Introduction to VB.NET Object-Oriented Features
Pages: 1, 2, 3

Interfaces

There are times when you do not want to code the implementation within a class. Interfaces provide a powerful mechanism to separate the definitions of objects from actual implementation. Listing 9 shows three interfaces. Note that only the definitions of methods and properties are present, not the implementation codes.

Listing 9. Vehicle Interface

Interface Vehicle
    Sub Start()
    Sub Brake()
    Sub TurnLeft()
    Sub TurnRight()
    Sub Reverse()
    Sub Accelerate()
    Function GetSpeed()
    Property wheels() As Integer
End Interface

Interface Car
    Inherits Vehicle
End Interface

Interface Dimension
    Property length() As Single
    Property breadth() As Single
End Interface

Listing 10 shows the SportsCar class implementing (using the Implements keyword) the Car and Dimension interfaces. A class that implements an interface must provide implementations for that interface.

Listing 10. SportsCar Class

Public Class SportsCar
    Implements Car
    Implements Dimension

    Public Sub start() Implements Car.Start
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Sub Brake() Implements Car.Brake
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Sub turnleft() Implements Car.TurnLeft
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Sub turnright() Implements Car.TurnRight
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Sub reverse() Implements Car.Reverse
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Sub accelerate() Implements Car.Accelerate
        '   implementation codes here
    End Sub
    Public Function getspeed() Implements Car.GetSpeed
        '   implementation codes here
    End Function
    Property wheels() As Integer Implements Car.wheels
        Get
            '   implementation codes here
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Integer)
            '   implementation codes here
        End Set
    End Property
    Property breadth() As Single Implements Dimension.breadth
        Get
            '   implementation codes here
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Single)
            '   implementation codes here
        End Set
    End Property

    Property length() As Single Implements Dimension.length
        Get
            '   implementation codes here
        End Get
        Set(ByVal Value As Single)
            '   implementation codes here
        End Set
    End Property

End Class

Listing 10 also shows that all of the methods and properties defined by the two interfaces are defined by the SportsCar class. Unlike class inheritance, multiple inheritance in interfaces is allowed, like the following:

Interface Truck
    Inherits Car
    Inherits Dimension
End Interface

Namespaces

The .NET framework uses a dot syntax to group class libraries into easily recognized groups. This naming convention is known as a namespace. For example, the System.Xml.Xsl namespace contains classes that perform XSL transformation. Likewise, in your application you may have many classes, each performing different functions. You may run into name collision, where you have one or more classes with the same name. In this case, you can organize your classes using Namespace:

Namespace Graph
    Public Class Point
       ' Members declaration here
    End Class
End Namespace

Namespace Direction
    Public Class Point
       ' Members declaration here
    End Class
End Namespace

To use the classes with namespaces, you should specify the full namespace:

        Dim ptX As New Graph.Point()
        Dim goNorth As New Direction.Point()

Note: you can also reduce the amount of typing by using the Imports statement:

   Imports MyApplication.Graph
   Dim ptX As New Point()
   

I will talk more about namespaces in a future article.

The Set Keyword

In Visual Basic 6.0, object assignment requires the use of the Set keyword. This has created some confusion for developers who sometimes are just not sure whether to use the Set keyword.

' Visual Basic 6.0
Dim cmdButton As CommandButton
Set cmdButton = Command1

In VB.NET, Microsoft has removed this confusion, and the Set keyword is no longer supported (do not confuse this Set with the one in Property).

' Visual Basic .NET
Dim cmdButton As Button
cmdButton = Button1

Summary

I hope you now have a good grounding in OO concepts in VB.NET. The best way to learn OO concepts is through examples and some experimentation. Go ahead, try it out yourself, and you will very soon discover that you have learnt much more than you have expected.

Wei-Meng Lee (Microsoft MVP) http://weimenglee.blogspot.com is a technologist and founder of Developer Learning Solutions http://www.developerlearningsolutions.com, a technology company specializing in hands-on training on the latest Microsoft technologies.

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