Apply Now
CONTENT
1. Introduction to the Visual Basic Language and
Environment
Preview...................................................................................................................1-1
Course Objectives.................................................................................................1-1
What is Visual Basic?...........................................................................................1-2
Visual Basic 6.0 versus Other Versions of Visual Basic ..................................1-3
16 Bits versus 32 Bits...........................................................................................1-3
Structure of a Visual Basic Application...............................................................1-4
Steps in Developing Application .........................................................................1-4
Drawing the User Interface and Setting Properties...........................................1-5
Example 1-1: Stopwatch Application - Drawing Controls.................................1-9
Setting Properties of Objects at Design Time ................................................ 1-10
Setting Properties at Run Time......................................................................... 1-11
How Names Are Used in Object Events..........................................................1-11
Example 1-2: Stopwatch Application - Setting Properties ............................1-12
Variables .............................................................................................................1-14
Visual Basic Data Types...................................................................................1-14
Variable Declaration..........................................................................................1-14
Example 1-3: Stopwatch Application - Attaching Code................................. 1-18
Quick Primer on Saving Visual Basic Applications........................................ 1-20
Exercise 1: Calendar/Time Display..................................................................1-21
iv Learn Visual Basic 6.0
2. The Visual Basic Language
Review and Preview..............................................................................................2-1
A Brief History of Basic.........................................................................................2-1
Visual Basic Statements and Expressions ........................................................2-2
Visual Basic Operators.........................................................................................2-3
Visual Basic Functions .........................................................................................2-4
A Closer Look at the Rnd Function......................................................................2-5
Example 2-1: Savings Account............................................................................2-6
Visual Basic Symbolic Constants.....................................................................2-10
Defining Your Own Constants ...........................................................................2-10
Visual Basic Branching - If Statements............................................................2-11
Key Trapping....................................................................................................... 2-12
Example 2-2: Savings Account - Key Trapping .............................................. 2-14
Select Case - Another Way to Branch.............................................................2-16
The GoTo Statement..........................................................................................2-17
Visual Basic Looping......................................................................................... 2-17
Visual Basic Counting........................................................................................ 2-19
Example 2-3: Savings Account - Decisions ....................................................2-20
Exercise 2-1: Computing a Mean and Standard Deviation...........................2-23
Exercise 2-2: Flash Card Addition Problems ................................................. 2-28
3. Exploring the Visual Basic Toolbox
Review and Preview..............................................................................................3-1
The Message Box .................................................................................................3-1
Object Methods......................................................................................................3-3
The Form Object....................................................................................................3-4
Command Buttons.................................................................................................3-5
Label Boxes...........................................................................................................3-5
Text Boxes..............................................................................................................3-6
Example 3-1: Password Validation.....................................................................3-8
Check Boxes....................................................................................................... 3-11
Option Buttons ....................................................................................................3-11
Arrays...................................................................................................................3-12
Control Arrays .....................................................................................................3-13
Frames................................................................................................................ 3-14
Example 3-2: Pizza Order................................................................................. 3-15
List Boxes............................................................................................................3-20
Combo Boxes.....................................................................................................3-21
Example 3-3: Flight Planner.............................................................................. 3-23
Exercise 3: Customer Database Input Screen................................................ 3-27
Contents v
4. More Exploration of the Visual Basic Toolbox
Review and Preview..............................................................................................4-1
Display Layers.......................................................................................................4-1
Line Tool.................................................................................................................4-2
Shape Tool.............................................................................................................4-3
Horizontal and Vertical Scroll Bars......................................................................4-4
Example 4-1: Temperature Conversion..............................................................4-7
Picture Boxes...................................................................................................... 4-12
Image Boxes ....................................................................................................... 4-14
Quick Example: Picture and Image Boxes ...................................................... 4-14
