Programming with Managed Extensions for Microsoft Visual C++ .NET

Target Audience
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.

Pre-Requisites
Before attending this course, students must have the following prerequisites:Programming experience with C++, using object-oriented programming techniques.Familiarity with C++ template libraries.

Purpose
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.

Course outline

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

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

• 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.
  

Module 2:Defining __gc Classes

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

• 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.
  

Module 3:__gc Pointers and References

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

• 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
  

Module 4:Value Types

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

• 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
  

Module 5:Managed Inheritance

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

• 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#.
  

Module 6:Arrays, Collections, and Reflection

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

• 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.
  

Module 7:Properties, Managed Operators, and Managed Exceptions

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

• 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.
  

Module 8:Unmanaged Code

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

• 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.
  

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

• 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.