1. An Introduction to Visual Basic
Terms & Concepts

2. What is VB?
Visual Basic is a programming language (actually an environment) designed to create computer programs that run in Microsoft Windows.
VB has been developed through many versions. This course uses VB 6.0

3. Getting Started VB6 addresses problem solving “from the outside, in.”
In other words, the user interface is designed and created first, then it’s Events are programmed.

4. The Windows GUI
The Graphical User Interface is the means through which users can interact with programs.
Each window is called a form.
Each form is populated with controls.

5. The Windows GUI There are many different kinds of controls: Label
Text box
Option button
Check box
Command button
Image
List box
Drop-down list
Frame
Line / Shape

6. A Sample Form
The Tools » Options dialog box in MSWord

7. Programming Language Paradigms
Procedural
Functional
Declarative
Object-oriented
Event-driven
In this paradigm we develop projects rather than programs.

8. Object Oriented Programming
A VB project consists of:
Objects - the nouns of OOP
forms and controls are examples of objects.
Properties - the adjectives
size, location, name, caption
Methods - the verbs
Move, Print, Resize, Clear
The dot operator
Object.property is the syntax for referring to a particular property of a particular object.

9. The Components of a Project
A VB project consists of at least two files:
projectName.vbp - the project file
a text file that lists the names of all the other files in the project
formName.frm - a form module
a description of all objects and their properties for each form, AND the Basic code written to handle events

10. Creating VB Projects Planning Design the interface
Plan the properties for all the controls
Plan the Basic code
Implementing
Define the interface
Set the properties
Write the Basic code

11. Working with VB VB has 3 modes: Design Run Break
The editor is used to create and change programs.
Run
Executes the program.
Break
Running is suspended to report an error in the program.

12. The Visual Basic Environment
Form Window
Project Explorer Window
Properties Window
Form Layout Window
Toolbox
The Main VB Window
Toolbar

13. The Visual Basic Environment