1. Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 4th Edition
Chapter One
An Introduction to Visual Basic 2008
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic th Edition

2. Previewing the Splash Screen
Figure 1-1: Splash screen for the Country Charm Inn
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

3. Lesson A Objectives After studying Lesson A, you should be able to:
Start and customize Visual Studio 2008 (VS2008) or Visual Basic 2008 (VB2008) Express Edition
Create a Visual Basic 2008 Windows application
Manage the windows in the IDE
Set the properties of an object
Restore a property to its default setting
Save a solution
Close a solution
Open an existing solution
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

4. The Splash Screen Application
In this chapter, you create a splash screen using VB 2008
VB 2008 is available as:
A stand-alone product
Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition
Part of VS 2008
Installation file of Visual Studio 2008
(詢問 鄧福祥技師)
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

5. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
To start VS 2008 or VB 2008 Express Edition:
Click Start and point to All Programs (所有程式)
Select one of two environments:
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008
Microsoft Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition
(也許須選擇預設的環境設定 : Visual Basic開發設定)
Click Window on the menu bar
Click Reset Window Layout (重設視窗配置)
Click Yes at prompt to restore default layout
Click the Maximize button if necessary
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

6. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
Windows applications are composed of solutions, projects, and files
Solution(方案):
Container that stores project and files for an entire application
Project (專案):
Container that stores files associated with the project
Template(樣板):
Pattern used to create solutions and projects
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

7. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
First, set Environment Options in Visual Studio:
Click Tools (工具) on menu bar and then click Options (選項) to open Options dialog box
Expand Projects and Solutions, click General, and then check these options:
Always show Error List if build finishes with errors
Always show solution
Save new projects when created
Uncheck Show Output window when build starts
Click OK to close Options dialog
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

8. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
expand
click
Figure 1-3: Options dialog box
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

9. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
Creating a Windows application (continued)
Click File menu, and then click New Project
Expand Visual Basic node, and then click Windows
Click Windows Form Application in the installed templates section of the Templates list
Change the project name in the Name box
Click Browse button to select the folder where solution will be stored
Click OK
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

10. Figure 1-4: Completed New Project dialog box
expand
click
Create VB2008\Chap01
Change the project name in the Name box
Change the location in the Location box
Figure 1-4: Completed New Project dialog box
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

11. The Splash Screen Application (continued)
Default form
Figure 1-5: Solution and Visual Basic project
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 11

12. Folder Structure Created in File Explorer
.exe執行檔
.sln方案檔
.vb表單檔
Debug folder
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

13. Managing the Windows in the IDE
IDE: Integrated Development Environment
Options to show various sub-windows
Click View on menu bar to select a window
Options to close a window
Use Close button on title bar
To minimize window to tab:
Click Auto Hide (push-pin) toggle button on title bar
To show an auto-hidden window
Hover mouse over tab of the window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

14. 3 1 2 4 Options to show various sub-windows
Click View on menu bar, select a window
Hover mouse over tab (if auto-hidden)
Click Auto Hide (push-pin) toggle button
Hover mouse over tab (if overlapped) 4
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 14 14

15. Windows Form Designer Window
Graphical user interface (GUI)
Visual representation of the application
Windows Form Designer window
Area in which you create (or design) the GUI
Windows Form object (or form)
Foundation for the user interface
To provide user interaction, add objects to the form
Examples of interaction objects: buttons, text boxes
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

16. Windows Form Designer Window
Design our GUI here
Figure 1-7: Windows Form Designer window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

17. Windows Form Designer Window
Click to close window
Double-click to open window
Figure 1-7: Windows Form Designer window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

18. The Solution Explorer Window
Displays list of projects contained in current solution
Displays the items contained in each project
Source file: File containing program instructions
Code: Program instructions in source file
Form file
Contains code underlying a Windows Form object
Has a file extension of .vb
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

19. The Solution Explorer Window
Figure 1-8: Solution Explorer window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 19 19

