2. 2
List of contents
Technical guide ............................................................................................................................ 1
.................................................................................................................................................... 1
Visual Basic Application............................................................................................................... 1
(Hotel Booking Application) .........................................................................................................1
List of contents............................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction .................................................................................................................................3
This technical guide is divided into several sections and these are:................................................... 3
System requirements..................................................................................................................... 4
Hardware requirements ................................................................................................................. 4
Software requirements .................................................................................................................. 4
Software and hardware requirements for programmers to customise or to create programs ................ 5
Customising content and copyright ................................................................................................ 6
What features can be customised?..................................................................................................6
Editing and attaching tools ............................................................................................................ 7
File structure ................................................................................................................................ 8
Accessibility ................................................................................................................................ 8
Technical Support......................................................................................................................... 9
Installing web-server..................................................................................................................... 9
Producing CD-ROMs for distribution ............................................................................................ 9
Troubleshooting technical problems............................................................................................... 9
Technical guide for Non-technical audience of the program........................................................... 11
Bibliography .............................................................................................................................. 15
3. 3
Introduction
This Technical guide has been developed to supportand assist users and
programmers to maintain Visual Applications.
This technicalguide is divided into several sections and these are:
System requirements
Customising content
Technical support(Troubleshooting, FAQs and help desk)
Technical guide for Non-technical audience
See ref.1
See ref.2
4. 4
System requirements
In order for the user to use the visual basic application, there are several hardware and
software requirements that both users and programmers requires in order to successfully
debug and create certain software through the use of Visual Basic program.
Hardware requirements
To use the Visual Basic Application, users or/and programmers must use a computer with the
following features so that the programme can successfully debug and run:
Internet access(preferred Wi-Fi for home users)
Sound card installed on the computer
At least 256 MB of RAM
CD –ROM Drive
IMB compatible with 1000 MHz processor for Windows operating systems
Versions: 2000, XP, Vista, 7 & 8.
IMB compatible with 500 MHz processor for Apple operating systems
Versions: Apple Macintosh, OS, OSX and above.
Software requirements
Programmers or/and user must have the following software so that the program can be
debugged and so that the tools such as the buttons and other tools are fully functional.
The user’s computer must have the following software versions:
Google Chrome
Version: 31.0.1650.57
Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8.
Source: https://www.google.com/intl/en_uk/chrome/browser/
-- OR --
Internet Explorer
Version: 7, 8, 9, 10 & 11.
Operating system: Windows XP, Vista, 7 & 8.
Source: http://windows.microsoft.com
-- OR --
Safari
Version: 2.0.4 or above
Source: http://www.apple.com
Adobe® Flash Player 9
Version: 9 or above.
5. 5
Source: http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/flashplayer.html
Microsoft Word or/and WordPad
Version: 97-2013
Source: http://www.microsoft.com
Adobe® PDF Reader
Version: 6.0 or above
Source: http://www.adobe.com/uk/products/reader.html
Visual Basic or/and Visual Studio
Version: 2008 and above.
Source: http://www.visualstudio.com/en-us/downloads/
Please update the versions of the applications that I have mentioned above if certain
applications are not yet updated. What’s more is that you should refer (visit websites) to the
link that I have attached above to update some applications. Afterwards, once you have
opened the links, a variety of applications are available on the websites (links can be found
beneath the applications that I have mentioned).
Software and hardware requirements for programmers to customise or to
create programs
Developers should also consider of installing the hardware and software components that are
mentioned above so that programmers are able to create and code their own programs (Visual Basic is
required in order to carry out this task), where the developer may require the following applications
and learning programming languages such as HTML and Visual Basic programming languages.
Aside from the hardware and software components that I have mentioned above, the programmer may
also require the following components for viewing certain files and to design their own program.
Programmers may require the following applications:
Microsoft Word to edit documents and view documents such as this ‘Technical Guide’.
Visual Studio
Version: 2008 or above.
Photoshop /Fireworks or MS Publisher for editing logos, images and designing.
Notepad ++
6. 6
Customising content and copyright
When creating applications and documentations, it’s imperative that we do not contravene the
copyright legislations and comply with the conditions of a certain licence. Furthermore, before we
commence any modifications, I recommend programmers to refer to the license details and comply
with those conditions so that programmers does not contravene those certain conditions of a particular
licence, particularly when copying and editing items (these includes the use of images and other
applications).As a result, programmers can only carry out customisations and other task for a
particular item that the programmer has copied. In addition when programmers has copied materials
of not their own work, programmers must reference the materials that they may have used so that they
do not contravene with the conditions of that certain licence.
