Introduction to Visual Basic

Definition – Visual Basic

Visual Basic is an ideal programming language for

developing sophisticated professional applications

for Microsoft windows

It makes use of GUI(Graphical User Interface) for

creating robust powerful applications

INTRODUCTION

Developed from programming language “BASIC”

– in 1970’s

In 1982, Microsoft QuickBasic revolutionized

BASIC and later on, Microsoft Corporation created

the enhanced version of BASIC called Visual

Basic for Windows.

Features of Visual Basic

Easier comprehension

User Friendliness

Faster Application Development

And Also:

Introduction to ActiveX Technology

Internet Features.

VB 6.0 Installation Environment

MS Windows 95 / Windows NT 3.51 ,

486 processor and a minimum of 16 MB of RAM ,

More than 250MB of Hard Disk Space

VB 6.0 Programming Environment

Steps in initiating VB

Start Programs Microsoft Visual Basic

6.0 Visual Basic 6.0

To run VB: Click on the MS studio.net icon (probably in the programming folder)

Select windows application

Select new project (windows application), then select VB project from Project types tab and click ok.

we can give a project name by typing something else where it says name when you select New Project.

IDE [INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT]

Menu Bar

Toolbars

Project Explorer

Toolbox

Properties Window

Form Designer

Form Layout window

Object Browser

VB IDE COMPONENTSmenu bar

Toolbar

Project Explorer

Properties window

Form layout

Toolbox

Immediate window

Creating a VB application in the express edition…view toolbox selected

A button defined

Selecting new VB project (as per above) will open the form design interface

Selecting “View” on menu bar opens various window “view” options. Here, “view toolbox”

was selected.

TOOL BAR BUTTON

Tool Box

PROJECT EXPLORER PROPERTIES WINDOW

Form Layout Window

Form Designer

Object BrowserView->Object Browser or F2

VB IDE ComponentsMenu Bar: contains all commands needed to run VB

(File, Edit, View etc…).Toolbar: quick access to commonly used menu

commands.Project Explorer: displays the project’s components.Properties Window: Shows the property settings of

the selected control (size, caption, color, etc…).Form Layout: Shows the initial positions of the forms

in the application. It is useful in multiple forms applications.

VB IDE Components (Cont’d)Toolbox: contains icons of the controls that can be placed on the

project’s Forms to create the application’s interface.

Form Designer: Main window in which one can design and edit the application’s user interface. In this window the user can enter and edit the application’s code. It displays two windows: Form and Code window.

Immediate Window: Debugging tool.