Exams 70-306 and 70-316

Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with
Microsoft Visual C# .NET
Microsoft Visual Basic .NET
and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET

These notes began with the "Skills Being Measured" on Microsoft's pages for these exams as of June 24, 2002. Note that the skills for 70-316 are nearly identical to the skills for 70-306. That's why Microsoft won't give you credit for passing both - it's really one exam that requires no particular language expertise. The one difference in the lists is numbered "I.G" below. Most newsgroup participants agree that this item refers to interoperation with COM components. I disagree - I think it refers to migrating existing VB6 code to VB.Net. That makes all the sense in the world to me - C# would have no such consideration, but would need to work with COM in a gradual migration. However, I don't think it would be a major topic (as I recall I only saw one question that would fit VB6 migration), and it really did look like I was the only one who saw it that way.

The links provided here are not the ones I actually used to prepare for these exams, but an incredible stimulation. I didn't make notes of the links I used, but offered his collection. I've filled in a few of the holes, but this is for the most part someone else's work.

All hierarchically lettered and numbered items are directly from the MS "Skills Being Measured" lists. Almost all links lead to http://msdn.microsoft.com online pages, a few more link to www.gotdotnet.com, and there are some that lead elsewhere. Here is some information about the evolution of links from local help files to msdn.microsoft.com, if you're particularly bored. 

The list is by no means complete or error free. Please if you find any additional links or ones that I've listed that are broken or irrelevant.

I passed 70-306 on March 30, 2002 and 70-316 on April 6, 2002.

Skills Being Measured

This certification exam measures your ability to develop and implement Windows-based applications by using Windows Forms and the Microsoft .NET Framework. Before taking the exam, you should be proficient in the job skills listed in the following matrix.

  1. Creating User Services
    1. Create a Windows Form by using the Windows Forms Designer.

      1. Add and set properties on a Windows Form.
        Getting Started with Windows Forms
         

      2. Create a Windows Form by using visual inheritance.
        Getting Started with Windows Forms
        Walkthrough: Demonstrating Visual Inheritance
         

      3. Build graphical interface elements by using the System.Drawing namespace.
        Creating Graphical Images with GDI+
         

    2. Add controls to a Windows Form.

      1. Set properties on controls.
        Setting Properties for Controls, Documents, and Forms [Added November 23, 2002]
         

      2. Load controls dynamically.
        Control.ControlCollection Class [Added November 23, 2002]
        Adding Controls to Windows Forms [Added April 12, 2003]
         

      3. Write code to handle control events and add the code to a control.
        Events in Windows Forms Controls [Added November 23, 2002]
        Handling User Input [Added November 23, 2002]
         

      4. Instantiate and invoke an ActiveX® control.
        AxHost Class
        Adding ActiveX Controls to Windows Forms
        Considerations When Hosting an ActiveX Control on a Windows Form
         

      5. Configure control licensing.
        Licensing Components and Controls
        LicenseProviderAttribute Class
        Creating Designable Components for Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Designers [near the bottom is a good discussion of licensing]
         

      6. Create menus and menu items.
        Getting Started with Windows Forms
         

    3. Implement navigation for the user interface (UI).

      1. Configure the order of tabs.
        Getting Started with Windows Forms
        Setting the Tab Order on Windows Forms
         

    4. Validate user input.

      1. Validate non-Latin user input.
        Control.Validating Event
         

    5. Implement error handling in the UI.

      1. Create and implement custom error messages.
        Throwing Exceptions [Added November 23, 2002]
         

      2. Create and implement custom error handlers.
        Walkthrough: Structured Exception Handling [Added November 23, 2002]
        try-catch-finally [Added November 23, 2002]
         

      3. Raise and handle errors.
        Exceptions Overview
        Using the Try/Catch Block to Catch Exceptions
        Best Practices for Handling Exceptions
         

    6. Implement online user assistance.
      Getting Started with Windows Forms
      Help Systems in Windows Applications 

    7. Incorporate existing code into a Microsoft Windows-based application [NOTE: This topic is listed for exam 70-306 (VB.Net) only]
      Microsoft .NET/COM Migration and Interoperability
      Exposing .NET Framework Components to COM
      Introduction to Visual Basic .NET for Visual Basic Veterans [many links - assumes Tim's interpretation of the skill intended]
       
    8. Display and update data.

      1. Transform and filter data.
        Data Binding and Windows Forms
        Binding.Format Event
         

      2. Bind data to the UI.
        Data Binding and Windows Forms
         Creating a Simple-Bound Control on a Windows Form [Added November 23, 2002]
         

    9. Instantiate and invoke a Web service or component.

      1. Instantiate and invoke a Web service.
        Building XML Web Service Clients [asp.net example]
         

      2. Instantiate and invoke a COM or COM+ component.
        Exposing COM Components to the .NET Framework
        Chapter 3: The Essentials for Using COM in Managed Code [samspublishing.com] [thanks to Chris Pike]
         

      3. Instantiate and invoke a .NET component.

      4. Call native functions by using platform invoke.
        Consuming Unmanaged DLL Functions
        A Closer Look at Platform Invoke
         

    10. Implement globalization.
      Globalizing Windows Forms
       

      1. Implement localizability for the UI.
        Introduction to Resources and Localization
        Globalizing and Localizing Applications
        Walkthrough: Localizing Windows Forms
         

      2. Convert existing encodings.
        Decoder Class [Added November 23, 2002]
        Encoder Class [Added November 23, 2002]
         

