Visual Basic.NET BASICS Lesson 1 A First Look at Microsoft Visual Basic.NET

2 Objectives Explain the purpose of Microsoft Visual Basic.NET. Start Visual Basic.NET. Open an existing Visual Basic.NET project. Run a Visual Basic.NET program.

3 Objectives (continued) Position a form in a Visual Basic.NET program. Exit Visual Basic.NET.

4 Introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic.NET Visual Basic.NET is a software development tool. Visual Basic.NET combines graphical interface and programming code.

5 Starting Visual Basic.NET Visual Basic.NET can be started from a shortcut on the desktop or from the Start button and All Programs menu. Visual Basic.NET is part of an IDE, which is a program that includes tools for creating, testing, and running computer programs.

6 Opening an Existing Visual Basic.NET Project Visual Basic.NET stores programs in a group of files called a project. The main project file has a VBPROJ extension. The SLN file is the solution file. To open an existing Visual Basic.NET project, click the Open Project button, then open the SLN file that corresponds with the project that you wish to open.

7 Components of the Compiler Menu Toolbox Properties Window Solution Explorer

8 Menus and Toolbars The Visual Basic.NET menu bar has some menus found in other Windows programs and some that are unique to this programming environment. Visual Basic.NET has more than one toolbar available. The one that appears by default is called the Standard toolbar.

9 The Solution Explorer Another important component of the Visual Basic.NET screen is the Solution Explorer. The Solution Explorer allows you to see the forms and files that make up your program. You will use the Solution Explorer to access the forms on which you want to work.

10 The Properties Menu The pieces that make up a Visual Basic.NET program are called objects. Each object has characteristics that can be customized, called properties. To see the properties of an object, select the object and view its properties in the Properties window.

11 The Toolbox The last part of the Visual Basic.NET screen to visit is the toolbox. The toolbox has tools for creating objects such as command buttons, text boxes, check boxes, option buttons, picture boxes, and scroll bars.

12 Running a Visual Basic.NET Program To run a Visual Basic.NET program, click the Start button from the Standard toolbar.

13 Exiting Visual Basic.NET Exiting Visual Basic.NET requires that you close Visual Studio.NET. Like other Windows programs, you can exit Visual Studio.NET by choosing Exit from the File menu or by clicking the Close box at the right side of the Visual Studio.NET title bar.

14 Summary Microsoft Visual Basic. NET is a tool that allows you to create Windows programs. Visual Basic. NET is part of Visual Studio. NET. Visual Basic. NET allows you to easily create complex programs. Visual Basic. NET can be started from a shortcut in the All Programs (or Programs) menu or from the desktop.

15 Summary (continued) A Visual Basic. NET project is made up of several files. Information about a project is stored in a file with a VBPROJ extension. A collection of projects is called a solution. Information about a solution is stored in a file with an SLN extension. To open a Visual Basic. NET project, you simply have to open the SLN file.

16 Summary (continued) Visual Basic. NET has some menu items found in other Windows programs and some menu items that are unique to Visual Basic. NET. The Standard toolbar appears by default and contains buttons for frequently used Visual Basic. NET commands. The Solution Explorer allows you to see and open the forms and other files that make up a project.

17 Summary (continued) The Properties window lets you view the characteristics, or properties, of the objects that make up a Visual Basic. NET program. The Properties window also allows you to make changes to those properties. The toolbox holds the tools that allow you to add objects such as command buttons to a form.

18 Summary (continued) To run a Visual Basic. NET program, click the Start button from the Standard toolbar. Exit Visual Basic. NET by choosing Exit from the File menu or by clicking the Close box on the Visual Basic. NET title bar.