Chapter 2: The Visual Studio.NET Development Environment Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design2 Getting Started with VB.NET Visual Studio.NET can be used for –Visual Basic –Other programming languages Start application. Go to: –Start menu -> (All) Programs -> Microsoft Visual Studio.NET -> Microsoft Visual Studio.NET

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6 Creating a Project Using Visual Basic.NET Project –Collection of files related to a VB.NET application Template: –Pattern for creating a specific type of application When creating a new project: –Must identify type of project as Visual Basic –Identify template (Windows or Console Application) –Specify project name and location

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9 Understanding How VB.NET Organizes Your Programs Solution Explorer window –Shows hierarchical arrangement of items Properties window –Contains information about file properties File names: –Use.vb extension –Named Module1.vb by default

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design10 Using the Text Editor Provides standard text-editing capabilities Also provides: –Color-coding –Code indentation –Code completion (IntelliSense feature) Comment –Statement included for documentation purposes only; not read by the compiler (computer) –Starts with a ‘ (e.g., ‘this is a comment) VB.NET automatically generates some code

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design11 Using the Text Editor (continued) IntelliSense –Helps you complete lines of code by matching words –Recognizes partial class and method names Suggests possible matches for name you are typing

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design13 Displaying Line Numbers Go to Tools (on the menu bar) –> Options -> Text Editor folder –> Basic Subfolder Click the Line Numbers checkbox Click OK

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design14 Renaming Module1.vb Assign descriptive names to programs you write –Should rename from default names In the Solution Explorer window, click Module1.vb. –File properties of Module1 appear in the Properties window –Use Properties window to change name –Make sure the module is renamed in the source code

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design15 Renaming Module1.vb (cont.)

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design16 Compiling And Executing a Visual Basic.NET Program Select Debug from the menu bar –Click Start Without Debugging –If there are errors: Message box displayed

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design19 Using the Visual Form Designer Windows application –Runs in Windows environment Visual form editor: –Windows Form Designer –Can select icons representing various components –Place and arrange components on window –Code is automatically written to match visual form

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design20 Creating a Windows Application Use Windows Application template Use Layout toolbar –To control appearance and position of components The form’s grid –Helps layout components –Not visible when application runs

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design21 Customizing the Appearance of a Form Handle –Use to resize objects –Pointer changes to double arrow –Resize form by clicking and dragging handle Modifiable form elements: –Size –Background color –Title –Name –Position

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design24 The Text property does not change the name of the form. The Name property does.

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design27 Adding Components to a Form Use Toolbox –Hidden window on left side of main window –Double-click toolbox items to add to form or drag them to the form When adding buttons –Must identify action that will take place when button pressed –Once the button is placed on the form, double-click the button to reveal the code for it

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design29 Adding Form Components (cont.) Drag and drop a LABEL from the Toolbox to the form Rename it from the Properties window (see next PPT slide)

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design31 Drag and drop a BUTTON Name it; add code

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design32 Exploring the Debugging Tool Debugger –Helps you isolate errors Breakpoint –Flag that tells debugger to temporarily suspend execution of program at a particular point –Can view information about program May help determine source of problem

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design33 Getting Started with the Debugger Debugger –Intended to help identify errors in program that occur while program is running –Cannot help to find coding/syntax errors that prevent program from being built successfully (Review Syntax errors) –Helps find logic errors HOWEVER does not fix them for you

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design34 Setting Breakpoints Position cursor in code window Right-click –Select Insert Breakpoint from popup menu Program execution is suspended just before line of code where breakpoint is set Execute program in debug mode

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Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design36

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design37 Exploring the Help Facility Help features: –Search for help on specific item –Browse table of contents –Scroll through alphabetized index of topics –Dynamic help Identifies help topics in response to actions Displays topics depending on currently selected window or item –Context-sensitive help

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design38 Exploring Context-Sensitive Help Invoke by pressing F1 key Obtain help on virtually any –Keyword –Component –Window –Other element of VB.NET

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design39 Summary Visual Studio.NET –Set of software tools that helps you code, debug, and test a system as you develop it –Provides many options that allow you to customize appearance of screen and the tools –Uses hierarchical arrangement of solutions and projects to organize programs

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design40 Summary (continued) The VB.NET text editor –Supports color-coding, indentation, and code completion features Compile and execute VB.NET program –Using options on Build and Debug menus Visual form editor –Visual development tool –Generates code from forms

Visual Basic.NET Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design41 Summary (continued) Debugger –Tool that helps identify problems Help facility of VB.NET provides many options for accessing help