The document introduces Visual Basic programming, covering its history, key features, and the integrated development environment (IDE) of Visual Basic 6.0. It details various programming languages, distinguishes between different Visual Basic editions, and emphasizes the importance of choosing the right tools for specific tasks. Additionally, the document provides guidance on using the MSDN library and accessing help resources online.

1. Chapter 1
Introduction to
Visual Basic
Programming
and
Applications
1
Exploring Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
Copyright © 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc.
By Carlotta Eaton

2. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 2
Objectives
 Machine language vs.. High-level language
 Procedure-oriented, object-oriented, and
event-driven languages
 Background of Visual Basic
 VB Integrated Development Environment
 Online documentation and Help features

3. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 3
Application Programs
Program - detailed set of instructions for a
computer to execute
Application programs (applications or apps) -
self-contained collection of programs that
perform a task for the end user
Programming language - formal language used
to give instructions to computers

4. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 4
History of Programming
Languages
Machine language
Procedure-oriented languages
Object-oriented languages
Event-driven languages
Natural languages

5. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 5
History of Programming
Languages
Machine Language
 different for each computer processor
 Procedure-Oriented Languages
 FORTRAN
 COBOL
 Pascal
 C
 Ada

6. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 6
History of Programming
Languages
Object-oriented languages
 Smalltalk
 C++
 Ada 95
Event-driven languages
 Visual Basic
 most Visual languages

7. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 7
History of Programming
Languages
Natural languages
 computer will accept a user’s native or
natural language, such as English
 Researchers continue to work in this
area

8. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 8
Background of Visual Basic
BASIC
 Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic
Instruction Code
 By John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz
 Designed to teach programming to
beginners
 BASIC language interpreter, one of
Microsoft’s first products

9. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 9
Background of Visual Basic
BASIC
 Included with DOS
 QBASIC - included with DOS Version 5 -
subset of BASIC
Visual Basic
 1992 - Visual Basic 1 for Windows 3
 Visual Basic 4 - for Windows 95
 Visual Basic 5 - for Office 97
 Visual Basic 6 - for Windows 98 & Office 2000

10. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 10
Visual Basic Editions
Learning Edition
Professional Edition
Enterprise Edition
Included in Visual Studio suite
(analogy Office for programmers)

11. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 11
Visual Basic Editions
Other Visual Basic packaging options
 VBA (Visual Basic for Applications)
 Windows CE Toolkit for Visual Basic
 Visual Basic Scripting Edition
 Control Creation Edition

12. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 12
Toolbox
Form
Designer
Window
Code Editor
Window
Project
Explorer
Properties
window
Form Layout
Window
Visual Basic 6 Interactive Development Environment

13. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 13
Elements of the Integrated
Development Environment
 Application icon
 Application name
 Context menus
 Controls
 Current project
 Design view mode
 Title bar
 Major windows
 Form Designer
 Form Layout
 Toolbox
 Project Explorer
 Object Browser
 Properties
 Code Editor
 Immediate, Locals, Watch

14. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 14
Introduction to Visual Basic
Hands-On Exercise 1
 Start Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0
 Open the Welcome Project
 Open the Welcome Form
 Run the Welcome Project
 End the Welcome Project
 Exit Visual Basic

15. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 15
Get Help When You Need It
MSDN Library
Microsoft on the Web
Learning Edition of Visual Basic 6.0
 Visual Basic 6.0 in Action book
 Learn Visual Basic Now multimedia
tutorial

16. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 16
MSDN Library
Topic Pane
Navigation
Pane

17. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 17
MSDN Library
Visual Basic Documentation
 Documentation Map
 What’s New
 Programmer’s Guide
 Samples
 Reference Guidebooks
 Component Tools Guide
 Data Access Guide

18. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
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Get Help from the CD
Hands-On Exercise 2
 Open the Calc Sample Application
 Run the Calc Sample Application
 Get Help from the MSDN Library
 Add a Topic to the Favorites List
 Search for a Definition
 Exit Help and Visual Basic

19. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
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Help from the Web
Pull down Help menu
Select Help from the Web
 or www.microsoft.com/vbasic

20. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 20
Get Help from the Web
Hands-On Exercise 3
 Use the Free Stuff Page to Update VB
 Install the Update (optional)
 Product News
 Frequently Asked Questions
 Online Support

21. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 21
Use the Right Tool
for the Job
Microsoft Office Suite
 Word - word processing
 Excel - spreadsheet
 PowerPoint - presentation
 Access - database
OLE = Object Linking and Embedding
Use Visual Basic to create a
specialized, customized application

22. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 22
Summary ...
Event-driven languages is a major
improvement in programming
languages
Editions include Learning Edition,
Professional Edition, and Enterprise
Edition
CD-ROM includes the MSDN Library,
and many sample programs

23. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 23
Summary
Integrated Development Environment
includes
 Form Designer, Form Layout
 Code Edition, Project Explorer
 Properties and Object Browser
Choose the right tool for the job
Visual Basic is the glue that binds
Windows objects together

24. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc. 24
Practice with Visual Basic
1. Automated Teller Machine
2. Personal News Service
3. Getting Assistance While You Work
4. Pricing Information

25. Exploring MS Visual
Basic 6
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Case Studies
I Wish I Could
Visual Basic Help on the Web
Quick Reference Manual
Planning for Disaster