A First Look At Microsoft Visual Basic

Lesson 1

What is Microsoft Visual Basic?

• Microsoft Visual Basic is a software development tool, which means it is a tool that allows you to create programs.

Starting Visual BasicVisual Basic can be started

from a shortcut on the desktop or from the Start button and Programs menu.

Step-By-Step:1. Click the Start button.2. Open Programs.3. On the Programs menu,

position your mouse pointer on the menu that leads to Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0.

4. On the Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Menu, position your mouse pointer on the menu that leads to Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. Double click Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to open the program.

5. The Visual Basic compiler starts and the New Project dialog box opens.

6. Choose Standard EXE and click on the Open button.

Components of the Compiler

When you first run the Visual Basic programming environment, it look similar to other program you have run in Windows.

Components of the Compiler

The Project Explorer

• Allows you to see the forms and files that make up your program.

• Use the Project Explore to access the forms that you want to work on.

• By default, the Project Explorer window is docked at the upper-right corner of the screen.

• The Project Explorer window organizes the forms used in a Visual Basic program.

The Properties Window

• The pieces that make up a VB program are called objects. Windows, command buttons, text boxes, and scroll bars are all examples of objects.

• Objects placed on forms, such as command buttons and text boxes, are also known as controls.

• Each object has characteristics that can be customized. These characteristics are called properties.

• To see the properties of an object, select the object and view the properties in the Properties window.

• The properties of the object can also be changed from the Properties window.

The Toolbox• The toolbox is the

collection of tools that allows you to add objects (controls) to the forms you create in VB.

• You can find tools such as command buttons, text boxes, check boxes, option buttons, picture boxes, and scroll bars.

Running a Visual Basic Program

To run a Visual Basic program, click the Start button from the standard tool bar.

Positioning a Form in a Visual Basic Program

• The Form Layout window, which appears in the lower right corner of the screen, shows the position the form will take when the program runs.

• You can change the position of the form by dragging the form’s representation in the Form Layout window.

• Only the Form Layout window can change a form’s placement when the program runs.

Exiting Visual Basic

You can exit VB by choosing Exit from the File menu, or by clicking the Close box at the right end of the Visual Basic title bar.

Opening an Existing VB Project

1. From the New Project Dialog box, click the Existing tab.

Note: If the New Project dialog box did not appear when you started Visual Basic, choose Open Project from the File menu.

2. Click the down arrow in the Look in drop down list box to open a list.

3. Click the up or down scroll bar arrows to scroll as needed, click the item that identifies where your file is located.

4. Double-click folders until you see the SnakeGame file name.

5. Click Snake Game, then click the open button.

6. Run the program and play the game.

Homework!

Read Pages 2 to 13 and take notes!

Answer T/F questions on page 14.

Ms. Oleksyk