COBOL and Visual Basic on .NET: A Guide for the Reformed Mainframe Programmer is a comprehensive guide to help mainframe programmers successfully complete a .NET retraining effort. This book targets the COBOL/CICS Mainframe community comprised of programmers seeking a complete transition off of the Mainframe to .NET, or for those who simply wish to broaden their knowledge with .NET.
Starting with a complete list of .NET retraining prerequisites and a full chapter answering the question 'What is .NET?', Richardson skillfully takes the reader through topics such as the .NET Framework, database access, Windows, Web, and Web services. He touches on additional topics such as printing with Crystal Reports, using XML, HTML, .NET configuration, and security for Web services.
Richardson also includes information to help the Mainframe programmer with infrastructure set-up issues faced when deploying modules using Internet Information Server and COM+. The reader is provided the chance to learn both COBOL.NET and Visual Basic .NET by working with code samples that are provided in the book.
Mainframe programmers reading this book will immediately feel comfortably challenged. While drawing upon many legacy mainframe analogies, Richardson's conversational writing style makes this book both informative and an enjoyable read. COBOL and Visual Basic on .NET: A Guide for the Reformed Mainframe Programmer is certainly a complete .NET guide for the Mainframe programmer.
Author Information
Chris L. Richardson - Chris L. Richardson is a Senior Software Engineer on a .NET Web development project at a Fortune 500 company. Before making the transition to Windows and Web programming, he held senior programmer/analyst positions on the mainframe platform. For the majority of his 20+ years in the Information Technology field, he has developed using COBOL, CICS, and DB2. Chris proudly reminds people of his mainframe background and jokingly refers to himself as a reformed mainframe programmer. He divides his leisure time between entrepreneurial endeavors (such as his recent startup: California-based eClectic Software Solutions) and studying for his next Microsoft Certification exam.
Part One The Mainframe Paradigm Shift
Chapter 1: Your Future with COBOL
Chapter 2: What Is .NET?
Chapter 3: .NET Retraining Prerequisites, Part 1
Chapter 4: .NET Retraining Prerequisites, Part 2
Part Two .NET Programming Essentials
Chapter 5: Inside the .NET Integrated Development Environment
Chapter 6: The Nuts and Bolts of .NET Programming
Chapter 7: The .NET Framework
Chapter 8: The .NET Common Language Runtime
Chapter 9: Creating and Using Objects
Part Three Reading, Writing, and Describing Data
Chapter 10: A New Perspective Toward Data
Chapter 11: Database Programming with .NET
Chapter 12: XML in a Managed Environment
Part Four Interfacing and Interacting with the User
Chapter 13: Windows Forms, Web Forms, and No Forms
Chapter 14: Adding Value to Your Interface
Chapter 15: Managing Cache and State for ASP.NET
Chapter 16: Reporting and Information Delivery
Chapter 17: Deploying Your .NET Application
Part Five Advanced .NET Technologies
Chapter 18: Configuration for .NET Applications
Chapter 19: Using Enterprise Services (COM+)
Chapter 20: Developing for the Enterprise
Part Six Appendixes
Appendix A: Debugging and Testing
Appendix B: A Sharp Primer: C# and J#
Appendix C: Religion, Landmines, and Distractions
Appendix D: Fujitsu's NetCOBOL for .NET