      3. Implement right-to-left and left-to-right mirroring.
        Displaying Right-to-Left Text in Windows Forms for Globalization
         

      4. Prepare culture-specific formatting.
        Walkthrough: Localizing Windows Forms
         

    11. Create, implement, and handle events.
      Raising Events and Responding to Events 

    12. Implement print capability.
      Windows Forms Print Support
       

    13. Implement accessibility features.
      Walkthrough: Creating an Accessible Windows Application 

  2. Creating and Managing Components and .NET Assemblies

    1. Create and modify a .NET assembly.

      1. Create and implement satellite assemblies.
        Creating Satellite Assemblies
        O'Reilly Network: .NET Localization, Part 2: Creating Satellite Assemblies [Oct. 14, 2002] [ondotnet.com, Added March 18, 2003]
         
      2. Create resource-only assemblies.
        Introduction to Resources and Localization
        [Using resource assemblies] Retrieving Resources in Satellite Assemblies
         
    2. Create a Windows control.
      1. Create a Windows control by using visual inheritance.
        Windows Forms Control Development Basics
        Developing a Simple Windows Forms Control
        .NET Samples - Windows Forms: Control Authoring
        Inheriting from Existing Windows Forms Controls
         

      2. Host a Windows control inside Microsoft Internet Explorer.
        DHTML and .NET: Host Secure, Lightweight Client-Side Controls in Microsoft Internet Explorer -- MSDN Magazine, January 2002 [link fixed October 10, 2004]
         

  3. Consuming and Manipulating Data

    1. Access and manipulate data from a Microsoft SQL Server™ database by creating and using ad hoc queries and stored procedures.
      Overview of ADO.NET
      ADO.NET Sample Application
       

    2. Access and manipulate data from a data store. Data stores include relational databases, XML documents, and flat files. Methods include XML techniques and ADO .NET.
      Obtaining Data as XML from SQL Server
      XML and the DataSet
      Loading a DataSet from XML
       

    3. Handle data errors.
      Performing Transactions
      SqlException Class
       

  4. Testing and Debugging

    1. Create a unit test plan.
      Unit Testing
      Testing Overview
       

    2. Implement tracing.
      Regression Testing
       

      1. Add trace listeners and trace switches to an application.
        Introduction to Instrumentation and Tracing
         

      2. Display trace output.
        Trace Listeners
         

    3. Debug, rework, and resolve defects in code.
      Debugging
       

      1. Configure the debugging environment.
        Debug Settings and Preparation
         

      2. Create and apply debugging code to components and applications.
        Conditional Methods Tutorial [C#, Added December 3, 2002]
        #if [C#, Added December 3, 2002]
        Declaring Conditional Compilation Constants [VB.Net, Added December 3, 2002]
        #If...Then...#Else Directives [VB.Net, Added December 3, 2002]
        9.3.1 Conditional Methods [VB.Net, Added December 3, 2002]
         

      3. Provide multicultural test data to components and applications.
        Globalization Testing [Added December 3, 2002]
        Localization Testing [Added December 3, 2002]
        Culture-Specific Classes for Global Windows Forms and Web Forms [Added December 3, 2002]
         

      4. Execute tests.
        Breakpoint Condition Dialog Box [Added December 3, 2002]
         

      5. Resolve errors and rework code.
         

  5. Deploying a Windows-based Application

    1. Plan the deployment of a Windows-based application.
      Deploying Applications and Components
       

      1. Plan a deployment that uses removable media.
        Deployment Via Distributable Media [Added December 3, 2002]
         

      2. Plan a Web-based deployment.
        Deployment of a Web Setup Project [Added December 3, 2002]
         

      3. Plan a network-based deployment.
        No-Touch Deployment in the .NET Framework [Added December 3, 2002]
         

      4. Ensure that the application conforms to Windows Installer requirements and Windows Logo Program requirements.
        Software Requirements Overview - Windows Logo Program [Added March 18, 2003]
         

    2. Create a setup program that installs an application and allows for the application to be uninstalled.

      1. Register components and assemblies.

      2. Perform an install-time compilation of a Windows-based application.
        Walkthrough: Using a Custom Action to Pre-Compile an Assembly During Installation
         

    3. Deploy a Windows-based application.

      1. Use setup and deployment projects.
         

    4. Add assemblies to the Global Assembly Cache.
      Installing an Assembly into the Global Assembly Cache

    5. Verify security policies for a deployed application.
      Configuring Permission Sets Using the .NET Framework Configuration Tool
       

      1. Launch a remote application (URL remoting).
         

  6. Maintaining and Supporting a Windows-based Application

    1. Optimize the performance of a Windows-based application.
      Performance Tips and Tricks in .NET Applications
      Visual Studio Magazine - Speed Up Your VB.NET Code
       

    2. Diagnose and resolve errors and issues.

  7. Configuring and Securing a Windows-based Application

    1. Configure a Windows-based application.
      Runtime Settings Schema
      Configuring Applications 

    2. Configure security for a Windows-based application.
      Configuring Security Policy
      Security Concerns for Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET Programmers
       

      1. Select and configure authentication type. Authentication types include Windows Authentication, None, forms-based, Microsoft Passport, and custom authentication.

      2. Specify the security level for an application.

      3. Use custom attributes to configure security.
         

    3. Configure authorization.

      1. Configure role-based authorization.
        Authorization [Added October 10, 2004]
        Role-Based Security [Added October 10, 2004]
         

      2. Implement identity management.

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Last Update: October 10, 2004

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