MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 6

This is the sixth post (first, second, third, fourth, fifth) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This exam guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Developing a Web Application by Using ASP.NET MVC 2 (13%)

• Create custom routes
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Route constraints
• ASP.NET Routing
• Route class
• Route.Constraints
• Route defaults
• Ignore routes
• RouteCollection class
• Custom route parameters
• Create controllers and actions.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Visual Studio support for right-click context menus
• Action filters (including Authorize, AcceptVerbs, and custom) and model binders
• ActionResult sub-classes
• Structure an ASP.NET MVC application.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• single project areas (for example, route registration, Visual Studio tooling, and inter-area links)
• Organizing controllers into areas
• Shared views
• Content files and folders
• Create and customize views.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• built-in and custom HTML helpers (for example, HTML.RenderAction and HTML.RenderPartial)
• RenderAction
• Rendering a Form in ASP.NET MVC Using HTML Helpers 
• Strongly typed views
• Static page checking
• Templated input helpers
• ViewMasterPage
• ViewUserControl

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 5

This is the fifth post (first, second, third, fourth) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This exam guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Displaying and Manipulating Data (19%)

• Implement data-bound controls
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • DataList
    • How to: Allow Users to Delete Items in DataList Web Server Controls
    • How to: Allow Users to Edit Items in DataList Web Server Controls
    • How to: Allow Users to Select Items in DataList Web Server Controls
    • How to: Customize DataList Items at Run Time
    • How to: Customize Items Dynamically in the DataList Web Server Control
    • How to: Respond to Button Events in DataList or Repeater Items
    • How to: Respond to Button Events in DataList, Repeater, or GridView Items
    • How to: Specify Flow or Table Format in DataList Web Server Controls
    • How to: Specify Horizontal or Vertical Layout in DataList Web Server Controls
    • Walkthrough: Creating a Web Page to Display XML Data
    • Walkthrough: Data Binding to a Custom Business Object
    • Walkthrough: Displaying and Formatting Data with the DataList Web Server Control
  • Repeater
    • How to: Respond to Button Events in DataList or Repeater Items
    • How to: Respond to Button Events in DataList, Repeater, or GridView Items
  • ListView
  • FormsView
    • Walkthrough: Displaying Formatted Data in Web Pages with the FormView Web Server Control
  • DetailsView
    • Walkthrough: Editing and Inserting Data in Web Pages with the DetailsView Web Server Control
  • TreeView
    • How to: Add or Delete TreeView Node Elements
  • DataPager
    • Walkthrough: Displaying, Paging, and Sorting Data Using the ListView Web Server Control
  • Chart
  • GridView
• Implement DataSource controls
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • ObjectDataSource
  • LinqDataSource
  • XmlDataSource
  • SqlDataSource
  • QueryExtender