20. The Properties Window
Properties: Attributes of object that determine its appearance and behavior
Properties window: Lists object’s properties
Object box: Contains name of selected object
Properties list: Helps identify and access properties
Settings box: Shows current values of properties
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

21. The Properties Window Selected object
Figure 1-9: Properties window showing the properties of the Form1.vb file object
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

22. The Properties Window (continued)
Figure 1-10: Form file’s name shown in the designer, Solution Explorer, and Properties windows
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

23. Properties of a Windows Form
To display properties of Windows Form object:
Select the Form object in designer window
Two ways to organize properties:
Categorized
Alphabetical
Class definition: Specifies attributes and behaviors
Namespace: Code defining group of classes
Dot member access operator: Specifies hierarchy
Example: System.Windows.Forms.Form
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

24. Properties of a Windows Form (continued)
Figure 1-11: Properties window showing a partial listing of the form’s properties
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

25. Name Property Name property: Refers to object in code
Form’s name must begin with letter
Can contain only letters, numbers, and underscore
Hungarian notation: Naming convention
First three characters represent type of object
Remaining characters represent object’s purpose
Name is entered in camel case (for camel’s hump)
Example: frmCalculateTaxes
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

26. The Text Property Application name should appear in window’s title bar
The title bar should display an appropriate name
Text property
Controls caption in form’s title bar
Also appears on application’s taskbar button
Default caption is Form1
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

27. The Text Property Change it to see what happens
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 27 27

28. The StartPosition Property
Determines where form first appears on screen
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

29. Font Property
Determines type, style, and size of the font used on the form
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

30. Size Property Controls the height and width of the object
Measured in pixels by default
Pixel: Unit picture element of screen image
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

31. Setting and Restoring the Value of a Property
BackColor property: Sets form background color
Set the value of a property using settings box in Properties window
To restore default value of a property:
Right-click property name and click Reset
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 31 31

32. Setting and Restoring the Value of a Property (continued)
Right-click and click Reset
Figure 1-12: Status of the form in the IDE
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition 32

33. Saving a Solution Save solution at regular intervals
For example, every 10 minutes
Options for saving solution include:
Click File on menu bar and then click Save All
Click Save All button on Standard toolbar
Select solution’s name in Solution Explorer window and then click Save button on Standard toolbar
To determine which file will be saved:
Any tab on designer tab with asterisk indicates unsaved file
Hover mouse on Save button
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

34. Closing the Current Solution
Click File on menu bar and then click Close Solution
Impact of closing current solution:
All projects and files contained within are closed
Unsaved changes trigger warning prompt
You are given another chance to save your work
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

35. Opening an Existing Solution
Options to open an existing solution
Click File on menu bar and then click Open Solution
Select appropriate solution file
Or, double-click solution file on hard drive ( .sln extension)
Only one solution can be open at any one time
Currently open solution closes before another opens
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

36. Exiting Visual Studio 2008 or Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition
Options to exit from Visual Studio:
Use Close button on application window’s title bar
Click File on the menu bar and then click Exit
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

37. Lesson A Summary Start Visual Studio from Start button
To create solution, click File on menu bar and then click New Project
Property values are set in Properties window of selected object
Form’s Text property displays caption in title bar
To save solution, click File on menu bar and then click Save All
To open existing solution, click File on the menu bar, click Open, and then click Project/Solution
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

38. Lesson B Objectives After studying Lesson B, you should be able to:
Add a (GUI) control to a form
Set the properties of a label, picture box, and button control
Select multiple controls
Center controls on the form
Open the Project Designer window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

39. Lesson B Objectives (continued)
Start and end an application
Enter code in the Code Editor window
Terminate an application using the Me.Close() instruction
Run the project’s executable file
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

40. The Toolbox (工具箱) Window
Class: a template from which an object is created
Object: Instance with behaviors and attributes
Controls: VB GUI objects that appear on a form
Toolbox window (or toolbox)
Contains tools for designing user interface
Each tool represents class
Controls are instantiated using tools from toolbox
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

