Whizlabs MCSD .NET 70-316 Certification Primer

Earning a Microsoft certification acknowledges your expertise in working with Microsoft products and technologies and sets you apart from the crowd as a development professional. Microsoft certification demonstrates that you have the ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.

This article will provide a basic understanding of the scope of the certification and will also give details about the certification along with the useful resources to get started.

Introduction

With .NET, Microsoft is also espousing a vision, this time about how the Internet can make businesses more efficient and deliver services to consumers. The present enterprise setup's need to have n-tier architecture with diverse platforms and object models communicating with each other. The present applications are to be created such that those applications have to run in any platform (like Windows, Linux, Mac, Unix etc.) and which consist of components written in many programming languages and object models.

Many language vendors have tried to upgrade their languages, but there is a limit to which they have been successful since they have to maintain backward capability and face many other problems too. To solve the problem of the current programmers Microsoft has come with a very promising solution "The .NET Platform".

.NET provides a number of benefits that will make developers more productive, reduce the number of bugs, speed application development, and simplify deployment. IT managers are understandably wary, since .NET is a new technology that requires a moderately steep learning curve. For most organizations, however, the benefits will far outweigh the negatives; and with .NET, you'll see great productivity gains for future development projects.

.NET certification is the premier credential for professionals who design and develop leading-edge business solutions with Microsoft .NET development tools, technologies and platforms.

You might want to consider taking the MCSD 70-316 exam to:

• Gain valuable skills, knowledge and expertise

• Raise your income

• Increase your job opportunities

• Earn more respect from your peers

• Improve your job security

Earning a Microsoft certification acknowledges your expertise in working with Microsoft products and technologies and sets you apart from the crowd as a development professional. Microsoft certification demonstrates that you have the ability to successfully implement Microsoft business solutions for your organization or client.

This article will provide a basic understanding of the scope of the certification and will also give details about the certification along with the useful resources to get started.

What you need to know for MCSD 70-316?

As a competent developer, you should be proficient in creating Windows applications that have a smooth look and feel.

In the Exam 70-316, Microsoft tests your skills on developing Windows based applications with VS.NET/C# on seven objectives.

Exam Objectives Weightage of Questions

1. Creating User Services 15 %

2. Creating and Managing Components and .NET Assemblies 18%

3. Consuming and Manipulating Data 20%

4. Testing and Debugging 12%

5. Deploying a Windows-based Application 18%

6. Maintaining and Supporting a Windows-based Application 5%

7. Configuring and Securing a Windows-based Application 12%

For a detailed break up of topics covered in the MCSD .Net 70-316 exam, you can visit the Microsoft certification web page.

The above certification page will provide you with a bird’s eye view of the skills you should focus on. During the course of this article I’ll point you to resources where you can go and read up on the skills listed on this page. The Skills being measured section of the page has the break up of the seven objectives as to which skills will be measured in the exam.

Microsoft’s exam 70-316, “Developing and Implementing Windows-based Applications with Microsoft Visual C# .NET and Microsoft Visual Studio .NET”, is a core requirement for the MCSD (Microsoft Certified Solution Developer) for Microsoft .NET certification and is a core or elective requirement for the MCAD (Microsoft Certified Application Developer) for Microsoft .NET certification. It is designed for candidates who “work on a team in a medium or large development environment that uses Microsoft Visual Studio .NET, Enterprise Developer Edition.”

The MCSD 70-316 exam measures your ability to develop and implement Windows-based applications by using Windows Forms and the Microsoft .NET Framework. Candidates have at least one year of experience developing Windows-based applications. Candidates should have a working knowledge of Microsoft Visual C# .NET.

MCSD 70-316 Exam Specifics

All the questions are Multiple Choice Questions and the total number of questions in the exam ranges from 55 to 60. The time allotted is 150-175 minutes. This exam is moderately difficult and costs 125 USD. It may be taken from Pearson Vue or Thomson Prometric. Previously, Microsoft used to provide only Pass/Fail status for the MCSD 70-316 exam, but now 700 is the minimum score required. Microsoft has also incorporated a new style of question where you get a split-screen. The question is at the very top, drag-and-drop items on the bottom left and configuration screens on the bottom right. You will have plenty of time to answer the exam questions, so there is no need to rush. If you have spare time available, you can double check the questions and ensure that you have read them correctly and actually answered the question as intended.