    • Walkthrough: Filtering Data in a Web Page Using Declarative Syntax
  • EntityDataSource
• Query and manipulate data by using LINQ
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• transforming data by using LINQ to create XML or JSON, LINQ to SQL
  • LINQ to XML Overview
  • LINQ to XML vs. DOM
  • LINQ to XML vs. Other XML Technologies
  • LINQ to SQL
  • Creating the Object Model (LINQ to SQL)
  • Communicating with the Database (LINQ to SQL)
  • Querying the Database (LINQ to SQL)
  • Making and Submitting Data Changes (LINQ to SQL)
  • Stored Procedures (LINQ to SQL)
  • Samples (LINQ to SQL)
  • Implementing Business Logic (LINQ to SQL)
  • LINQ to SQL N-Tier with ASP.NET
  • LINQ to SQL N-Tier with Web Services
  • Customizing Insert, Update, and Delete Operations (LINQ to SQL)
  • Data Binding (LINQ to SQL) 
• LINQ to Entities
• Queries in LINQ to Entities 
• LINQ to Objects
  • How to: Query an ArrayList with LINQ
  • LINQ and Strings
  • LINQ and File Directories
  • LINQ and Reflection
  • How to: Add Custom Methods for LINQ Queries 
• managing DataContext lifetime
• ADO.NET and LINQ to SQL
• Data Retrieval and CUD Operations in N-Tier Applications (LINQ to SQL) 
• Create and consume a data service.
• This objective may include but is not limited to: 
• Web service
• How to: Call a Web Service
• Using Web Services in Ajax
• Consuming a dataset from an XML Web Service (ADO.NET) 
• WCF
• ASP.NET Application Services Overview
• How to: Enable the WCF Authentication Service.
• How to: Enable the WCF Role Service.
• How to: Enable the WCF Profile Service.
• Walkthrough: Using ASP.NET Application Services.
• How to: Define a Windows Communication Foundation Service Contract
• Exposing WCF Services to Client Script
• server to server calls
• JSON serialization
• XML serialization
• Introducing XML Serialization
• How to: Serialize an Object
• How to: Deserialize an Object
• Examples of XML Serialization
• Controlling XML Serialization Using Attributes
• Attributes That Control XML Serialization
• How to: Specify an Alternate Element Name for an XML Stream
• How to: Control Serialization of Derived Classes
• How to: Qualify XML Element and XML Attribute Names
• XML Serialization with XML Web Services
• How to: Serialize an Object as a SOAP-Encoded XML Stream
• How to: Override Encoded SOAP XML Serialization
• Attributes That Control Encoded SOAP Serialization
• Create and configure a Dynamic Data project
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Dynamic data controls
  • System.Web.DynamicData Namespace
  • DynamicEntity
  • DynamicField
  • DynamicFilter
  • DynamicHyperLink
  • DynamicQueryStringParameter
  • DynamicValidator
  • FilterRepeater
  • QueryableFilterRepeater 
  • Custom field templates
  • How to: Customize ASP.NET Dynamic Data Default Field Templates
  • How to: Customize Data Field Appearance and Behavior in a Data-Bound Control
  • How to: Create Table Action Links in Dynamic Data
  • Walkthrough: Customizing Table Layout Using Entity Templates.
  • How to: Customize the Layout of an Individual Table By Using a Custom Page Template 
  • How to: Customize Data Field Display in the Data Model
  • How to: Customize Data Field Appearance and Behavior For Non-Intrinsic Data Types in the Data Model
  • Walkthrough: Customizing Data Field Appearance and Behavior in the Data Model
  • connecting to DataContext and ObjectContext