Drive List Box...................................................................................................... 4-15
Directory List Box ............................................................................................... 4-15
File List Box........................................................................................................ 4-16
Synchronizing the Drive, Directory, and File List Boxes................................ 4-17
Example 4-2: Image Viewer.............................................................................. 4-18
Common Dialog Boxes .....................................................................................4-23
Open Common Dialog Box............................................................................... 4-24
Quick Example: The Open Dialog Box............................................................4-25
Save As Common Dialog Box..........................................................................4-27
Quick Example: The Save As Dialog Box....................................................... 4-28
Exercise 4: Student Database Input Screen...................................................4-29
5. Creating a Stand-Alone Visual Basic Application
Review and Preview..............................................................................................5-1
Designing an Application.....................................................................................5-1
Using General Sub Procedures in Applications ................................................5-2
Creating a Code Module ......................................................................................5-5
Using General Function Procedures in Applications.........................................5-5
Quick Example: Temperature Conversion..........................................................5-7
Quick Example: Image Viewer (Optional)...........................................................5-8
Adding Menus to an Application..........................................................................5-8
Example 5-1: Note Editor ..................................................................................5-12
Using Pop-Up Menus......................................................................................... 5-16
Assigning Icons to Forms..................................................................................5-17
Designing Your Own Icon with IconEdit............................................................5-17
Creating Visual Basic Executable Files ..........................................................5-19
Example 5-2: Note Editor - Building an Executable
and Attaching an Icon................................................................. 5-21
Using the Visual Basic Package & Deployment Wizard ............................... 5-22
Example 5-3: Note Editor - Creating a Distribution Disk............................... 5-25
Exercise 5: US Capitals Quiz............................................................................5-27
vi Learn Visual Basic 6.0
6. Error-Handling, Debugging and File Input/Output
Review and Preview..............................................................................................6-1
Error Types.............................................................................................................6-1
Run-Time Error Trapping and Handling ..............................................................6-2
General Error Handling Procedure......................................................................6-4
Example 6-1: Simple Error Trapping ..................................................................6-7
Debugging Visual Basic Programs.....................................................................6-9
Example 6-2: Debugging Example ..................................................................6-10
Using the Debugging Tools............................................................................... 6-11
Debugging Strategies........................................................................................ 6-16
Sequential Files..................................................................................................6-17
Sequential File Output (Variables) ...................................................................6-17
Quick Example: Writing Variables to Sequential Files ..................................6-19
Sequential File Input (Variables)....................................................................... 6-20
Quick Example: Reading Variables from Sequential Files ...........................6-21
Writing and Reading Text Using Sequential Files..........................................6-22
Random Access Files........................................................................................ 6-24
User-Defined Variables.....................................................................................6-25
Writing and Reading Random Access Files...................................................6-26
Using the Open and Save Common Dialog Boxes........................................ 6-29
Example 6-3: Note Editor - Reading and Saving Text Files..........................6-31
Exercise 6-1: Information Tracking ...................................................................6-35
Exercise 6-2: ‘Recent Files’ Menu Option....................................................... 6-41
7. Graphics Techniques with Visual Basic
Review and Preview..............................................................................................7-1
Graphics Methods .................................................................................................7-1
Using Colors ..........................................................................................................7-8
Mouse Events .....................................................................................................7-10
Example 7-1: Blackboard..................................................................................7-13
Drag and Drop Events ....................................................................................... 7-18
Example 7-2: Letter Disposal ...........................................................................7-20
Timer Tool and Delays ....................................................................................... 7-23
Animation Techniques ....................................................................................... 7-24
Quick Example: Simple Animation...................................................................7-25
Quick Example: Animation with the Timer Tool............................................... 7-26
Random Numbers (Revisited) and Games .....................................................7-28
Randomly Sorting N Integers.............................................................................7-29
Example 7-3: One-Buttoned Bandit..................................................................7-30
User-Defined Coordinates................................................................................ 7-35
Simple Function Plotting (Line Charts) ............................................................7-36
Simple Bar Charts.............................................................................................. 7-38
