Any tutorials for using the Win32 API in VB.NET

[Guest SvdSinner]

I'm a part-time programmer, and have been using VB.NET for my recent projects. I'm interested in learning the Win32 API, but I don't know if I spend enough time programming to keep fluent on both VB.NET and C++. Every book on the Win32 API seems to be written for C or C++. I've heard it is possible to use VB.NET, but I can't find any tutorials or books on the subject. Any suggestions?

[Derek Stone]

A tutorial will be coming out in less than 3 days. Keep a lookout at http://www.elitevb.com.

[Guest SvdSinner]

I love you!

 

Hopefully it will have a good guide on how to translate the bizarre variable types of the Win32 into VB.NET data types, and some basics on how to get started, like a glossary of terms that MS seems to assume all Win32 programmes know as a prerequisite to understanding MSDN. I've been searching for such a tutorial for months now.

[divil]

There are some examples on how to marshal datatypes in the framework sdk samples, I found they were enough to get me going.

[Guest SvdSinner]

"marshal datatypes" and "framework sdk samples" would be great items for that glossary of terms that seem to be a prerequisite to learning the Win32 api

[divil]

They're all explained in great detail in MSDN.

[Guest SvdSinner]

But not in any kind of easy to read/easy to find format.

 

MSDN is only usable by people who have a pretty good background. It is NOT friendly towards new programmers trying to self-teach themselves the Win32 API

[divil]

I and many many other people have found it sufficient. Even if it isn't, there are a plethora of tutorials and samples around on the internet, and a million good books on exactly that subject.

[Guest SvdSinner]

If so many exist, feel free to post a link to one that shows how to do Win32 programming with VB.NET. That was the original point to this thread.

[divil]

My point is, there are articles on using the win32 api, and there are samples on how to get the win32 api working under VB.NET. .NET is a new language and there aren't necessarily a lot of samples combining those two yet, but that's where resourcefulness comes in.

 

If you don't know what marshalling datatypes means, you may be out of your depth here.

[Guest SvdSinner]

My point is, there are articles on using the win32 api, and there are samples on how to get the win32 api working under VB.NET.

Um, no, there isn't much out there on Win32 w/VB.NET. I've searched long and hard. What is out there might be adequate for a skilled person who is merely converting his knowledge from one language to another, but it isn't adequate for beginners.

 

The point of my last post was to get you to either put up (post a link if you know of so many) or shut up. Apparently, rather than being helpful, you're just choosing to be an insulting loudmouth.

 

If you don't know what marshalling datatypes means, you may be out of your depth here.

Or maybe you are just a pompous arse who feels better by insulting people who are less experienced than yourself.

 

I am just like most other tech people. When I begin to learn a new technology, I lack basic vocabulary and terminology until I find places that define them. After I get the basics, I can figure out the advanced stuff myself. Until then, I'm a newbie who is out to learn.