What you need to do to pass MCSD 70-316 exam?

First, you should get involved in overview of .NET framework and also identify the tools and services provided by .NET framework. After getting familiar with the tool and services available, you need to get well versed with the windows forms. To get started on Windows forms you can read the article available on MSDN. It'll give you a good introduction to Windows Forms.

.NET is completely object oriented. It is likely that you will see a question or two on OOP concepts. You need to get a through understanding of OOP Concepts like Encapsulation, Polymorphism, Exceptional Handling etc. Interoperability is an important area to focus on while preparing for MCSD 70-316 exam. Active X controls of the pre .NET age are not directly supported by Winforms but they are completely re-usable using wrapper classes. You will be asked a question or two on the accessibility features of Windows for the physically challenged users.

After getting familiar with user services, you should get familiar with how to create and manage components. This involves dealing with how to create and manipulate .NET assemblies. In this regard satellite assemblies seem to be one of the favorites of Microsoft for MCSD 70-316 Exam. So you may get some questions related to satellite assemblies and not to mention, resource assemblies also.

When it comes to manipulating data in .NET, there are two sources of data you would widely be dealing with - XML & Relational Databases. You will be using ADO.NET to interact with relational databases. A good grasp on ADO.NET is very essential for clearing this paper. MSDN provides you an article that gives you a good overview of ADO.NET.

I will also recommend Professional ADO.NET from Wrox Publications as a good resource. Professional C# also has a very good section on ADO.NET.

Another objective checked in the 70-316 exam mainly concentrates on your familiarity with the Visual Studio .NET debugger. You need to have a clear understanding of the tools provided by Visual Studio .NET for debugging the application. Apart from Visual Studio .NET this section largely stresses upon Tracing. Tracing is a feature by which you can write logs to a particular location (could be a text file). You can change the level of tracing you want to perform in a live production environment.

One of the advantages of using Visual Studio .NET is the ease of deploying an application. There are many deployment options available in .NET and you must have a clear understanding of using these deployment options. You will get many scenario-based questions in which your understanding of deployment options will be checked.

There will be a few questions that stress more on optimizing code/deployment to increase performance.

Configuring a Windows application is also one of the areas that will be tested and you need to have an understanding about the configuration options available. MSDN provides an article that gives useful information about the configuration options.

Security is one of the key considerations of any application. Microsoft has taken a great initiative to give many options to secure the .NET application. You must ensure that you have a thorough understanding about the security policy and also about the tools available in .NET to secure the application.

Tips and Pitfalls for MCSD 70-316 Exam

Roadmaps to the skills development and career opportunities that the Microsoft .NET platform provides for developers and recommended learning pathways through Official Microsoft Learning Products and Microsoft Press books are available now. In addition to your hands-on experience working with the product, you may want to take advantage of the tools and training on the Get Started with Microsoft Visual Studio .NET Development page to help you prepare.

Dos and Don’ts during the exam and while preparing for it

Dynamic control creation is important to know. Microsoft is focusing more on user-driven content than static content with .NET. Make sure you understand how to create .NET satellite assemblies and localized components. A portion of this has to do with what operating system name and version you have, but there are specific steps you can take to package and deploy your application properly. Focus your data studies on what works optimally with SQL Server.

Brush up on stored procedures if you're a little rusty. Understand the different types of SQL Server authentication as well as the different types of authentication offered by Windows operating systems. Sure you can pick out code errors when given examples. Specifically, know how to resolve looping errors, import errors, and general syntax errors.

Make sure you understand Windows Installer technology and how it relates to applications written in Visual Studio .NET. If you're not a developer who's focused on enterprise-based applications, you may not have a lot of exposure to localization and globalization of software. This is one area where Microsoft believes a certified developer should have a significant background.

Make sure you understand how security works in .NET. Understand which accounts have privileges to run which sections of code. Although it may be a little bit of work, study the .NET policy extensions and how they fit into the operating systems your company is running. We must not forget legacy environments.

Make sure you brush up on ActiveX controls from Visual Studio 6.0. Know how to instantiate the control and work with it in the new environment. It is especially important to understand how legacy components interact with the .NET development environment.

Learn how to use the DataSet object to generate XML and vice versa. You should know how to create schemas and validate the data, as well as create strongly typed datasets. Overall, you are expected to have a thorough understanding of XML as in .NET to succeed in MCSD 70-316 exam.

