Chapter 1Introduction to

Visual BasicProgrammin

g and Applications

1

Exploring Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0Copyright © 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

By Carlotta Eaton

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Objectives

Machine language vs.. High-level language

Procedure-oriented, object-oriented, and event-driven languages

Background of Visual BasicVB Integrated Development

EnvironmentOnline documentation and Help features

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Application Programs

Program - detailed set of instructions for a computer to execute

Application programs (applications or apps) - self-contained collection of programs that perform a task for the end user

Programming language - formal language used to give instructions to computers

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History of Programming Languages

Machine languageProcedure-oriented languagesObject-oriented languagesEvent-driven languagesNatural languages

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History of Programming Languages

Machine Language different for each computer processor

Procedure-Oriented Languages FORTRAN COBOL Pascal C Ada

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History of Programming Languages

Object-oriented languages Smalltalk C++ Ada 95

Event-driven languages Visual Basic most Visual languages

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History of Programming Languages

Natural languages computer will accept a user’s native

or natural language, such as English Researchers continue to work in this

area

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Background of Visual Basic

BASIC Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic

Instruction Code By John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz Designed to teach programming to

beginners BASIC language interpreter, one of

Microsoft’s first products

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Background of Visual Basic

BASIC Included with DOS QBASIC - included with DOS Version 5 -

subset of BASIC

Visual Basic 1992 - Visual Basic 1 for Windows 3 Visual Basic 4 - for Windows 95 Visual Basic 5 - for Office 97 Visual Basic 6 - for Windows 98 & Office 2000

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Visual Basic Editions

Learning EditionProfessional EditionEnterprise EditionIncluded in Visual Studio suite

(analogy Office for programmers)

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Visual Basic Editions

Other Visual Basic packaging options VBA (Visual Basic for Applications) Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic Visual Basic Scripting Edition Control Creation Edition

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Toolbox

Form Designer Window

Code Editor Window

Project Explorer

Properties window

Form Layout Window

Visual Basic 6 Interactive Development Environment

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Elements of the Integrated Development Environment

Application iconApplication nameContext menusControlsCurrent projectDesign view modeTitle bar

Major windows Form Designer Form Layout Toolbox Project Explorer Object Browser Properties Code Editor Immediate, Locals, Watch

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Introduction to Visual Basic

Hands-On Exercise 1 Start Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Open the Welcome Project Open the Welcome Form Run the Welcome Project End the Welcome Project Exit Visual Basic

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Get Help When You Need It

MSDN LibraryMicrosoft on the WebLearning Edition of Visual Basic 6.0

Visual Basic 6.0 in Action book Learn Visual Basic Now multimedia

tutorial

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MSDN Library

Topic PaneNavigation Pane

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MSDN Library

Visual Basic Documentation Documentation Map What’s New Programmer’s Guide Samples Reference Guidebooks Component Tools Guide Data Access Guide

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Get Help from the CD

Hands-On Exercise 2 Open the Calc Sample Application Run the Calc Sample Application Get Help from the MSDN Library Add a Topic to the Favorites List Search for a Definition Exit Help and Visual Basic

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Help from the Web

Pull down Help menuSelect Help from the Web

or www.microsoft.com/vbasic

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Get Help from the Web

Hands-On Exercise 3 Use the Free Stuff Page to Update VB Install the Update (optional) Product News Frequently Asked Questions Online Support

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Use the Right Tool for the Job

Microsoft Office Suite Word - word processing Excel - spreadsheet PowerPoint - presentation Access - database

OLE = Object Linking and Embedding

Use Visual Basic to create a specialized, customized application

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Summary ...

Event-driven languages is a major improvement in programming languages

Editions include Learning Edition, Professional Edition, and Enterprise Edition

CD-ROM includes the MSDN Library, and many sample programs

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Summary

Integrated Development Environment includes Form Designer, Form Layout Code Edition, Project Explorer Properties and Object Browser

Choose the right tool for the jobVisual Basic is the glue that binds

Windows objects together

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Practice with Visual Basic

1. Automated Teller Machine2. Personal News Service3. Getting Assistance While You

Work4. Pricing Information

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Case Studies

I Wish I CouldVisual Basic Help on the WebQuick Reference ManualPlanning for Disaster