forms with Entity Framework Series
WPF Forms over Data
LINQ Series
Forms over Data Series

VS 2008 Forms Over Data Series
Office Development Series
Object Binding Series
Visual Basic Interop Series
Security Video Series
Windows Development Series

Featured Video

How Do I: Use LINQ to XML to Create Word Documents?

Code: Visual Basic

Videos: WMV (Zip) | WMV | iPod | MP4 | 3GP | Zune | PSP

Audio: AAC | WMA | MP2 | MP3 | MP4

In this video, learn how to create Microsoft Office Word 2007 documents from data in a database using Visual Basic’s LINQ to XML and XML literals by writing to the Open XML format directly without using COM.

Presented by Beth Massi.

Length: 32 minutes 44 seconds

VS 2010 VB Language Features Series

The videos in this series demonstrate how to use new and existing features found in Visual Basic 10.

Presented by Charlie Calvert

#1 | How Do I: Use Autoimplemented Properties in Visual Basic?
(8 Minutes, 3 Seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Use Implicit Line Continuation in Visual Basic 10?
(5 Minutes, 50 Seconds)

How Do I: Use the Visual Studio IDE?

This series features techniques you can use to enhance the development process in the Visual Studio IDE. Tips for C# and VB developers highlight how they can use built in features of the IDE to create code more quickly and more efficiently.

Presented by Charlie Calvert

#1 | How Do I: Use Highlight References in the Visual Studio 2010 IDE?
(4 Minutes, 8 Seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Use Code Snippets in the Visual Studio IDE?
(9 Minutes, 42 Seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Use Generate from Usage in Visual Studio 2010?
(7 Minutes, 35 Seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Enhance Performance in the Visual Studio 2010 IDE when Editing VB Code?
(3 Minutes, 13 Seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Step with The Debugger in Visual Studio?
(7 Minutes, 56 Seconds)

WPF Forms with Entity Framework Video Series

This how-to video series is focused on data-based application development in Windows Presentation Foundation using Entity Framework for data access in Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1. It is recommended you watch these videos in order because each one builds upon techniques shown in the previous video.

Presented by Beth Massi

You will need: SQL Server or SQL Server Express and Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 or Visual Basic 2008 Express Service Pack 1

Download Code and Discuss on Code Gallery: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/wpfdatavideos

These samples use a database called OMS and the script to create it is included in the DAL project folder in the code downloads. To install the database on your local sqlexpress instance, open a command prompt as an administrator and run the following:

>sqlcmd -S .\sqlexpress -i "C:\SampleLocation\CreateDatabaseOMS.sql"

Where SampleLocation is the path to the .sql script. For more information on sqlcmd, please see the MSDN Library.

Note to Express users: Please make sure you install SQL Server Express first.

#1 | How Do I: Get Started with Entity Framework in WPF Applications?
(17 minutes, 33 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Build a WPF Data Entry Form Using Entity Framework?
(24 minutes, 42 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Create a WPF Lookup Combobox using Entity Framework?
(24 minutes, 27 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Hook Up and Display Validation in WPF using Entity Framework?
(29 minutes, 24 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Build a WPF Master-Detail Data Entry Form Using Entity Framework?
(36 minutes, 20 seconds)

WPF Forms over Data Video Series

This how-to video series is focused on data-based application development in Windows Presentation Foundation using Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1.

Presented by Beth Massi

You will need: SQL Server or SQL Server Express and Visual Studio 2008 Service Pack 1 or Visual Basic 2008 Express Service Pack 1

Download Code and Discuss on Code Gallery: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/wpfdatavideos

#1 | How Do I: Create a Simple Data Entry Form in WPF?
(24 minutes, 32 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Display Data in a List in WPF?
(11 minutes, 47 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Create a Lookup Combobox in WPF?
(23 minutes, 43 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Hook Up and Display Validation in WPF?
(22 minutes, 20 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Edit Tabular Data in WPF?
(31 minutes, 3 seconds)

#6 | How Do I: Create a Master-Detail Data Entry Form in WPF?
(24 minutes, 58 seconds)

#7 | How Do I: Format Data in WPF Controls?
(11 minutes, 22 seconds)

Language Integrated Query (LINQ) Series

This how-to video series is focused on the new LINQ language features of Visual Basic 9.0 included in Visual Studio 2008. LINQ stands for Language Integrated Query, and it enables you to write queries over things like objects, databases, and XML in a standard way using new language syntax. Learn how to use this productive new language feature in your Visual Basic programs.

Presented by Beth Massi

Download Code and Discuss on Code Gallery

You will need: Visual Studio 2008 or Visual Basic 2008 Express

These samples use the Northwind database (Download)

The installer will copy a script to create the Northwind database. To install the database on your local sqlexpress instance, open a command prompt as an administrator and run the following:

>sqlcmd -S .\sqlexpress -i "C:\SQL Server 2000 Sample Databases\instnwnd.sql"

For more information on sqlcmd, please see the MSDN Library.

Note to Express users: Please make sure you install SQL Server Express first.

