VISUAL BASIC

Introduction To Visual Basic

Visual Basic:
 Third generation event-driven programming language.

 Released by Microsoft in 1991.

 Evolved from earlier dos version called “BASIC”.

 BASIC – Beginners All-Purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.

 To develop GUI windows applications.

Application For Programmers:

 For Maths students you can create mathematical programs such as

1. Geometric Progression.
2. Quadratic Equation Solver.
3. Prime Number Tester.
4. Inventory management.
5. Multimedia player.
Starting VB:
 Go to start menu -> Microsoft visual studio -> visual basic 6.0

 After this visual basic environment opens.

Visual Basic Environment:
 IT is an IDE (Integrated Development Environment).

 An IDE normally consists of a source code editor, build automation

tools, and a debugger.

 This programming environment used for developing a user interface.

 Add control by just drag and drop.

 This environment will allows to develop the .exe files.

Getting Started:
 For Creating New Project Click, File -> New Project (OR) Use the
short cut key called ‘Ctrl + N’.

 The dialog box appears in that we want to select ‘Standard EXE’

option.

 The Screen looks like this,

Initial VB Screen:
 After selecting Standard EXE option, The environment screen will
displays.

 In this environment window you can see lots of elements such as

tool box, properties window, project explorer, initial form
window, form layout window, title bar, menu bar.

 The initial Window looks like this,

 You can save the project and as well as the form as separately.

 Go to File-> save project or File -> Save Form.

 If You Save the project it will save with .vb extension and If you
save the form it will save with .frm extension,
Title Bar
 The Title Bar is the horizontal bar located at the top of the screen.
 It is the name of the application.

Menu Bar
 For Visual basic, menu bar gives you the tools needed for develop,
test and save your application.
 File Menu – commands for working with files.
 Edit Menu – Contains many of the editing tools which helps to
design your application
View Menu
 Fast access to different parts of your program and visual basic
environment.
 For going to code section press ‘F7’ Key and for design view Press
‘Shift + F7’ Key.
Project Menu
 This menu allows you to insert external files or new vb objects into
your projects.
Format Menu
 Used to specify the look of the controls that you placed in your
project.
Debug Menu
 Contains tool for correct the bugs in your Code.
 Start debugging by press ‘F8’ Key’.

Run Menu
 Gives the tools needed to stop and start your program.
 Run the program by pressing ‘F5’ Key.

Tools Menu
 gives the way of adding procedures and menus to your programms.

Windows Menu
 Lets you control how the windows of VB environment are arranged.
Help Menu
 Gain access to the detailed online help system provide with VB.
 Short cut key for view help ‘ctrl + F1’.
Tool Bars:
 Tool bars display the functionality as icons.

 Multiple tool bars are available.

 There are 4 built-in toolbars, they are

1. Standard Tool Bar
2. Edit Tool Bar.
3. Debug Tool Bar.
4. Form Editor
1) Standard Tool Bar:
 The Standard tool bar provides a quick shortcut to many frequently used
functions.
 Below are some of the standard tools,
1. Add Standard Exe – Build a new executable.
2. Add Form – Add new form to your project.
3. Menu Editor – use to design menus.
4. Open Project – open an existing project.
5. Save Project – Save your VB project.
6. Start – use to run the application.
7. Break – use to pause the running program.
8. End – Ends the running program.
9. Project Explorer – Makes the project explorer visible.
2) Edit Tool Bar:
 The Edit tool bar provides a quick shortcut to do modifications in the
form.
 Below are some of the Edit tools,
1. Complete Word – Completes the Key word.
2. Indent – Indent the selected text one tab stop. ‘TAB’ key is the shortcut key
3. Outdent – Moves the selected text back one tab. ‘Shift + TAB’ key is the
shortcut.
4. Toggle breakpoint – Used for debugging. ‘F9’ is the shortcut key
5. Comment block.
6. Toggle bookmark.
7. List Properties / methods.
8. Quick info.
3) Debug Tool Bar:

 The Debug tool bar provides a quick shortcut to debug or check the code
of your project.

 Below are some of the Debug tools,

1. Start.
2. Break.
3. End.
4. Toggle breakpoint.
4) Form Editor Tool Bar:

 The Form editor tool bar provides a quick shortcut to design the form
window.

 Below are some of the Form editor tools,

1. Bring to Front.
2. Send To Back.
3. Align.
4. Center.
5. Lock Controls
Altering a Form
 This means doing modifications to a form.
 Before completing the design you can change the size and location
of a form.
 Even you can resize the form window during runtime.
 To change the position of form at run time, follow these steps,
1. Move the cursor to the Form Layout Window (The cursor will change
to four-headed arrow).
2. Drag the form to the position in which you want it to appear when the
user starts your program.