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 4

This is the fourth post (first, second, third) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This exam guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Configuring and Extending a Web Application (15%)

• Configure authentication and authorization
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Using membership
• Introduction to Membership
• Membership Classes
• Configuring an ASP.NET Application to Use Membership 
• Walkthrough: Creating a Web Site with Membership and User Login
• Using login controls
• Walkthrough: Creating an ASP.NET Web Site with Basic User Login
• Customizing the Appearance of ASP.NET Login Controls
• Roles
• Understanding Role Management
• Role Management Classes
• Securing Roles
• Walkthrough: Managing Web Site Users with Roles
• Location element
• How to: Configure Specific Directories Using Location Settings
• Protecting an area of a site or a page
• Configure providers
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Role
• Implementing a Role Provider
• Creating and Configuring the Application Services Database for SQL Server
• Membership
• Implementing a Membership Provider
• How to: Implement a Custom Membership User
• Personalization
• aspnet_regsql.exe
• Create and configure HttpHandlers and HttpModules
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Generic handlers
• IHttpHandler
• IHttpModule
• Asynchronous handlers
• Setting MIME types and other content headers
• Response.AddHeader
• Response.ContentType
• Wiring modules to application events
• Configure initialization and error handling
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Handling Application_Start
• Session_Start
• Application_BeginRequest in global.asax
• Capturing unhandled exceptions
• Custom error section of web.config
• Redirecting to an error page
• try and catch
• Creating custom exceptions
• Reference and configure ASMX and WCF services
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Adding service reference
• How to: Add, Update, or Remove a Service Reference
• Adding Web reference
• Changing endpoints
• How to: Create a Service Endpoint in Configuration
• wsdl.exe
• svcutil.exe
• Generating a WCF Client from Service Metadata
• How to: Use Svcutil.exe to Export Metadata from Compiled Service Code
• How to: Use Svcutil.exe to Validate Compiled Service Code
• How to: Use Svcutil.exe to Download Metadata Documents
• How to: Improve the Startup Time of WCF Client Applications using the XmlSerializer
• Updating service URL
• Shared WCF contracts assembly
• Configure projects and solutions, and reference assemblies
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Local assemblies
• Shared assemblies (global assembly cache)
• Web application projects
• Settings file
• Configuring a Web application by using web.config or multiple .config files
• AssemblyInfo
• How To: Create Versioned Assemblies for Precompiled Web Sites
• Debug a Web application
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Remote
• Setting Up Remote Debugging
• How to: Find the Name of the ASP.NET Process
• Local
• ASP.NET Debugging: System Requirements
• How to: Enable Debugging for ASP.NET Applications
• Debugger Roadmap
• Debug.Assert
• Debug.Write
• JavaScript debugging
• How to: Enable and Start Script Debugging from Internet Explorer
• Limitations on Script Debugging
• How to: Attach to Script
• How to: Set Breakpoints in a Script
• Debugging and Tracing Ajax Applications Overview
• Attaching to process
• Logging and tracing
• Fuslogvw.exe (Assembly Binding Log Viewer)
• Using local IIS
• aspnet_regiis.exe
• Deploy a Web application
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Pre-compilation
• Publishing methods (e.g., MSDeploy, xcopy, and FTP)
• How to: Deploy a Web Application Project Using One-Click Publish and Web Deploy
• Walkthrough: Deploying a Web Application Project Using One-Click Publish
• How to: Deploy a Web Application Project Using One-Click Publish Without Web Deploy
• How to: Deploy a Web Application Project Using a Web Deployment Package
• Walkthrough: Deploying a Web Application Project Using a Web Deployment Package
• How to: Use MSBuild to Create a Web Package
• How to: Use MSBuild to Publish a Web Application
• How to: Transform Web.config When Deploying a Web Application Project
• How to: Disable Web.config Transformation
• Web.config Transformation Syntax for Web Application Project Deployment
• Deploying Web Site Projects by Using the Copy Web Site Tool
• How to: Deploy Web Site Projects by using the Copy Web Site Tool
• Walkthrough: Deploying Web Site Projects by Using the Copy Web Site Tool
• Walkthrough: Deploying a Web Site Project by Using XCOPY
• How to: Deploy a Web Site Project by Using the Publish Web Site Tool
• Walkthrough: Deploying a Web Site Project by Using the Publish Web Site Tool
• How to: Publish and Generate Fixed Assembly Names in Visual Web Developer
• How to: Publish and Sign Assemblies for Precompiled Web Sites in Visual Web Developer
• How to: Configure Published Web Site Projects
• Deploying an MVC application

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 3

This is the third post (first, second) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This exam guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Implementing Client-Side Scripting and AJAX (16%)

• Add dynamic features to a page by using JavaScript
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Referencing ClientID
    • ClientID
    • How to: Add Client Script Events to ASP.NET Web Server Controls 
  • Script Manager
    • ScriptManager 
  • Script combining
  • Page.clientscript.registerclientscriptblock
  • Page.clientscript.registerclientscriptinclude
  • sys.require (scriptloader)
• Alter a page dynamically by manipulating the DOM
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • using jQuery
  • Adding, modifying, or removing page elements
  • Adding effects
  • jQuery selectors
• Handle JavaScript events
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • DOM events
  • Custom events
  • Handling events by using jQuery
• Implement ASP.NET AJAX
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Client-side templating
    • ASP.NET AJAX and Client-Side Templates 
  • Creating a script service
    • WebMethodAttribute
    • ScriptServiceAttribute 
  • Extenders
    • TargetControlID
    • Walkthrough: Microsoft Ajax Extender Controls 
  • Interacting with the server
  • Microsoft AJAX Client Library
    • Global Namespace
    • Sys Namespace
    • Sys.Net Namespace
    • Sys.Serialization Namespace
    • Sys.Services Namespace
    • Sys.UI Namespace
    • Sys.WebForms Namespace 
  • Custom extenders
  • Multiple update panels
  • Triggers
    • ChildrenAsTriggers 
  • UpdatePanel.UpdateMode
    • UpdateMode 
  • Timer
• Implement AJAX by using jQuery.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • $.get
  • $.post
  • $.getJSON
  • $.ajax
  • xml
  • html
  • JavaScript Object Notation (JSON)
  • Handling return types