What features can be customised?
In terms of customisation, programmers would be able to customise all areas and objects that they
may have included to their program, where the programmer has full control of editing and coding all
areas of the program. These includes creating a login form, where the programmer is expected to code
appropriate validations and include appropriate data types so that the programmer can create a
functional login form , where users can enter their username and password successfully.
Customisable elements (tools and techniques) on Visual Basic
Element
(tools and techniques)
To customise
(Description)
Codes
Key-press and number-text
validations (textbox for
Telephone number)
Programmers would be able to
customise the text validations
on a textbox by simply editing
the code, where only allowed
texts (strings) can be entered.
Dim allowedChars As
String = " -0123456789
()"
Set an image for
background.
Navigate to the properties of
the form and select on
‘Background image’, where the
programmer would have the
opportunity to select their
preferred image, to set as
background.
N/A
Create a login form In order to login form, a
programmer must first declare
variable declaration for
username and password.
Afterwards,the programmer
can code a text-validations for
username and password so that
only appropriate username and
password can be allowed to be
accepted by the program.
Dim username,
password As String
username =txtUsername.Text
password=txtPassword.Text
Set specific items to appear
on one combo-box ifa
certain item has been
In order to carry out this
specific task, two combo-boxes
must be attached on the form
If cboCountry.SelectedItem = "Wales"
Then
cboCity.Items.Add("Bangor")
cboCity.Items.Add("Cardiff")
7. 7
selected on another combo-
box.
and code these combo-boxes so
that these items could function
(view the code).
cboCity.Items.Add("Newport")
cboCity.Items.Add("St Davids")
cboCity.Items.Add("Swansea")
To add another form to your
program.
To add another form to your
program, this particular task
can be carried out through GUI
as this will involve of using
tabs and buttons. To add
another form to your program,
please carry out the following
instructions:
Click the ‘Project’ tab
Click ‘Add Windows
Form’
Select ‘Windows form’
And press the ‘OK’
button.
N/A
Editing and attaching tools
There are a variety of methods of editing your program. However,to select tools for your program,
navigate to the ‘Toolbox’ of Visual Basic, where you will be able to access to a variety of tools such
as buttons, combo-boxes, group-box and check-boxes.
To attach texts (labels), simply access to the ‘Toolbox’ of Visual Basic or Visual Studio and click
label. Afterwards,drag a label to the form of your program; navigate to the properties of the label and
insert the texts (word or sentences) on the ‘Text’ textbox so that you are able to customise and edit the
label. However,spell-check feature is not included on Visual Basic, you should consider of
proofreading the texts that you as a programmer is inserting into your program. What’s more is that
you should consider of text-editor applications such as Microsoft Word, where you as a programmer
would be able to spell-check and grammar check texts that you may attempted to include on your
program.
To code tools and items on your program such as buttons, labels and combo-boxes, simply double-
click the item that you prefer to code and a coding window will appear. What’s more is that you
should always ensure that your codes are accurate so that certain items and tools can function
appropriately.
8. 8
File structure
The root folder has the following sub-folders:
source_files which usually contains Flash files. In addition this type of files can usually be
edited and flash files are usually images and text-based files.
Shared includes all scripts, styles, glossary, intranet and resources that the programmer
may have used and included on the application are saved on the CD-ROM of their computer.
Projecrs contains forms and tools and objects that are attached on the form of the program,
or the program itself. In the other words, project contains all the materials that are used for the
program.
Each form folder may have the following file structures:
css folder,which is a folder that contains the styles.
Resourcesfolder, contains certain files that the programmer may have used to include on the
program such as images, where the programmer may have used to set a a background.
docs is a type of file that is normally used for any Word documents.
debug folder usually contains the exe.file of the program.
Accessibility
Links
Title attributes have been used on links to describe specific materials, or software component in the
link, where specific components and materials has been described and well identified in greater detail
that both users and programmer may require in order for both readers to fully understand the purpose
and function of the components and other materials. In addition links that are attached on this
technical guide is a website address,therefore when the user or programmer has opened the link, a
new window will usually appear of either an ‘Internet Explorer’ or a ‘Firefox’ browser; once a link
has been selected by pressing <Ctrl> and left-clicking the mouse, a browser usually opens. As a
result, both users and programmers would be able to access to the links that has been mentioned on
this technical guide.