#1 | How Do I: Get Started with LINQ?
(9 minutes, 14 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Perform Group and Aggregate Queries?
(17 minutes, 22 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: LINQ over DataSets?
(9 minutes, 48 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Get Started with LINQ to SQL?
(10 minutes, 52 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Create a One-To-Many Form using LINQ to SQL?
(12 minutes, 29 seconds)

#6 | How Do I: Upgrade Visual Basic Projects to Enable LINQ?
(8 minutes, 28 seconds)

#7 | How Do I: Get Started with LINQ to XML?
(14 minutes, 10 seconds)

#8 | How Do I: Enable XML IntelliSense and Use XML Namespaces?
(13 minutes, 16 seconds)

#9 | How Do I: Create XML Documents from SQL Data?
(15 minutes, 58 seconds)

#10 | How Do I: Create Excel Spreadsheets using LINQ to XML?
(10 minutes, 53 seconds)

#11 | How Do I: Use LINQ to XML to Create Word Documents?
(32 minutes, 44 seconds)

Forms over Data Video Series

This how-to video series is dedicated to getting Visual Basic developers productive on areas of data-based Windows Application development. The series starts with the basics of database development with SQL-Server 2005 Express then walks through the details of connecting to and querying databases, Windows Forms development basics, Reporting, and Deployment using Visual Basic 2005.

Presented by Beth Massi

Download Code and Discuss on Code Gallery

You will need: SQL Server or SQL Server 2005 Express and Visual Studio or Visual Basic Express

#1 | How Do I: Create a Database?
(17 minutes, 23 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Connect to a Database?
(10 minutes, 14 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Create a One-to-Many Data Entry Form?
(5 minutes, 40 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Create a Search Form?
(5 minutes, 30 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Create Lookup Lists?
(9 minutes, 48 seconds)

#6 | How Do I: Filter Data on the Client?
(7 minutes, 52 seconds)

#7 | How Do I: Use Auto-Complete?
(7 minutes, 50 seconds)

#8 | How Do I: Format Data in Controls?
(12 minutes, 30 seconds)

#9 | How Do I: Add Validation?
(8 minutes, 56 seconds)

#10 | How Do I: Work with Local Data?
(5 minutes, 31 seconds)

#11 | How Do I: Modify the Database?
(3 minutes, 6 seconds)

#12 | How Do I: Deploy Local Data?
(8 minutes, 17 seconds)

#13 | How Do I: Print Forms?
(4 minutes, 30 seconds)

#14 | How Do I: Build Reports?
(7 minutes, 22 seconds)

#15 | How Do I: Understand Data?
(24 minutes, 8 seconds)

#16 | How Do I: Update Related Tables?
(19 minutes, 51 seconds)

#17 | How Do I: Build Reports Against Remote Data?
(18 minutes, 14 seconds)

#18 | How Do I: Modify Connection Strings at Runtime?
(12 minutes, 11 seconds)

#19 | How Do I: Get Started with the DataGridView?
(13 minutes, 19 seconds)

Visual Basic 2008 Forms over Data Videos

These videos continue our series on data-based Windows Application development, now for Visual Basic 2008. Most of the previous 2005 videos are the same experience in Visual Basic 2008, but these videos will highlight the differences and new capabilities.

Presented by Beth Massi

You will need: SQL Server or SQL Server 2005 Express and Visual Studio 2008 or Visual Basic 2008 Express

Download Code and Discuss on Code Gallery: http://code.msdn.microsoft.com/vbvideosdata

#20 | How Do I: Update Related Tables?
(13 minutes, 43 seconds)

#21 | How Do I: Use DataSets in an N-Tier Application?
(24 minutes, 9 seconds)

#22 | How Do I: Create an Occasionally Connected Application?
(9 minutes, 22 seconds)

#23 | How Do I: Create and Consume a Windows Communication Foundation Service?
(16 minutes, 27 seconds)

#24 | How Do I: Use the DataRepeater Control?
(8 minutes, 58 seconds)

#25 | How Do I: Create a report from a database?
(10 minutes, 12 seconds)

#26 | How Do I: Create a report from a business object?
(11 minutes, 38 seconds)

Windows Development Video Series

In this how-to video series Visual Basic developers will learn additional techniques on how to program .NET applications on the Windows platform.

#1 | How Do I: Enable Logging in My Applications?
(25 minutes, 45 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Enable Tracing in My Applications?
(27 minutes, 30 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Send Log Files Through E-mail?
(21 minutes, 29 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Use a Web Service in My Applications?
(11 minutes, 51 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Deploy Applications with ClickOnce?
(10 minutes, 54 seconds)

#6 | How Do I: Use the ClickOnce Deployment API to Update My App?
(12 minutes, 40 seconds)

#7 | How Do I: Email Unhandled Exceptions?
(25 minutes, 20 seconds)

#8 | How Do I: Notify one form in a Windows Forms Application that data in another form has changed?
(05 minutes, 24 seconds)

#9 | How Do I: Exchange data between two forms in a Windows Forms application?
(09 minutes, 23 seconds)

#10 | How Do I: Access the clipboard to copy and paste text, images or generic objects?
(10 minutes, 14 seconds)

#11 | How Do I: Create a Detail Edit Form for Tabular Data or Data in a Grid?
(21 minutes, 50 seconds)

Office Development Video Series

In this how-to video series Visual Basic developers will learn about the premiere development tools for building Office Business Applications.