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 2

This is the second post (first) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This exam guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Developing and Using Web Forms Controls (18%)

• Validate user input.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Client side
• How to: Control Validation Error Message Display for ASP.NET Server Controls
• Server side
• AJAX
• Walkthrough: Using validation controls inside an update panel
• Custom validation controls
• How to: Validate with a Custom Function for ASP.NET Server Controls
• How to: Validate Against Values in a Database for ASP.NET Server Controls
• Regex validation
• Regex
• Validation groups
• Datatype check
• jQuery validation
• Create page layout.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• AssociatedControlID
• Walkthrough: Accessibility Guidelines for Using Image Controls, Menu Controls, and AutoPostBack 
• Web parts
• ASP.NET Web Parts Overview
• Walkthrough: Creating a Web Parts Page
• Web Parts ASP.NET Web Server Controls
• Web Parts Page Display Modes
• Web Parts Personalization
• Web Parts Connections Overview
• Securing Web Parts Pages
• Using ASP.NET Server Controls in Web Parts Applications
• Web Parts Control Description Files
• Creating a Data-Bound Web Parts Control
• How to: Treat a User Control as a Web Parts Control
• How to: Enable Users to Import Web Parts Control Settings
• How to: Export Web Parts Control Settings 
• Navigation controls
• Menu Web Server Control (Visual Studio)
• SiteMapPath Web Server Control Overview
• TreeView Control (Visual Studio)
• FileUpload controls
• How to: Upload Files with the FileUpload Web Server Control 
• Implement user controls.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Registering a control
• @ Register 
• Adding a user control
• How to: Include ASP.NET User Controls in Web Pages
• Walkthrough: Creating Reusable Elements with ASP.NET User Controls 
• Referencing a user control
• Dynamically loading a user control
• @ Reference
• LoadControl
• ControlCollection
• ControlCollection
• Custom event
• Custom properties
• Implement server controls
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• Composite controls
• CompositeControl
• CreateChildControls
• EnsureChildControls 
• INamingContainer
• Adding a server control to the toolbox
• Setting toolbox visibility
• Global Assembly cache
• Creating a custom control event
• Globally registering from web.config
• TypeConverters 
• Manipulate user interface controls from code-behind.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
• HTML encoding to avoid cross-site scripting
• Navigating through and manipulating the control hierarchy
• FindControl
• controlRenderingCompatibilityVersion
• Control.RenderingCompatibility
• URL encoding
• UrlEncode 
• RenderOuterTable

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

MCTS Web Applications .NET 4– 70-515 – Objectives List Part 1

This is the first post in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-515 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here) and Web Applications .NET 2.0 exam 70-528 (here)

Please note that information and exam is currently in beta and subject to change. This guide is for use at your own discretion and the author accepts NO liability in relation to incorrect or missing information. Also note that using this guide to study does not imply you will pass the exam

Developing Web Forms Pages (19%)

