Visual Basic Project 1 IDS 306 Spring 1999 V. Murphy

menu bar window title title bar menu name minimize button close button maximize button menu

User Interfaces & Applications User Interface -- way in which you give instructions to a computer and receive feedback Graphical User Interface (GUI) -- allows use of both text and graphical images Application software -- computer programs that perform a specific function

Control Creation Edition available for download from – cce/default.asp – can not make.exe files –Stand-alone application -- a.k.a. an EXE, runs independently of the VB system should contain all the features you will need for this class

Development Environment Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Single document interface (SDI) -- independent windows on the desktop Multiple document interface (MDI) -- windows within windows; contained within single parent window

Design Time vs. Run Time Design time -- time during which you build an application Run time -- time during which you use an application for its intended purpose Title bar will say [design] during design time and [run] during run time

Projects and Forms Project (.vbp) –starts with a form –may contain several forms Form (.frm) –becomes the application window during run time

3 Steps in Creating Applications 1. Create the Interface 2. Set the Properties 3. Write the Code

Toolbox and Properties List object box property list property values

Writing Code Events -- messages sent to an object when the application runs –can be initiated by user or by application –trigger procedures Procedures -- groups of code statements Code Statements -- instructions to computer, written at design time, execute at run time Event procedures in VB written in blocks of code called subroutines

Function, Methods & Comments Function -- code that transforms one or more values into a new value –Val function -- takes whatever value is given and converts it to a number Methods -- code statements that can be applied to an object to change its attributes or behavior –SetFocus method -- causes focus to be changed to a specific control on a form Comment -- explanatory text within a procedure –begins with an apostrophe (‘) or keyword Rem

Code Window

Printing

Help!