Visual Basic 6.

Unit I (part I)
Introduction
• VISUAL BASIC is a high level programming language
which evolved from the earlier DOS version called BASIC.
• "Visual" refers to the method used to create what the user sees—
the graphical user interface, or GUI. "Basic" refers to the BASIC
(Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) programming
language, a language used by more programmers than any other
language in the history of computing.
• It is a relatively easy programming language to learn. The code
looks a lot like English Language. Different software companies
produced different versions of BASIC, such as Microsoft QBASIC,
QUICKBASIC, GWBASIC ,IBM BASICA and so on.
Cont…
• Advantages are few bugs and building prototype is easier
• Visual Basic can be used :
– Create simple utilities
– Applications for department , work group and large
enterprise wide systems
– Distributed applications via Internet
Features of Visual Basic
• Learning Consists of all necessary tools required to build main
stream windows Applications.
• Professional Includes advanced features such as tools to develop
ActiveX and Internet controls.
• Enterprise In addition to all Professional features, it also includes
tools such as Visual
• Features
– GUI Interface
– Modularization
– Object Oriented
– Debugging
– Macros IDE
– Data access feature
Visual Basic Editions
Three Editions
• The Visual Basic Learning edition
The Visual Basic Learning edition allows programmers to
easily create powerful applications for Microsoft Windows
and Windows NT®. It includes all intrinsic controls, plus
grid, tab, and data-bound controls. Documentation
provided with this edition includes Learn VB Now (a
multimedia CD-ROM title), plus Microsoft Developer
Network CDs containing full online documentation.
Cont…
• The Professional edition
The Professional edition provides computer professionals
with a full-featured set of tools for developing solutions for
others. It includes all the features of the Learning edition,
plus additional ActiveX controls, the Internet Information
Server Application Designer, Integrated Data Tools and
Data Environment, and the Dynamic HTML Page Designer.
Documentation provided with the Professional edition
includes the Visual Studio Professional Features book plus
Microsoft Developer Network CDs containing full online
documentation.
Cont…
• The Enterprise edition
The Enterprise edition allows professionals to create
robust distributed applications in a team setting. It
includes all the features of the Professional edition, plus
Back Office tools such as SQL Server, Microsoft Transaction
Server, Internet Information Server, Visual SourceSafe, SNA
Server, and more. Printed documentation provided with
the Enterprise edition includes the Visual Studio Enterprise
Features book plus Microsoft Developer Network CDs
containing full online documentation.
Visual Basic Philosophy
• Visual Basic is a popular Graphical User Interface used to
create applications that will have same GUI as Windows.
• Visual Basic is an event driven programming language.
• The Controls
• Properties
A property is a named attribute of
a programming object. Properties
define the characteristics of an object
such as Size, Color etc. or sometimes
the way in which it behaves.
• Events
Events are various things that can
happen in a program, this will become
clearer when studied in contrast to
procedural programming. In procedural
languages, an application is written is
executed by checking for the program
logically through the program statements,
one after another.
• Methods
A method is a Sub or Function procedure declaration.
Methods make a class do things. Together with properties,
they expose the behavior and data of a class.
Developing an Application

Steps
1. Design the User Interface
2. Write Code to Respond to User Input/ Events
1. Design the User Interface
2. Write Code to Respond to User Input/ Events