• Configure Web Forms pages.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Page directives
    • Async
    • AsyncTimeOut
    • AspCompat
    • AutoEventWireup
    • Buffer
    • ClientIDMode
      • ASP.NET Web Server Control Identification
      • AutoID
      • Static
      • Predictable
      • Inherit
    • ClientTarget
    • CompilationMode
    • EnableViewState
    • EnableViewStateMac
    • ErrorPage
    • MasterPageFile
    • MetaDescription
    • MetaKeywords
    • Theme
    • ViewStateEncryptionMode
    • ViewStateMode
    • WarningLevel 
  • ViewState
    • ASP.NET State Management Overview
    • ViewStateMode 
  • Request Validation
  • Event Validation
  • MasterPageFile
  • ClientIDMode
    • How to: Access Controls from JavaScript by ID
    • Walkthrough: Making Data-Bound Controls Easier to Access from JavaScript
    • Walkthrough: Making Controls Located in Web User Controls Easier to Access from JavaScript
    • Control.ID
    • Control.UniqueID
    • Control.ClientID 
  • Using web.config
    • Editing ASP.NET Configuration Files
    • ASP.NET Configuration Scenarios 
  • Setting the html doctype
• Implement master pages and themes.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • Creating and applying themes
    • How to: Define ASP.NET Page Themes
    • How to: Apply ASP.NET Themes
    • How to: Disable ASP.NET Themes
    • Walkthrough: Creating User-Selectable Themes
    • ASP.NET Web Server Controls and CSS Styles
    • pages Element
  • Adding multiple content placeholders
  • Nested master pages
    • Walkthrough: Using Nested Master Pages in ASP.NET 
  • Control skins
  • Passing messages between master pages
  • Switching between themes at runtime
  • Loading themes at run time
  • Applying a validation schema
• Implement globalization
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • resource files
    • Localizing Resources for Component Libraries Overview
    • Walkthrough: Embedding Localized Resources for a JavaScript File
    • Walkthrough: Globalizing a Date by Using Client Script
    • How to: Retrieve Resource Values Programmatically
    • How to: Create Resource Files for ASP.NET Web Stes
    • How to: Use Resources to Set Property Values in Web Server Controls 
    • How to: Retrieve Resource Values Programmatically
  • browser files
  • CurrentCulture
  • currentUICulture
    • How to: Set the Culture and UI Culture for ASP.NET Web Page Globalization 
  • ASP:Localize
• Handle page life cycle events
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • IsPostback
    • How to: Determine How ASP.NET Web Pages Were Invoked
  • IsValid
    • How to: Disable Validation for ASP.NET Server Controls
    • How to: Display Server Side Custom Validation Messages for ASP.NET Server Controls
  • dynamically creating controls
    • PlaceHolder
    • Dynamic Web Server Controls and View State
  • control availability within the page life cycle
  • accessing control values on postback
  • overriding page events
    • PreInit
    • Init
    • InitComplete
    • PreLoad
    • Load
    • LoadComplete
    • PreRender
    • PreRenderComplete
    • SaveStateComplete
    • Render
    • Unload
• Implement caching.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • data caching
    • Cache
    • How to: Add Items to the Cache
    • How to: Retrieve Values of Cached Items
    • CacheItemPriority
    • Add
    • Insert
    • How to: Delete Items from the Cache in ASP.NET
    • How to: Notify an Application When an Item Is Removed from the Cache
  • page output caching
    • How to: Set the Cacheability of an ASP.NET Page Declaratively
    • How to: Set a Page's Cacheability Programmatically 
    • How to: Set Expiration Values for ASP.NET Page Caching
    • How to: Check the Validity of a Cached Page
    • How to: Cache Page Output with File Dependencies
    • How to: Cache Page Output with Cache Key Dependencies
    • Setting the Cacheability of a Page
    • Caching Multiple Versions of a Page
  • control output caching
    • @ OutputCache
    • PartialCachingAttribute
    • Caching multiple versions of user control output
  • cache dependencies
    • AggregateCacheDependency
    • Caching in ASP.NET with the SqlCacheDependency Class
    • How to: Cache Page Output with File Dependencies 
  • setting cache lifetimes
  • substitution control
    • Substitution
    • AdRotator
    • WriteSubstitution
• Manage state.
  This objective may include but is not limited to:
  • server-side technologies
    • Application State
    • HttpApplicationState
      • How to: Read Values from Application State
      • How to: Save Values in Application State
    • Session State
    • HttpSessionState
      • How to: Read Values from Session State
      • How to: Sample Session-State Store Provider
      • How to: Save Values in Session State
    • ASP.NET Profile Properties Overview
    • ASP.NET State Management Recommendations.
  • client-side technologies
    • ViewState
    • How to: Read Values from View State
    • How to: Save Values in View State
    • ControlState
    • HiddenField
    • Cookies
      • How to: Delete a Cookie
      • How to: Write a Cookie
    • QueryString 
  • configuring session state 
  • session state compression
  • persisting data by using ViewState
  • compressing ViewState
  • moving ViewState

There are no books available for this exam at this time due to the fact that the exam is in beta until 30-April-2010. 8 weeks after this date is the expected go live date for this exam.

