Microsoft LINQ Using Visual Basic 2010 with Ken Getz, Robert Green

Course Description: In this course, you will learn to use the Language Integrated Query (LINQ) to easily create complex data-independent queries. In addition, you will learn about the language features for Visual Basic in Visual Studio 2010 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 to...
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
Extenstion Methods
Demo: Extenstion Method
LINQ to Group Output
Demo: Grouping
LINQ to SQL
Linking a Class to SQL Server
Creating the Class
Marking Up the Class
Retrieving a Collection
Demo: Manually Retrieving Data
Anonymous Types
Demo: Anonymous Type
LINQ to XML
Life without LINQ to XML
Using 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
Implict Type Delcarations
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: Converting & Positioning
Calculating Sequences
Demo: Calculating
More Complex Calculations
Sample Calculation
Demo: Aggregate Methods
Set Operations
Demo: 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 Advanced 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
Demo: XMLDocument
XML Content Using LINQ
Demo: Creating XML
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
Perfoming 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

Modifing Data

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