Dear all,

I am new to MCSD. I want to be a MCSD certified. Recently I bought MCSD in a nutshell, and I dont really understand it.
I took a VB class at my university about 1 1/2 years ago, but they didnt teach me about active x or COM or etc.

So since I couldnt really understand how to do the stuff told in 'MCSD in a nutshell', I am considering to buy a new book which will get me to understand the 'MCSD in a nutshell' book.

Anybody can give me recommendation which book will be good for me ? or are there any better ways to pass MCSD VB exams ?

Please help me!
Thanks in advance,
Cezar

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Hi Cezar,

There are loads of introductory VB books out there, I would go browse in my local bookstore and pick one out that I liked the style of, although I'm sure some of our colleagues on the forum will give you specific recommendations.

My suggestion to you is that you need to get your PC set up with VB and start playing with it and getting some hands on experience. Why not think about a little application that you could use yourself and set yourself the challenge of building it. With some practical experience, you will probably find that the theory slips into place much more easily...

Happy studying!

Cassie

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Thanks Cassie
but can you recommend me a good book to start with ?

Cezar

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Cezar,

You could try "Learn to Program with Visual Basic 6" by John Smiley or "Beginning Visual Basic 6 Objects" by Peter Wright.

Another tactic, depending on how much you already know, might be to get the Exam Cram book from coriolis and then to read up more on each topic in MSDN.

Cassie

__________________
www.ExamsAreEasy.com
?????????????????????????
You don't need questions,
you need answers!
?????????????????????????

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Hi cezar2000.

I know exactly how you feel having been in the same boat myself. "MCSD in a Nutshell" is an excellent book for cramming with before the actual exams but... I started by learning the absolute basics with "The Complete Idiot's Guide to VB6" then went to night classes for three months where they used the Sybex books (four seperate 500 page volumes for the four subjects). Now planning on writing the first of my exams on March 5th. (Desktop). Also try to get the "Transender" test software, if you can afford it!

Good luck and happy studies

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Thanks all,

Thank you for all the support and information.
I wonder how long does it take to get certified if one studies by oneself, and how long does it take if one gets training (or go to training center).

Cezar

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quote:

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I wonder how long does it take to get certified if one studies by oneself, and how long does it take if one gets training (or go to training center).

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MCSD in a Nutshell: The Visual Basic Exams
by James Foxall
Published by O'Reilly & Associates
ISBN 1-56592-752-4
Price $29.95

Good luck and waste no time when you are taking this exam.

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Hi ceezar
I am on the same route as you. If you serious about pursuing MCSD, These are my advices., that based on my experiences :

The most important thing is : your on hand experience. Take on hand job with some project with VB & SQL7 as much as you can. 6 month experience is the minimum time, so you are ready with some advance topics on COM, ActiveX, MTS, and ADO.

Make sure you have enough foundation of the LANGUAGE itself such as array, collection, looping and variable scope, SQL statement. You must be familiar with coding of standard control(text box, command button, etc) and activeX control(FlexGrid, TreeView, etc)

Move to more advance topic : ADO programming, executing store procedure, debugging.

Move to the most challenging topic : COM. Make sure that you are comfortable with using class module, activeX DLL, activeX Control, and deploying component on MTS.

Of course, you will got in the trouble with MCSD in a Nutshels if you do not have anough basic knowledge & experience. This book assume that you are an experienced developer.

About the study material, I use some books as follow :
Learn to program VB Database by John Smilley (good for beginners, but it’s DAO centric, while the exams is ADO !)
Beginning VB6 Database from Wrox press
Mastering VB6 from Sybex
MCSD Training Guide 175 & 176 from New Riders
MCSD in Nutshels
MCSD Training kit from MS Press
Transcender

Good luck

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