
Home Projects With 
Visual C# Express

(Trial Version)

 KIDware (206) 721-2556



We welcome your comments on this product.  Just visit our website at:

http://www.kidwaresoftware.com

and click the Contact KIDware link.




Description

       HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS is a new product from KIDware.  Visual C# Express programming concepts are taught while providing detailed step-by-step instructions in building many fun and useful projects.  HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS explains (in simple, easy-to-follow terms) how to build a Visual C# Express Windows project. Students learn about project design, the Visual C# Express toolbox, many elements of the Visual C# language, and how to debug and distribute finished projects. The projects built include:
       
* Dual-Mode Stopwatch - Allows you to time tasks you may be doing.
* Consumer Loan Assistant - Helps you see just how much those credit cards are costing you.
* Flash Card Math Quiz - Lets you practice basic addition, subtraction, multiplication and division skills.
* Multiple Choice Exam - Quizzes a user on matching pairs of items, like countries/capitals, words/meanings, books/authors.
* Blackjack Card Game - Play the classic casino card game against the computer.
* Biorhythm Tracker - Discover your physical, emotional and intellectual cycles for any day you choose.
* Weight Monitor - Track your weight each day and monitor your progress toward established goals.
* Home Inventory Manager - Helps you keep track of all your belongings - even includes photographs.
* Snowball Toss Game - Lets you throw snowballs at another player or against the computer - has varying difficulties.

The product includes over 700 pages of self-study notes, all Visual C# Express source code and all needed graphics and sound files.


Course Prerequisites

       To grasp the concepts presented in HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS, you should possess a working knowledge of the Windows operating system.  You should know how to use Windows Explorer to locate, copy, move and delete files.  You should be familiar with the simple tasks of using menus, toolbars, resizing windows, and moving windows around.  
       
       You should have had some exposure to Visual C# Express programming (or some other programming language).  We offer two beginning programming tutorials (VISUAL C# EXPRESS FOR KIDS and BEGINNING VISUAL C# EXPRESS) that would help you gain this needed exposure. 
       
       You will also need the ability to view and print documents saved in Microsoft Word format.  This can be accomplished in one of two ways.  The first, and easiest, is that you already have Microsoft Word on your computer.  The second way, and a bit more difficult, is that you can download the Microsoft Word Viewer.  This is a free Microsoft product that allows viewing Word documents - it is available for download at KIDwares website for HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS:
       
http://www.kidwaresoftware.com/buildvcse.htm

       Regarding software requirements, to use Visual C# Express, you (and your potential users) must be using Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows NT.  As of now, Visual C# Express applications will not run on Windows 9X or Windows Me machines.  These notes and all projects are developed using Windows XP.  And, of course, you need to have the Visual C# Express product installed on your computer. At this writing, the Beta 2 version is available for free download from Microsoft.  Follow this link for complete instructions for downloading and installing Visual C# Express on your computer:

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/default.aspx

You should download and install both Visual C# Express and the MSDN Library (has all the help files).  Please note these are very large files.  If you dont want to download the files, the website above also has instructions for obtaining a CD copy at a nominal cost.

Using Home Projects With Visual C# Express

       The course notes and code for HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS are included in one or more ZIP file(s).  Use your favorite unzipping application to write all files to your computer.  (If youve received the course on CD-ROM, the files are not zipped and no unzipping is needed.)  The course is included in the folder entitled HomeVCSE.  This folder contains two other folders:  HomeVCSE Notes and HomeVCSE Projects. Theres a chance when you copy the files to your computer, they will be written as Read-Only.  To correct this (in Windows Explorer or My Computer), right-click the HomeVCSE folder and remove the check next to Read only.  Make sure to choose the option to apply this change to all sub-folders and files.

       The HomeVCSE Notes folder includes all the notes needed for the class.  Each file in this folder has a DOC extension and is in Word format.  The files are:

Start Here.doc	This file in Word format
Contents.doc	Table of Contents
Chapter 1.doc	Chapter 1. Building Projects with Visual C# Express
Chapter 2.doc	Chapter 2. Overview of Visual C# Express Programming
Chapter 3.doc	Chapter 3. Debugging a Visual C# Express Project
Chapter 4.doc	Chapter 4. Dual-Mode Stopwatch Project
Chapter 5.doc	Chapter 5. Consumer Loan Assistant Project
Chapter 6.doc*	Chapter 6. Flash Card Math Project
Chapter 7.doc*	Chapter 7. Multiple Choice Exam Project
Chapter 8.doc*	Chapter 8. Blackjack Card Game Project
Chapter 9.doc*	Chapter 9. Biorhythm Tracker Project
Chapter 10.doc*	Chapter 10. Weight Monitor Project
Chapter 11.doc*	Chapter 11. Home Inventory Manager Project
Chapter 12.doc*	Class 12. Snowball Toss Game Project
Appendix.doc*	Distributing a Visual C# Express Project

Files marked with an asterisk (*) are not included with this trial version.  The HomeVCSE Projects folder includes all projects developed during the course.  Work through the notes and projects at your leisure.
       

What If You Have Questions?

It is recognized there may be times when you need clarification on some point about the notes, examples, or Visual C# Express.  We will gladly help.  The preferred method of relaying your questions to us is via E-Mail.  The E-Mail address is:

support@kidwaresoftware.com

Please include a clearly defined subject for all questions to get past our anti-spamming filters.  All questions should be sent to the attention of Lou.

Who Produces Home Projects With Visual C# Express?

       These notes have been developed and written by Lou Tylee, a principal partner in KIDware, a producer of quality childrens educational programs since 1982.  The course notes have evolved based on Lous experience in writing childrens software and in teaching programming at the university level for over ten years.  
       
       Lou has been programming computers since 1969 when he took his first FORTRAN course in college (yes, Lou is getting old!).  He has written software to control suspensions for high speed ground vehicles, monitor nuclear power plants, lower noise levels in commercial jetliners, compute takeoff speeds for jetliners, locate and identify air and ground traffic and to let kids count bunnies, learn how to spell and do math problems.  His wide breadth of practical experience is demonstrated in HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS.  He has been praised for his clear, reassuring teaching style.  Thousands of people have learned to program using similar notes written by Lou.
       
        During all his programming and writing efforts, Lou is accompanied by Clara, the KIDware dog.  She is always under Lous desk directing his every keystroke.  She is a primary contributor to this product.
       
       

Trial Version of Home Projects With Visual C# Express

This trial version of HOME PROJECTS WITH VISUAL C# EXPRESS gives you the first five chapters of the notes for free.  This allows you to evaluate the notes and projects to see if they meet your needs.  The complete product (just $24.95) includes 12 chapters and code for all projects.  See the Table of Contents for a description of what topics the entire product covers.  Purchase information can be found at our website:
       
       http://www.kidwaresoftware.com

At the website, you can purchase the product and download it to your computer in minutes.  Or, if preferred, you can place an on-line order to receive the produce on CD-ROM or via E-mailed files.  And, lastly, we accept mail, FAX and phone orders.

Contacting KIDware

By Mail:
KIDware
PO Box 28234
Seattle, WA 98118

By Phone:
(206) 721-2556
By FAX:
(206) 260-9187

By E-Mail:
support@kidwaresoftware.com

Our Web Site:
http://www.kidwaresoftware.com




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