Visual Basic (VB 6.0) - Introduction

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