Attempting to learn all there is to know about developing VB .NET applications using the Microsoft .NET Framework would be an incredibly daunting task. For most of us, the easiest and best approach is to dive in and start writing code. We learn through testing and experimentation, and when we run into the unknown, we search the Internet or grab a book to assist with the current subject. Visual Basic 2005 Recipes is not a book that attempts to teach you about the inner workings of a specific subject. It is a resource book that should sit near you as you program, where you can quickly use it to reference what you need. As you are settled in front of your computer working, you will inevitably run into a situation where you need a little guidance, as all of us do from time to time. The subject matter in this book is so comprehensive that you are bound to find at least one recipe that will fit the bill whenever you need that nudge in the right direction. This book will not teach you everything you need know about developing VB .NET applications in Visual Studio 2005, but it will be invaluable as a stepping stone. Use the recipes as you need them, to help move your development projects along or to give you a starting point for your own experimentation.