Codes for .NET 4 Beta Exams

Gerry O’Brien has posted the codes for the .NET 4 exams.

But you can get them here anyways

Exam Number	Beta Code
71-511	511BC
71-515	515AA
71-513	513CD
71-516	516B1
71-518	518PE
71-519	519ZS

To register in North America, please call: Prometric: (800) 755-EXAM (800-755-3926)

Outside the U.S./Canada, please contact:Prometric: http://www.register.prometric.com/ClientInformation.asp

UPDATE: Added 70-515 Exam / Study guide

.NET 4 Beta Exams

The .NET 4.0 exams will open in beta on the 15th of March 2010 at 12AM Eastern Standard Time and the beta runs from April 5, 2010 – April 30, 2010. Beta exams have limited availability and are operated under a first-come-first-served basis. Once all beta slots are filled, no additional seats will be offered.

Microsoft Learning will post a notice on the Born to Learn blog when the beta slots are filled.

Testing is held at Prometric testing centres worldwide, although this exam may not be available in all countries (see Regional Restrictions). All testing centres will have the capability to offer this exam in its live version.
Regional Restrictions: India, Pakistan, China

The following exams are available

• Exam 71-511: TS: Windows Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Exam 71-515: TS: Web Applications Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Exam 70-513: TS: Windows Communication Foundation Development with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Exam 70-516: TS: Accessing Data with Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Exam 70-518: Pro: Designing and Developing Windows Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4
• Exam 70-519: Pro: Designing and Developing Web Applications Using Microsoft .NET Framework 4

The beta invite codes will have been sent to eligible persons by Microsoft through the MSL Subject Matter Experts page on the Microsoft Connect site. If you are already registered with that site you should do so.

You can find more information about the beta exam process here

UPDATE: Added 70-515 Exam / Study guide

MCTS .NET 2.0 Web-based Client Development – 70-528 – Objectives List Part 4

This is the fourth post (first, second, third) in another collection of posts that have links to the different objectives covered in the 70-528 exam. There is also a series on ASP.NET 3.5 exam 70-562 (here)

Tracing, configuring, and deploying applications

• Use a Web setup project to deploy a Web application to a target server.
  • Create a Web setup project.
  • Web Pages and Projects
  • What's New in Web Projects
  • Configure deployment properties for a Web setup project.
  • Build, Configuration Properties, Deployment Project Properties Dialog Box 
  • Install a Web application on a target server.
• Copy a Web application to a target server by using the Copy Web tool.
• Precompile a Web application by using the Publish Web utility.
• Optimize and troubleshoot a Web application.
• Customize event-level analysis by using the ASP.NET health-monitoring API.
• ASP.NET Health Monitoring Overview
• Configuring ASP.NET Health Monitoring
• Buffering ASP.NET Health Monitoring Events
• Using WMI to Deliver ASP.NET Health Monitoring Events
• Walkthrough: Listening for WMI Events in ASP.NET Health Monitoring
• Extending ASP.NET Health Monitoring
• Implementing Custom ASP.NET Health Monitoring Events and Providers
• Securing ASP.NET Health Monitoring
• System.Web.Management
• System.Management
• System.Management.Instrumentation
• HealthMonitoringSection
• healthMonitoring Element (ASP.NET Settings Schema)
• Use performance counters to track the execution of an application.
• How to: Create Performance Counter Categories, Category and Counter Management
• How to: Create Custom Performance Counters.
• How to: View the ASP.NET Performance Counters Available on Your Computer
• Developing High-Performance ASP.NET Applications
• Troubleshoot a Web application by using ASP.NET tracing.
• ASP.NET Tracing Overview
• Application-Level ASP.NET Tracing Overview
• How to: Enable Tracing for an ASP.NET Page
• How to: Enable Tracing for an ASP.NET Application
• Writing Custom ASP.NET Trace Messages
• How to: View ASP.NET Trace Information with the Trace Viewer
• Reading ASP.NET Trace Information
• Walkthrough: Integrating ASP.NET Tracing with System.Diagnostics Tracing
• System.Web.TraceContext 
• Optimize performance by using the ASP.NET Cache object.
• ASP.NET Caching Overview
• What's New in ASP.NET Caching
• Caching ASP.NET Pages
• Caching Application Data
• Caching Multiple Versions of a Page
• Caching Portions of an ASP.NET Page
• Dynamically Updating Portions of a Cached Page
• Caching in ASP.NET with the SqlCacheDependency Class
• Cache Configuration in ASP.NET
• System.Web.Caching
• HttpCachePolicy
• HttpCacheability
• @ OutputCache
• Caching Application Data
• How to: Add Items to the Cache.
• How to: Retrieve Values of Cached Items.
• CacheItemPriority 
• AggregateCacheDependency
• How to: Cache Page Output with File Dependencies

