Introduction to Visual Basic
Programming and
Applications
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Objectives
Machine language vs.. High-level language
Procedure-oriented, object-oriented, and event-driven languages
Background of Visual Basic
VB Integrated Development Environment Online 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 language
Procedure-oriented languages
Object-oriented languages
Event-driven languages
Natural 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 Edition
Professional Edition
Enterprise Edition
Included 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 icon Application name Context menus Controls Current project Design view mode Title 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 EmbeddingUse 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 Machine
2. Personal News Service
3. Getting Assistance While You Work
4. Pricing Information
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Case Studies
I Wish I CouldVisual Basic Help on the WebQuick Reference ManualPlanning for Disaster