Programming with Managed Extensions for Microsoft Visual C++ .NET
(Microsoft Training Course: 2558) - 3 days - £1700 exc VAT

The goal of this course is to teach existing C++ developers how to write applications for the Microsoft .NET Framework by using Managed Extensions for C++. It is intended for corporate developers, solution providers, IT Web developers, and IT database developers who are responsible for building knowledge management solutions that provide data analysis, reporting, presentation, and workflow.

1. Managed C++ Applications and the .NET Framework
2. Defining __gc Classes
3. __gc Pointers and References
4. Value Types
5. Managed Inheritance
6. Arrays, Collections, and Reflection
7. Properties, Managed Operators, and Managed Exceptions
8. Unmanaged Code
9. COM Interoperability

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Module 1: Managed C++ Applications and the .NET Framework

• Using C++ in the .NET Framework
• The .NET Framework and Managed Execution Environment
• Programming with Managed Extensions for C++
• Using .NET Framework Developer Tools

Skills

• Creating native and Managed C++ applications.
  
• Writing code to use managed types in a C++ application.
  
• Creating, building, and testing C++ projects for the .NET Framework.
  

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Module 2: Defining __gc Classes

• Defining Classes in Managed C++
• Defining Members in a __gc Class
• Controlling Class Layout

Skills

• Defining __gc classes, and creating and destroying objects of these classes.
  
• Defining data members, member functions, constructors, and destructors in a __gc class.
  
• Controlling the layout of classes and unions.
  

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Module 3: __gc Pointers and References

• Pointers and References to __gc and __nogc Objects
• Pinning and Unpinning Pointers
• Delegates and Events

Skills

• Defining and using pointers and references to __gc and __nogc objects.
  
• Pinning a pointer to a fixed location, to prevent an object from being relocated by the runtime system.
  
• Defining delegates to represent member functions in a class
  
• Using delegates to specify callback functions for events
  

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Module 4: Value Types

• Creating and Using Value Types
• Boxing and Unboxing Value Types
• Value Enums

Skills

• Defining and using a value type.
  
• Performing boxing and unboxing operations on a value type, so that it can be used where a managed object is required.
  
• Defining and using value enums
  

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Module 5: Managed Inheritance

• Defining Base Classes and Derived Classes
• Interfaces
• Using Inheritance with Other .NET Framework Languages

Skills

• Defining base classes and derived classes that use the Managed Extensions for C++.
  
• Defining and implementing interfaces.
  
• Defining Managed C++ base classes and derived classes that integrate with classes written in Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C#.
  

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Module 6: Arrays, Collections, and Reflection

• Defining and Using _gc Arrays
• Using .NET Framework Collection Classes
• Using Reflection

Skills

• Creating, initializing, using, and destroying __gc arrays.
  
• Using the .NET Framework collection class library to organize objects.
  
• Using reflection to identify the type, data members, and member functions of an object at run time.
  

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Module 7: Properties, Managed Operators, and Managed Exceptions

• Defining and Using Properties
• Defining and Using Managed Operator Functions
• Exception Handling

Skills

• Defining properties in a __gc class.
  
• Defining named operator functions in a __gc class.
  
• Using exception handling techniques to deal with error conditions in a Managed C++ application.
  

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Module 8: Unmanaged Code

• Invoking Native APIs in Managed Code
• Wrapping a __nogc Class in a __gc Class

Skills

• Invoking native APIs directly in managed code, using a direct function call or using P/Invoke.
  
• Defining a __gc C++ class to wrap an unmanaged C++ class, to expose the unmanaged class to the .NET Framework.
  

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Module 9: COM Interoperability

• Importing a COM Type Library into an Interop Assembly
• Using Imported COM Objects
• Exporting an Assembly into a COM Type Library

Skills

• Converting the type definitions in a COM type library into a .NET Framework interop assembly.
  
• Creating and using instances of imported COM objects within a Managed C++ application.
  
• Using the Type Library Exporter tool to convert managed types into a COM type library.
  

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Before attending this course, students must have the following prerequisites:

• Programming experience with C++, using object-oriented programming techniques.
• Familiarity with C++ template libraries.

After completing this course, students will be able to create Managed C++ applications that execute in the .NET Framework; define __gc (garbage collected) classes in C++; use __gc pointers and references; define and use value types; use inheritance with __gc classes; use __gc arrays, .NET Framework collections, and reflection; use properties, named operator functions, and exceptions in managed code; migrate unmanaged C++ code to Managed C++; use COM interoperability with managed code.