Contents vii
7. Graphics Techniques with Visual Basic (continued)
Example 7-4: Line Chart and Bar Chart Application...................................... 7-40
Exercise 7-1: Blackjack.....................................................................................7-43
Exercise 7-2: Information Tracking Plotting.....................................................7-54
8. Database Access and Management
Review and Preview..............................................................................................8-1
Database Structure and Terminology .................................................................8-1
ADO Data Control.................................................................................................8-6
Data Links..............................................................................................................8-8
Assigning Tables...................................................................................................8-9
Bound Data Tools............................................................................................... 8-10
Example 8-1: Accessing the Books Database............................................... 8-12
Creating a Virtual Table.....................................................................................8-14
Quick Example: Forming a Virtual Table......................................................... 8-14
Finding Specific Records..................................................................................8-16
Example 8-2: ‘Rolodex’ Searching of the Books Database..........................8-18
Data Manager.....................................................................................................8-21
Example 8-3: Phone Directory - Creating the Database............................... 8-22
Database Management.....................................................................................8-24
Example 8-4: Phone Directory - Managing the Database.............................8-26
Custom Data Aware Controls ...........................................................................8-31
Creating a Data Report .....................................................................................8-33
Example 8-5: Phone Directory - Building a Data Report............................... 8-34
Exercise 8: Home Inventory Database.............................................................8-39
9. Dynamic Link Libraries and the Windows API
Review and Preview..............................................................................................9-1
Dynamic Link Libraries (DLL)..............................................................................9-1
Accessing the Windows API With DLL...............................................................9-2
Timing with DLL Calls ...........................................................................................9-4
Quick Example 1: Using GetTickCount to Build a Stopwatch.........................9-5
Quick Example 2: Using GetTickCount to Implement a Delay........................9-6
Drawing Ellipses....................................................................................................9-7
Quick Example 3: Drawing Ellipses...................................................................9-7
Drawing Lines........................................................................................................9-8
Quick Example 4: Drawing Lines .......................................................................9-9
Drawing Polygons .............................................................................................. 9-10
Quick Example 5: Drawing Polygons .............................................................. 9-11
Sounds with DLL Calls - Other Beeps .............................................................9-14
Quick Example 6: Adding Beeps to Message Box Displays ....................... 9-15
viii Learn Visual Basic 6.0
9. Dynamic Link Libraries and the Windows API (continued)
More Elaborate Sounds.....................................................................................9-16
Quick Example 7: Playing WAV Files.............................................................9-16
Playing Sounds Quickly .....................................................................................9-17
Quick Example 8: Playing Sounds Quickly.....................................................9-18
Fun With Graphics.............................................................................................. 9-19
Quick Example 9: Bouncing Ball With Sound!............................................... 9-20
Flicker Free Animation ...................................................................................... 9-22
Quick Example 10: Flicker Free Animation....................................................9-23
Quick Example 11: Horizontally Scrolling Background ................................. 9-24
A Bit of Multimedia .............................................................................................9-26
Quick Example 12: Multimedia Sound and Video......................................... 9-26
Exercise 9: The Original Video Game - Pong!............................................... 9-27
10. Other Visual Basic Topics
Review and Preview...........................................................................................10-1
Custom Controls................................................................................................. 10-1
Masked Edit Control..........................................................................................10-3
Chart Control....................................................................................................... 10-4
Multimedia Control.............................................................................................10-6
Rich Textbox Control..........................................................................................10-8
Slider Control...................................................................................................... 10-9
Tabbed Dialog Control ....................................................................................10-12
UpDown Control...............................................................................................10-13
Toolbar Control.................................................................................................10-14
Using the Windows Clipboard ........................................................................10-17
Printing with Visual Basic ................................................................................10-18
Multiple Form Visual Basic Applications.......................................................10-21
Visual Basic Multiple Document Interface (MDI)...........................................10-25
Creating a Help File .........................................................................................10-29
Class Summary................................................................................................10-36
Exercise 10: The Ultimate Application...........................................................10-37
Appendix I: Visual Basic Symbolic Constants ................................... I-1
Appendix II: Common Dialog Box Constants..................................... II-1