#1 | How Do I: Call VSTO Code from VBA?
(18 minutes, 29 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Deploy an Office Solution Using ClickOnce in Visual Studio 2008?
(9 minutes, 28 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Use LINQ Against Excel Ranges?
(18 minutes, 44 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Create a List in Excel that is Connected to a SharePoint List?
(10 minutes, 39 seconds)

#5 | How Do I: Transfer Data Into an Excel Worksheet?
(18 minutes, 44 seconds)

#6 | How Do I: Add Controls to a Document Surface at Runtime?
(16 minutes, 20 seconds)

#7 | How Do I: Use WPF Controls Inside an Excel Actions Pane?
(11 minutes, 0 seconds)

#8 | How Do I: Interact with Web Services from Microsoft Excel?
(25 minutes, 29 seconds)

#9 | How Do I: Use the Ribbon Designer to Customize the Ribbon in Excel?
(17 minutes, 7 seconds)

#10 | How Do I: Consume Database Data in Excel?
(21 minutes, 11 seconds)

#11 | How Do I: Quickly Summarize Data in Excel with Database Functions?
(21 minutes, 14 seconds)

#12 | How Do I: Use XML Mapping in Excel?
(20 minutes, 54 seconds)

#13 | How Do I: Use Event Handlers in an Excel 2007 Add-in?
(12 minutes, 50 seconds)

#14 | How Do I: Use the Find Method in an Excel Add-in?
(15 minutes, 12 seconds)

#15 | How Do I: Automate PowerPoint from an Excel Add-in?
(18 minutes, 14 seconds)

#16 | How Do I: Add a Custom Menu Item to Outlook 2007?
(15 minutes, 38 seconds)

#17 | How Do I: Create Outlook Form Regions Using Visual Studio 2008?
(17 minutes, 10 seconds)

#18 | How Do I: Use Task Panes in Outlook?
(25 minutes, 2 seconds)

#19 | How Do I: Create an Add-in for Microsoft PowerPoint?
(18 minutes, 54 seconds)

#20 | How Do I: Create and Debug a SharePoint Workflow Template?
(15 minutes, 45 seconds)

#21 | How Do I: Use the Excel Web Services?
(16 minutes, 47 seconds)

#22 | How Do I: Use MOSS Enterprise Search in a Client Application?
(15 minutes, 38 seconds)

#23 | How Do I: Access and Manipulate Custom Document Properties in Microsoft Word?
(16 minutes, 40 seconds)

#24 | How Do I: Use Smart Tags in Microsoft Word?
(12 minutes, 33 seconds)

#25 | How Do I: Manage Task Panes in Word Add-ins?
(14 minutes, 53 seconds)

#26 | How Do I: Customize Outlook Item Context Menus?
(14 minutes, 32 seconds)

#27 | How Do I: Deploy a VSTO Add-In?
(15 minutes, 53 seconds)

#28 | How Do I: Add Smart Tags to Excel Workbooks?
(13 minutes, 19 seconds)

#29 | How Do I: Create Smart Tags in Word
(6 minutes, 0 seconds)

#30 | How Do I: Add Controls to a Worksheet at Run Time in an Application-Level Project?
(6 minutes, 2 seconds)

Object Binding Video Series

This how-to video series is focused on more advanced data binding techniques using object binding in Visual Basic 2005. The series walks through creating business objects and how to associate them in one-to-many relationships, how to provide searching capabilities and how to enable sorting.

Presented by Beth Massi

Download the Code: Videos 1–3 | Video 4

You will need: Visual Studio or Visual Basic Express

#1 | How Do I: Do Simple Object Binding?
(7 minutes, 34 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Add Search Support with Object Binding?
(7 minutes, 0 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Add Sorting Support with Object Binding?
(10 minutes, 19 seconds)

#4 | How Do I: Add Filter Support?
( 9 minutes, 33 seconds)

Visual Basic Interop Video Series

This how-to video series is focused on the Interop Forms Toolkit and working with Visual Basic .NET and Visual Basic 6 together. The Interop Forms Toolkit allows Visual Basic developers to migrate their Visual Basic 6 applications over to .NET using a phased migration strategy. Instead of having to convert the entire VB6 application at once, the toolkit enables .NET Forms and User Controls to run directly in Visual Basic 6 applications so that you can build the pieces that you need over time.

Presented by Beth Massi

Download the Code: Videos 1–3

You will need: Visual Studio and the Interop Forms Toolkit 2.0 in addition to Visual Basic 6.0

#1 | How Do I: Build Interop Forms?
(11 minutes, 28 seconds)

#2 | How Do I: Build Interop User Controls?
(9 minutes, 3 seconds)

#3 | How Do I: Deploy Hybrid Applications?
(6 minutes, 1 second)

Security Video Series

In this how-to video series Visual Basic developers will explore a variety of security questions, including encryption, handling attacks, security best practices, and a lot more.