You can also find some information on preparing for your exams here and here, in the actual exam for 70-528. Also errata for the MS Press training kit

New MCP Virtual Business Cards

After much hype and delay, Microsoft Learning eventually have released their much anticipated virtual business cards for MCPs. This new service will allow Microsoft Certified Professionals to generate interactive business cards detailing their certifications and that can be included in their emails, websites and other digital communication channels.

As you can see above, my current business card shows the information I choose to share and my certifications.

The process is relatively simple, if albeit a bit buggy at times.

Log into the virtual business card site with the live id that is associated with your MCP ID, just like the MCP site. And then create the cards.

The wizard is fairly intuitive but does a couple of irritations such as the lack of being able to not remove an avatar if you have added it to your card, and also the resize is to 120px by 120px which can skew the aspect of a professional portrait, hence why I don’t have one on mine just yet.

You can list as much or as little information as you want and can include details such as a bio, addresses, job title and additional online identities such as twitter and LinkedIn.

You can also add your transcript and share it online much like the current offering from the MCP site.

 

 

 

Once you have created your card you can then share it using a variety of techniques. The JavaScript version is interactive.

It makes a nice change to having a static image on the screen and it can be updated from the server so that it stays current.

 

 

There were a few hiccups with it, and most of them have been solved in the first few days thanks to the responses from those waiting for this. There are still some improvements to be made I think and hopefully based on feedback, Microsoft Learning will work on this and give a better product to MCPs. 

MCPD Windows Upgrade 70-566

I have just finished the exam 70-566 UPGRADE: Transition your MCPD Windows Developer Skills to MCPD Windows Developer 3.5. This exam is an upgrade for those developers who have already attained the MCPD Windows Developer on .NET 2.0.

As an upgrade this exam contains elements from both 70-505 and 70-563. Like upgrade exams this allows people who have already got their MCPD to combine two exams into one so that they don’t have to pay for doing both exams.

Anyways, a bit about the exam. The preparation materials for this exam are fairly limited. I did use my own set of posts on 70-505. Considering the limited number of changes to Windows Forms in .NET 3.5 I just went through the objectives and worked from there.

Now the issue for me was how to get around the Pro part of the exam. There is no book for this exam and the Pro exams usually test experience with the product and development architecture such as what would you do in this context when faced with an design/architectural issue. So how do you deal with that.

What I used was the Pro book from 70-548 and used the objectives list from 70-563  to supplement what I needed to know. This will not work for everyone especially if you haven’t been through a Pro level exam before. So how do you prepare for this. Well again I would say use the book from 70-548 so you can get a feel for what may be asked for in the exam. Also take an exam with MeasureUp and see what how you get on.

And some nice new logos for me :)