About the authors Thearon Willis is a Senior Consultant with over 20 years of programming experience. He started writing applications using the BASIC language in 1980 and later moved on to Visual Basic and finally to Visual Basic net Thearon began working with databases in 1987 and has been hooked on writing database applications every since. He has experience with SQL Server, Oracle, and DB2 but works with SQL Server on a daily basis. Thearon has programmed in several other languages, some of which include C++, assembly lan- guage, Pascal, and COBOL. However, he enjoys Visual Basic NET the best because it provides the fea- tures needed to quickly build Windows and Web applications, as well as components and Web Services Thearon currently develops intranet applications, Web Services, and server-side and client-side utilities using Visual Basic. NET. Most of these applications and utilities are database-driven and make use of XML and XSL. Thearon lives with his wife Margie and daughter Stephanie in the Raleigh, North Bryan Newsome works in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a custom software project manager specializing in Microsoft solutions. He leads a team of developers focused on meeting the needs of each client and project using the latest technologies. Each day, he helps provide clients with solutions and mentoring on leading-edge Microsoft technologies. Bryan is a Microsoft Certified Application Developer for . NET
About the Authors Thearon Willis is a Senior Consultant with over 20 years of programming experience. He started writing applications using the BASIC language in 1980 and later moved on to Visual Basic and finally to Visual Basic .NET. Thearon began working with databases in 1987 and has been hooked on writing database applications every since. He has experience with SQL Server, Oracle, and DB2 but works with SQL Server on a daily basis. Thearon has programmed in several other languages, some of which include C++, assembly language, Pascal, and COBOL. However, he enjoys Visual Basic .NET the best because it provides the features needed to quickly build Windows and Web applications, as well as components and Web Services. Thearon currently develops intranet applications, Web Services, and server-side and client-side utilities using Visual Basic .NET. Most of these applications and utilities are database-driven and make use of XML and XSL. Thearon lives with his wife Margie and daughter Stephanie in the Raleigh, North Carolina, area. Bryan Newsome works in Charlotte, North Carolina, as a custom software project manager specializing in Microsoft solutions. He leads a team of developers focused on meeting the needs of each client and project using the latest technologies. Each day, he helps provide clients with solutions and mentoring on leading-edge Microsoft technologies. Bryan is a Microsoft Certified Application Developer for .NET. 01_574019 ffirs.qxd 9/16/05 9:31 PM Page v
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Credits Katie mohr Ryan Steffen Development Editor Graphics and Production Specialists Technical Editor Lynsey Osborn Production edito William A. barton Quality Control Technicians Copy Editor Carl William Pierce Publication Services, Inc. Editorial Manager Angela Denny Mary Beth Wakefield Kit malone Travis Silvers Vice President& Executive Group Publisher Richard Wadley Proofreading and Indexing TECHBOOKS Production Services Vice President and Publisher Joseph B Likert
Credits Acquisitions Editor Katie Mohr Development Editor Sydney Jones Technical Editor Todd Meister Production Editor William A. Barton Copy Editor Publication Services, Inc. Editorial Manager Mary Beth Wakefield Vice President & Executive Group Publisher Richard Swadley Vice President and Publisher Joseph B. Wikert Project Coordinator Ryan Steffen Graphics and Production Specialists Andrea Dahl Lauren Goddard Lynsey Osborn Alicia South Julie Trippetti Quality Control Technicians Leeann Harney Carl William Pierce Media Development Specialists Angela Denny Kit Malone Travis Silvers Proofreading and Indexing TECHBOOKS Production Services 01_574019 ffirs.qxd 9/16/05 9:31 PM Page vii
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As always, I want to thank my wife Margie and my daughter Stephanie for the patience they have shown while I write another book. Without their love and support, none of this would be possible Theron willis To all of the friends and family that make my life special in the past, present, and future: Jennifer(love you, honey), Katelyn, Mom(I miss you), Dad, Ashley and Leslie, Judy and Tony, Jennifer S and Stever All my love and happiness to each of you Bryan Newsome
As always, I want to thank my wife Margie and my daughter Stephanie for the patience they have shown while I write another book. Without their love and support, none of this would be possible. —Thearon Willis To all of the friends and family that make my life special in the past, present, and future: Jennifer (love you, honey), Katelyn, Mom (I miss you), Dad, Ashley and Leslie, Judy and Tony, Jennifer S. and Steven. All my love and happiness to each of you. —Bryan Newsome 01_574019 ffirs.qxd 9/16/05 9:31 PM Page ix