This textbook is intended for use in an advanced programming course, which assumes completion of an introductory course. Emphasis is on advanced programming skills using the most up-to-date features of Visual Basic, including updating databases using an ADO data control, the Data Environment, and the ADO object model in code. Students learn to develop multi-tier client/server applications, create Active X DLL and EXE code components, author ActiveX controls, develop Web-based database applications, create DHTML and IIS Internet applications, build HTML Help files, call Windows API methods, and package applications for distribution. The text is designed to prepare students for the Microsoft Certified Systems Developer Desktop Application exam (Exam 70-176).