41. The Toolbox Window (continued)
Rest your mouse to show the tooltip
(Depends on version)
Figure 1-13: Box describing the purpose of the ListBox tool
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

42. The Label Tool Label tool: Used to create label control
Label control: Displays text that cannot be edited at runtime
Name property: Unique name for control
Text property
Specifies value that appears in label control
Location property
Specifies location of control on form
Includes X property and Y property
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

43. The Label Tool (continued)
Figure 1-15: Label control added to the form
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

44. Changing the Property For More Than One Control At a Time
To simultaneously modify similar controls:
Click one control and then press and hold Ctrl key
Click other similar control(s) in form
Set property value in Properties window
Some properties are common to many controls, including:
Font property: Determines font type, style, size of the font
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

45. Changing the Property For More Than One Control At a Time (continued)
Figure 1-16: Label controls selected on the form
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

46. Using the Format Menu
Format menu: Options to manipulate multiple selected controls
Align: Aligns selected controls by left, right, top, or bottom borders
Make Same Size: Makes width and/or height of selected controls uniform
Center in Form: Centers one or more controls
Select as first control the one whose size or location you want to match
Called reference control
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

47. The PictureBox Tool PictureBox tool: Creates picture box control
Picture box control: Displays image on form
Task box: Lists tasks associated with picture box
Use task box to import image into project
Project’s resource file contains imported images
SizeMode property: Specifies if PictureBox or image itself should be resized to match other
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

48. The PictureBox Tool (continued)
After a image file is imported, change it to see what happens
Figure 1-17: Task list for a picture box control
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

49. The PictureBox Tool (continued)
Click to import a image file
Figure 1-18: Completed Select Resource dialog box
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

50. The PictureBox Tool (continued)
Figure 1-19: Image shown in the picture box control
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

51. The Button Tool Button tool: Used to create button control
Button control: Used to perform action when clicked
Common means of exiting a Windows application
Exit option on File menu
Exit button
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

52. Starting and Ending an Application
Startup form: Displays when application is first started
Project Designer: Specifies startup form or executable code to be run. Two ways :
Right-click My Project in Solution Explorer and then click Open
Or, click Project on menu and then click <project name> Properties
Click Application tab, then specify startup form
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

53. Starting and Ending an Application (Project Designer window)
Figure 1-20: Application pane in the Project Designer window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

54. Starting and Ending an Application (continued)
Executable file: File that can be run outside of the IDE
File name ends with .exe
Two ways to start application in IDE:
Click Debug on menu bar and then click Start Debugging
Press F5 key
Application started from IDE runs in debug mode
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

55. Starting and Ending an Application (continued)
Figure 1-21: Result of starting the copyright screen application
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

56. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Code Editor window )
Event: User action such as double-clicking
Event procedure: A set of program instructions that are processed when an event occurs
Code Editor window
Provides templates for creating event procedures
Procedure header: First line in code template
Procedure footer: Last line in code template
To open Code Editor window:
Right-click form and then click View Code
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

57. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Code Editor window )
Figure 1-22: Code Editor window opened in the IDE
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

58. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Code Editor window )
You can collapse or expand a region of code in the Code Editor window
Click minus box to collapse code
Click plus box to expand code
Figure 1-23: Code collapsed in the Code Editor window
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

59. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Components of Code Editor window )
Class Name list box
Lists names of objects (controls) on form
Method Name list box
Lists appropriate events for selected object
To select a control’s event in code editor window:
Select class name first and then select method name
Syntax: Rules of programming language
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

60. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Procedure)
Procedure header: First line in code template for event procedure
Procedure footer: Last line in code template for event procedure
Keyword: Predefined word in programming language that has special meaning
Are color-coded in IDE
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

61. Writing Visual Basic 2008 Code (Sub procedure)
Sub procedure: a block of code that performs a specific task
Keywords in a sub procedure block:
Sub: indicates the start of a sub procedure
Private: restricts the use of the procedure to the form where it appears
End Sub: indicates the end of a sub procedure
Names of Event sub procedures include the object name and the event name
Example: btnExit_Click
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