Conclusion

With Microsoft targeting all its future applications on .NET and companies adopting the Microsoft new initiative, it is quite obvious that .NET is going to pave its way for the future and will be Microsoft’s weapon for its future vision. .NET is a major leap of Microsoft with intranet in mind. Getting knowledge of .NET and eventually the MCSD .NET certification will certainly help you in maintaining consistency with the future releases of Microsoft.

Useful Resources

Books

Following good books are available at the time of writing this document, which are written specifically from MCP exam point of view.

• MCAD/MCSD Self-Paced Training Kit: Developing Windows-Based Applications with Microsoft Visual Basic.NET and Microsoft Visual C#.NET, Second Edition by Matthew A. Stoecker/Microsoft

• MCAD/MCSD Training Guide (70-316): Developing and Implementing Windows-Based Applications with Visual C# and Visual Studio .NET by Amit Kalani

• MCAD/MCSD EXAM (70-316) QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS, WITH HANDS ON LABS, Developping WINDOWS APPLICATIONS WITH Visual C# [eBook: Adobe Reader] by Mike Wright

Other than these, following are some good books on the subject:

• Programming C#, Third Edition by Jesse Liberty

• Windows Forms Programming in C# by Chris Sells

• Professional C#, Second Edition by Simon Robinson, K. Scott Allen, Ollie Cornes, Jay Glynn, Zach Greenvoss, Burton Harvey, Christian Nagel, Morgan Skinner, Karli Watson

• Microsoft Visual C# .NET Language Reference by Microsoft Corporation

• Inside C#, Second Edition by Tom Archer, Andrew Whitechapel

• C# and the .NET Platform, Second Edition by Andrew Troelsen

When you are ready to prepare for MCSD 70-316 exam, here's where you should start.

Instructor-led Courses for this exam include:

• Course 2389: Programming with Microsoft ADO .NET

• Course 2555: Developing Microsoft .NET Applications for Windows (Visual C# .NET)

Microsoft Online Resources

• TechNet: Designed for IT professionals, this site includes How-to’s, best practices, downloads, technical chats, and much more.

• MSDN: The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) is a reference for developers, featuring code samples, technical articles, newsgroups, chats, and more.

• Training & Certification Newsgroups: A newsgroup exists for every Microsoft certification. By participating in the ongoing dialogue, you take advantage of a unique opportunity to exchange ideas with and ask questions of others, including more than 750 Microsoft Most Valuable Professionals (MVPs) worldwide.

Apart from that, there are other useful sites as follows:

• www.Gotdotnmet.com

• www.codeproject.com

• www.csharpcorner.com

• www.developer.com

• www.mcpmag.com

Of course - nothing can top the MSDN site for technical content - it is a very comprehensive resource - however, it’s a bit too comprehensive, as it caters to a larger set of developers than just the ones developing applications on C#/Windows.

Exam Simulators

Whizlabs, the market leader in IT Certification Exam Preparation, provides MCSD .NET 70-316 Exam Simulator. The simulator is quite useful and effective in fine-tuning your preparation within a limited timeframe.

Certification Forums

Certification forums are a very good resource to align you preparation with your peers. You can discuss any insight, problem, or issue with like-minded professionals and keep yourself updated all the time through the forum. Whizlabs MCSD .NET Certification Forum facilitates such a platform for you to succeed in the 70-316 exam and enhance your learning experience.

*First Published at Whizlabs’ site.

Whizlabs (www.whizlabs.com), an ISO Certified company, is a leading provider of IT skill assessment and certification exam preparation tools. Whizlabs' suite of offerings include "IT Certification Exam simulators and Instructor-led, Online Trainings" for various exams by Sun, IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, BEA, Cisco, and other leading IT vendors and "IT skill Assessment Management Solution" for Corporations, Training Institutes, and Universities.

In its first 3 years of inception Whizlabs has helped 300,000 software professionals in realizing their dream of acquiring IT Certifications of their interest.

Whizlabs offerings have fuelled the career growth of IT professionals working in 321 Fortune 500 companies spread in 118 countries across the globe.

The author can be contacted at authors@whizlabs.com

MCSE Certification Preparation

MCSE certification is considered as one of the most prestigious certificates in the IT sector. The MCSE exam is tough. The person who is taking this test is already an IT professional because it is mandatory for a candidate to have at least one year of experience prior to enrollment.

