LINQ Using Visual Basic 2008 with Ken Getz and Robert Green

Course Description: In this course, you will learn to use the exciting new .NET Framework 3.5 feature, Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to easily create complex data-independent queries. In addition, you will learn about the new language features added to Visual Basic in Visual Studio 2008 in order to make LINQ possible. You will start by working through a quick overview of LINQ, and how it applies to working with collections of objects, retrieving data stored in SQL Server, and creating XML content. Subsequent topics introduce new LINQ-oriented language features, LINQ to Objects, LINQ to DataSets, LINQ to SQL, LINQ to XML, and LINQ to Entities. By the time you have completed the course, you will have a good understanding of now only how to construct LINQ queries to work with data, but also how to use the features added to Visual Basic that support LINQ.

10+ hours of media runtime 

LINQ Intro

Data Access In the Past
Data Access APIs
Object/Relational Mapping
But Challenges Still Remain
LINQ
LINQ and Visual Basic/C#
LINQ and Language Features
LINQ Overview
LINQ Providers
Structure of a LINQ Query
Three Stages
Demo: Numbers > 5
The Data Source
XML as Data Source
SQL as Data Source
The Query
The Query Execution
Returning Multiple Values
Demo: Multiple Values
Using an Anonymous Type
Demo: Anonymous Type
Deferred Execution
Demo: Deferred Execution
Force Execution
Demo: Forcing Execution

LINQ Examples

LINQ to Objects
Demo: LINQ to Objects
Continuing the Investigation
Extension Methods
Demo: Extension Method
LINQ to Group Output
Demo: Grouping
LINQ to SQL
Link a Class to SQL Server
Creating the Class
Marking Up the Class
Retrieving a Collection
Demo: Manually Retrieve Data
Anonymous Types
Demo: Anonymous Type
LINQ to XML
Life without LINQ to XML
Use System.Xml.Linq Classes
Creating Data
Demo: LINQ to XML
Visual Basic Only
Demo: XML Literals

Language Extensions

LINQ and Languages
The Sample Application
Demo: Without New Features
Implicit Type Declarations
Demo: With New Features
Object Initializers
Constructors to the Rescue
Demo: Object Initializers

Lambda Expressions And More

Lambda Overview
Using Delegates
Demo: Delegates
Predicate Delegate Type
Demo: Predicate Delegate
Using Lambda Expressions
Demo: Lambda Expressions
Lambda and Delegates
Lambda and Sorting
Func Delegate Type
Demo: Func Declaration
Extension Methods
Creating Extension Methods
Demo: Extension Method
Chaining Operations
Demo: Chaining Operations
Extension vs. Built-In Methods
Anonymous Types
Demo: Anonymous Types

LINQ And Collections

What Can You Query?
Arrays
Different Types of Objects
Arrays of Different Types
Using the Let Keyword
Using the OfType Method
Demo: Query an Array
Generic Lists
Extension Methods
Query Sytax vs. Functional
Generic Dictionaries
Demo: Lists and Dictionaries
Strings
Non-Generic Collections
Demo: Strings & Non-Generic

LINQ Extension Methods

Working with Data
Demo: Setup
Creating Sequences
Selecting Sequences
Retrieving a Single Element
Demo: Creating Sequences
Demo: Selecting Sequences
Demo: Single Elements

More LINQ Extension Methods

Filtering Sequences
Demo: Filtering
Ordering Sequences
Verifying Sequences
Demo: Ordering & Verifying
Converting Sequences
Positioning within Sequences
Demo: Convert & Position
Calculating Sequences
Demo: Calculating
More Complex Calculations
Sample Calculation
Demo: Aggregate Methods
Set Operations

Mapping Data To Objects

LINQ to SQL
Mapping Data to Objects
DataContext Class
Entity Class
Relationships
Create an Object Model
Demo: O/R designer

Querying Data

Querying with LINQ to SQL
Generated SQL Statements
Simple Queries
Using Scaler Functions
Using Aggregate Functions
Demo: Simple Queries
Demo: Scaler Functions
Demo: Aggregate Functions
Querying Related Tables
Demo: Related Tables

More Querying Data

Lambda Expressions
Extension Methods
Demo: Lambda Expressions
Demo: Extension Methods
Grouping
Joins
Demo: Grouping
Demo: Joins

Modifying Data

Overview
Demo: Modifying Data
Demo: Add a Customer
Demo: Delete a Customer
Stored Procedures
Demo: Stored Procedures
Demo: Configure Behavior

LINQ to SQL Adv Features

Deferred Execution
Deferred Loading
Read Only Queries
Compiled Queries
Direct Execution of Queries
Demo: Deferred Loading
Demo: Compiled Queries
Transactions
Cascading Deletes
Tracking Changes
Creating Databases
Demo: Transactions
Data Validation
Demo: Data Validation

LINQ to SQL Applications

Overview
Web Application
LinqDataSource Control
Demo: Win App
Demo: Web App

Querying Data

DataSets
Working with Data
LINQ to DataSet
Querying on DataSets
Untyped DataSets
Typed DataSets
Demo: Querying Data
Filter, Sort and Find
DataViews
Demo: DataViews

Data Binding

Overview
ToList
CopyToDataTable
AsDataView
Demo: Data Binding

Creating XML

What About XML?
Visual Basic vs C#
Creating XML Content
Using XMLDocument
XML Content Using LINQ
Demo: XMLDocument
Demo: Using LINQ
Traversing XML
New Methods
Demo: Traverse
Axis Methods
XML Expressions
Demo: Axis Operators
Updating XML Content
Demo: Updating Content
Verifying with Schema
Demo: Validating Schema

Querying XML

Querying XML Content
Demo: Query XML with LINQ
Anonymous Types
Demo: Anonymous Type
Extension Methods
Demo: The Any Method
Lambda Expressions
Demo: Lambda Expression
Transforming XML
Performing the Transformation
Demo: Transforming XML
Replacement Tokens
Demo: Replacements

Entity Data Model

Entity Framework
Entity Data Model
Framework Components
ObjectContext Class
Entity Class
Relationships
Create an EDM
Demo: Create an EDM

Querying Data

Overview
Viewing SQL
Simple Queries
Scalar Functions
Aggregate Functions
Demo: Simple Queries
Related Entities
Lambda Expressions
Demo: Related Tables
Grouping
Joins
Demo: Grouping
Demo: Joins

Modifying Data

Overview
Demo: Modifying Data
Demo: Add a Customer
Demo: Delete a Customer
Stored Procedures
Demo: Stored Procedures