62. The Me.Close() Instruction
Method: Predefined VB procedure
Can be called (or invoked) if needed
Me.Close() method
Causes current form to close
If it is the only form in the application, the application terminates
IntelliSense feature: Provides appropriate selections as pop-up lists
Type first few letters of choice
Then use arrow keys to select an item in list
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

63. The Me.Close() Instruction (with IntelliSense feature)
procedure header
procedure footer
IntelliSense pop-up list
with a leading m
Figure 1-25: List displayed by the IntelliSense feature
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

64. The Me.Close() Instruction (continued)
Check object and event names
for the code you are writing
procedure header
from template
Figure 1-26: Completed Click event procedure for the btnExit control
procedure footer
From template
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

65. Lesson B Summary To add a control to a form, use tool from toolbox
Use Label control for text that user cannot edit
Use PictureBox control to display image
Use Button control to cause action to occur
Project Designer window: Used to change name of startup form and/or executable file
To start and stop an application in IDE, use the Debug menu choice
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

66. Lesson B Summary (continued)
Code Editor window: Used to display, write, and edit procedures
Me.Close() method: Closes the current form at runtime
To run an executable file from IDE, use Debug menu
To run an executable file outside IDE, browse to .exe file and double-click it
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

67. Lesson C Objectives After studying Lesson C, you should be able to:
Set the properties of a timer control
Delete a control from the form
Delete code from the Code Editor window
Code the timer control’s Tick event procedure
Remove and/or disable the form’s Minimize, Maximize, and Close buttons
Prevent the user from sizing a form
Print the project’s code
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

68. Using the Timer Tool Splash screens typically close automatically
Do not usually contain Exit button
Use Timer control to remove splash screen
Timer tool: Used to create a timer control
Timer control
Used to process code at regular time intervals
Does not appear on the user interface at runtime
Interval property: Specified in milliseconds
Enabled property: Allows timer to run if set to True
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

69. Using the Timer Tool (continued)
Tick event:
Occurs each time an interval has elapsed
(The interval is set by Interval property)
Condition: Timer must be running (enabled)
Add code into Tick event procedure
Code will be run when Tick event occurs
Component tray
Special area below form design area in IDE
Stores controls not visible in user interface at runtime
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

70. Using the Timer Tool (component tray)
Figure 1-29: Timer control placed in the component tray
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

71. Setting the FormBorderStyle Property
FormBorderStyle property of a form
Determines the border style of a form
Some settings and their descriptions
Sizable: Allows user to change form’s size by dragging its borders at runtime
FixedSingle: Fixed, thin border line
None: No border
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

72. The MinimizeBox, MaximizeBox, and ControlBox Properties
MinimizeBox property: Determines whether Minimize button appears on form’s title bar
MaximizeBox property: Determines whether Maximize button appears on form’s title bar
ControlBox property: Determines whether title bar elements (icons/buttons) appear on form
Splash screens typically do not contain title bar
To remove title bar, delete contents of form’s Text property
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

73. The MinimizeBox, MaximizeBox, and ControlBox Properties (continued)
Figure 1-31: Completed splash screen
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

74. Printing Your Code
You can print a copy of code entered in Code Editor window
Helps you understand and maintain application
To print code:
Code editor window must be active (current) window
Print options:
Hide collapsed regions
Include line numbers
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

75. Printing Your Code (continued)
Figure 1-32: Print dialog box
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition

76. Lesson C Summary Timer control: Processes code at specified intervals
Use form’s MinimizeBox and MaximizeBox properties to enable or disable Minimize and Maximize buttons on form
Form’s ControlBox property: Determines whether icon and control buttons will appear in title bar
Form’s BorderStyle property: Determines if form will be sizable at runtime
Print Visual Basic code with Code Editor window open
Programming with Microsoft Visual Basic 2008, Fourth Edition