The study material for MCSE on Microsoft Windows 2000 and MCSE on Windows Server 2003 is different. The former has papers that include 70-210 Windows 2000 Professional Exam, 70-215-Windows 2000 Server Exam, 70-216 Network Administration Exam, 70-219-Active Directory Design and Elective Exams containing Security Design, 70-220, Exchange 2000 Server, 70-224.

The latter includes exam 70-290, which contains questions about managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003. Environment Exam 70-291 is implementing, managing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure. Exam 70-294 tests planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active directory infrastructure.

A total of 32 course units are to be passed in order to complete the course. Preparation kits and mock exams are available on-line. Classes and tutorials are available. The price for these courses range from $ 2000 to $4000, depending on the institute.

The subjects for MCSE exams are managing and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Environment implementing, managing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Network Infrastructure, planning, implementing, and maintaining a Microsoft Windows Server 2003 active directory infrastructure. Creating and managing user, group, and computer accounts, managing file and sharing permissions controlling web server access and manage sites with internet information Services, managing hardware devices, disk storage, software, and print services and implementing backup procedures and perform system recovery, installing and configuring TCP/IP, using DHCP to manage IP addressing, configuring and managing DNS clients, servers and zones, managing routing and remote access, including VPNs, implementing and administering security procedures monitoring traffic.

MCSE Certification provides detailed information on MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Training, Online MCSE Certification, MCSE Certification Exam and more. MCSE Certification is affiliated with MCSE Term Papers.

MCSE Training In Alabama Has Never Been Easier

The world is changing and the business world seems ready to go with it. For those who have been involved in this changing dynamic in corporate America, knowledge of computers and computer systems is absolutely essential. Not only are there new job opportunities opening up in the computer industry, but more and more corporate management positions require a heightened ability to use the computer. In the past, having some knowledge of computer systems was a huge plus when applying for new jobs. In today's working world, those technical abilities are an absolute must. If you are looking to get ahead, however, you should consider MCSE training in Alabama. Becoming a Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer has never been easier, as programs are geared toward the busy business professional.

The certification process for the MCSE certificate is a fairly difficult one, but with some training, it is doable. By passing as few as seven core computer-based exams, many can walk away with the knowledge to go forward in the business world. For the extremely computer savvy individual, these tests are a breeze. The rest of us might need a little bit of training, though. Like any college course or vocational training class, MCSE training will break down not only the basics of the Microsoft Systems, but also the ins and outs of the test itself. Having an advanced knowledge of the computer programs themselves might not be enough, as the core exams can be extremely tricky without the necessary training.

The key to MCSE training in Alabama has nothing to do with how much computer knowledge or technical training you already possess. In order to really have the ability to master the core exams, you must be put through a series of hands-on sessions of advanced instruction. Studies have proven time and time again that the best way to master material of a technical nature is through repetitive mental practice. In this regard, training your mind to grasp the very technical ideas behind the Microsoft systems will enable you to pass the certification program with a measure of ease.

Another great way to train for the MCSE core exams is through a cooperative learning effort. When you come to training sessions, you will be put through not only a rigorous mental workout, but also a team effort that incorporates the mind power of many individuals. By working closely with not only the certified instructors, but with other individual business people just like yourself, you can learn at a level and pace that suits your style. In addition, this emphasis on group work will promote a sense of team building that is essential in the working world. When dealing with the often-frustrating computers, it is always best if your corporate team knows how to work together to get the job done the right way.

Many business owners are sending their current employees to these advanced programs in order to stay ahead of the curve. By sending their workers together to classes, the employees gain the first-hand knowledge of how to work with their fellow-employees while gaining the necessary training to become a MCSE. When these workers return to their place of business with this new knowledge and fancy new title, that business has the ability to become something of a corporate juggernaut in an ever-changing business landscape.

If you are trying to get ahead in the business world, consider looking into MCSE training in Alabama. By getting that certification and the experience that goes with it, corporate professionals can further not only their careers, but also the goals of the company that employs them. In today's technological world, MCSE training has never been easier.

Andy West is a writer for Virginia College. Virginia College offers training in certifications including MCSE training in Alabama. Visit Virginia College at http://www.vc.edu/site/program.cfm?programID=21 for more information.