9. 9
Technical Support
Technical support is available from the Help Desk. The information concerning the contact details of
the Help desk is available on the last page of this technical guide. However,before contacting the
Help Desk, please ensure that the problems that you may have encountered is not shown on the
‘Troubleshooting technical problems’ section, where some problems are shown of resolving certain
problems are answered.
Please contact the College for further details at http://www.bromley.ac.uk/contact/.
Installing web-server
Producing CD-ROMs fordistribution
Once the program has been completed and fully functional, the programmer may consider of
producing CD-ROMs for distribution. Therefore,the programmer should consider of carry out the
following steps so that programmer is able to carry out this particular task.
Step 1: Using your computer, open your preferred burning software.
Step 2: Select the data option.
Step 3: Drag or copy all files of the program (do not include the source_files directory).
Step 4: Burn.
Note: When considering producing class sets of copies, the programmer should consider of testing the
first disk, to ensure that the program is functioning appropriately.
Troubleshooting technicalproblems
1.) A message-box may appear which contains information warning the user of the required
software that requires to be updated or to be downloaded. This particular software is often
Flash player, as flash player is required to play or debug certain applications such as playing
videos or so that the program can be debugged successfully.
To resolve this problem, the user could carry out the following options:
Update the Flash player that is installed on your computer or
The Internet Explorer is blocking active content – navigate to the Internet Option;
select the ‘Advance’ tab and uncheck the checkbox for ‘Allow active content to run in
files on My Computer’.
10. 10
2.) A security file warning may appear which requires the user’s attention in order for the user to
successfully open the program. What’s more is that the security warning requires the user to
select two options and these are to ‘Run’ the program, or to ‘Cancel’ the process of opening
the program,
11. 11
Technical guide for Non-technical audience of the
program
Login form
To close the program, press the ‘Exit’ button by left-clicking your mouse.
To sign-in and proceed to the next form ofthe program, press the ‘Sign in’ button by left-clicking
your mouse. However,correct username and password must be entered correctly.
To remove texts that you may have entered on the textbox for username and password, click the
‘Clear’ button by left-clicking your mouse.
To access information ofhow you can sign-in, press the ‘Help’ button and a window will open
containing information concerning appropriate username and password so that the you (the user)
would be able to sign in. What’s more is that the ‘Help’ also provides instructions of necessary steps
that you could carry out when you are experiencing technical issues.
12. 12
Main screen
To return to the previewform (login form), press the ‘Back’ button by left-clicking your mouse.
To proceed to the next form ofthe program, click the ‘Next’ button and you will be able to
progress the next form of the program.
To access to more information, click the ‘Help’ button.
To remove all texts that have been entered on the textboxes within the main screen, click the
‘Clear’ button and all texts will be erased.
To close the program,click the ‘Exit’ button.
13. 13
Main form
To select your preferred destination country, click the combo-box for ‘Country’ and you will be
able to choose your preferred destination country.
To select your preferred city, please choose one of the options on the combo-box for ‘City’.
To select your own your chosen hotel type, check your chosen hotel type, which can be located in
this form.
To go back to the previous form,click the ‘Back’ button.
To proceed to the next form ofthe program, press the ‘Next’ button of the program.
To reset items that has been checked and selected on the combo-boxes and checkboxesthat are
located within this form of the program, click the ‘Clear’ button.
To close the program, please press the ‘Exit’ button.
To access additional information regarding the steps ofhowto use this particular form of this
program, please click the ‘Help’ button and you will be able to access to necessary information that
you may require to operate this form of the program.
14. 14
Summary
To save all details that you have provided, press the ‘Saveinfo’ by left-clicking your mouse.
To remove all texts that the user has provided,click the ‘Clear’ button left-clicking your mouse.
To go back to the previous form ofthe program, click the ‘Back’ button left-clicking your mouse.
To print all objects and texts within this form of the program, click the ‘Print’ button by left-
clicking your mouse.
To access to relevant information ofhow the user can operate this particular form of the
program, click the ‘Help’ button by left-clicking your mouse.
15. 15
Contact details:
For more information on any of these applications please contact:
Phone: (07) 12345670
Fax: (07) 213131232
Email: vbapplicationhelp@bromley.ac.uk
Website: bromley.ac.uk
Rookery Lane Campus
Rookery Lane
Bromley
Kent
BR2 8HE
Bibliography
Ref 1: vdi.itgct.com
Ref 2: mrvpn.com
Ref 3: www.anzaq.com