Microsoft Vista Certification Exams Announced

Microsoft has announced the first MS Vista certifications exams.   Learn about Microsoft's newest certifications from Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933.

Microsoft Vista certification is on the way, and Microsoft recently announced the first Vista exams. In keeping with trends in certification, these particular exams are designed for different job roles.  These exams are scheduled to be released in "early 2007", according to Microsoft's website:

MCITP - Microsoft Certified IT Professional - "Consumer Support Technician" and "Enterprise Support Technician" certifications

MCTS - Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist - "Windows Vista, Configuration"

Unfortunately, there are no blueprints or details available right now detailing the differences between the Consumer Support and Enterprise Support certifications.

Those of you who were around when MS went to Server 2000 may remember that MS announced what some considered a hasty end to the NT 4.0 certification.  This time around, Microsoft's website makes a point of saying that "although progressive organizations will adopt Windows Vista immediately, Windows XP will continue to be a driving force in IT for years to come".   MS hasn't announced any further information how Vista will affect XP or Server certifications, but I suspect they won't be quite as fast to stop supporting earlier certifications.

Microsoft does make some recommendations to candidates currently working on their MCDST certification.   If you're working on that cert, visit the Microsoft Learning website to read more. 

Even if your organization is happy with their current network operating system, you should still be making long-term plans to get certified in Microsoft Vista.  The first step in assuring yourself of a long career in IT is planning to meet changes and challenges along the way.  Nothing stays the same, especially in networking!   

Chris Bryant, CCIE #12933, is the owner of The Bryant Advantage, home of over 200 free certification exam tutorials, including CCNA certification training articles. His exclusive CCNA study guide is also available!Visit his blog and sign up for Cisco Certification Central, a daily newsletter packed with CCNA, Network+, Security+, A+, and CCNP certification exam practice questions! A free 7-part course, ?How To Pass The CCNA?, is also available, and you can attend an in-person or online Cisco CCNA training boot camp with The Bryant Advantage!

 

Explore MCSE Boot Camp Options for Microsoft Certification

An exclusive Microsoft certification and a broad professional certification program are usually referred to as Microsoft Certified Professional (MCP) programs. Candidates must fulfill any one of the exams within the criteria to be a successful MCP.

The MCP program affords numerous certifications. This is usually based on select areas of technical proficiency. To achieve the certifications, the candidate must pass a series of examinations within the criteria. Popular certifications are the MCP, Microsoft Certified System Engineer or MCSE as well as the Microsoft Certified Database Administrator or MCDBA.

Several employers normally prefer--if not demand--particular MCP certifications for specialized positions. The MCP curriculum orbits around Microsoft's functioning systems. Other sellers have their very own certification programs that are nearly similar to the MCSE certification training.

Each examination usually costs at least $125. Examinations normally take on average two or three hours to complete. They normally consist of anywhere around 50-90 multiple choice and solution-building questions on a computer. Microsoft has recently announced a return to the simulated content within examinations, as students are required to perform certain familiar administrative tasks that are suitable for the topic.

The most popular Microsoft certification is the MCSE certification. The MCSE certification qualifies a candidate of being eligible to analyze the business requirements for solutions and design of a business, as well as implement the infrastructure that is required. Beginning in 2006, the MCSE certification training will prepare test-takers for two different products: Windows 2000 and Windows Server 2003. Each will require a different set of examinations.

The candidate is expected to pass six core examinations and one additional elective examination for the 2003 MCSE certification. With the 2000 MCSE certification, the ideal candidate will pass five core examinations and two electives. The topic of the MCSE certification examinations consist of Network Security, Computer Network Infrastructure, Microsoft Exchange, Active Directory, Microsoft SQL Server as well as other various topics of specific Microsoft products and general networking interest.

MCSE certification boot camps usually manage a residential program that supplies lodging and food. Designed for the busy professional, the MCSE certification boot camp is for the assertive individual who rarely has ample time for training by professional trainers through MCSE certification training or even self-preparation. MCSE certification training experts and former candidates recommend spending a good amount of time practicing the fundamentals on computers in a test environment. After practicing and reading, as well as fulfilling MCSE certification boot camp, it's recommended to take a few sample examinations prior to taking the Microsoft examination. MCSE certification boot camp information be can found on-line at http://www.unitek.com/training/mcse_bootcamp.php.

Shannon Margolis
IT Marketing Coordinator
www.unitek.com