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1.

Objects
Characteristics
-building blocks of Visual Basic
- Object types already created - we make
new instances
- Object types ' borrowed' from Windows
environment
- Individual entities that are somewhat
self-contained
- Can interact with other objects
- Some behavior 'built-in'

2. An object has:
Properties - individual characteristics of the
object
Events - stimuli from the user, environment,
or other objects that the object can respond

to
Methods - specialized commands that the
object can do - allows you to manipulate

3. Selected Controls
Form - abbreviation: frm
- main property: varies
- main event: load (activated whenever the
form shows up on screen)
- main uses; serves as a container for all
other controls
- background for the program
- load event used to contain code for early
in the program run

4. Sample Code:
Private Sub Form_Click()

'when clicked show in the label that this


'is a form
lblLabel.Caption = "This is the Form"
End Sub

5. Picture box
Main property: Picture
Main event: click
Abbreviation: pic
Main uses: display graphic image on screen

6. Sample Code:
Private Sub picIUPUI_Click()
'when clicked show in the label this is a
'picture box
lblLabel.Caption = "This is a Picture Box"

End Sub

7. Label
Main property: caption
Main event: click
Abbreviation: lbl
Main uses: primary form of text OUTPUT
in VB, display text on screen show text that
the user cannot directly change, works like
print command in other languages

8. Text box
Main property: text
Main event: change
Abbreviation: txt

Main uses: primary form of text INPUT in


VB, displays CHANGEABLE text on
screen, often works like INPUT command
in other languages

9. Command Button
Main property: caption
Main event: click
Abbreviation: cmd
Main uses: indicated user's desire to do
something, frequently houses significant
amount of program code, graphically shows
being depressed, easily recognized as
something to click

10. Sample Code:


Private Sub cmdQuit_Click()

'when the user clicks here end the program


End
End Sub

11. Scroll bar


Main property: value
Main event: change
Abbreviation: hsc (horizontal), vsc (vertical)
Main uses: primary form of INTEGER input
in VB, allows user to input numeric value
graphically, range can be determined at
design time, allows little opportunity for
error

12. Sample Code:


Private Sub hscHorizontal_Change()
'when the user moves the scrollbar indicate
in the

'label that this is a horizontal scroll bar


lblLabel.Caption = "This is a horizontal
scroll bar " & hscHorizontal.Value
End Sub

13. Option button


Main property: value (true or false)
Main event: click
Abbreviation: opt
Main uses: allows user to check ONLY
ONE of a series of options, grouped in a
form or frame, when one is true all others
are false, like a car radio

14. Check box


Main property: value (checked, unchecked
or grayed)

Main event: click


Abbreviation: chk
Main uses: allows user to check one OR
MORE of a series of options, can also be
grouped, more than one can be checked at a
time
outline
Objects

Characteristics
-building blocks of Visual Basic
- Object types already created - we make new instances
- Object types ' borrowed' from Windows environment
- Individual entities that are somewhat self-contained
- Can interact with other objects
- Some behavior 'built-in'

An object has:

Properties - individual characteristics of the object

Events - stimuli from the user, environment, or other objects that the object can respond
to

Methods - specialized commands that the object can do - allows you to manipulate

Selected Controls

Form - abbreviation: frm


- main property: varies

- main event: load (activated whenever the form shows up on screen)


- main uses; serves as a container for all other controls
- background for the program
- load event used to contain code for early in the program run

Sample Code:

Private Sub Form_Click()


'when clicked show in the label that this
'is a form
lblLabel.Caption = "This is the Form"
End Sub

Picture box

Main property: Picture

Main event: click

Abbreviation: pic

Main uses: display graphic image on screen

Sample Code:

Private Sub picIUPUI_Click()


'when clicked show in the label this is a
'picture box
lblLabel.Caption = "This is a Picture Box"
End Sub

Label

Main property: caption

Main event: click

Abbreviation: lbl

Main uses: primary form of text OUTPUT in VB, display text on screen show text that
the user cannot directly change, works like print command in other languages

Text box

Main property: text

Main event: change

Abbreviation: txt

Main uses: primary form of text INPUT in VB, displays CHANGEABLE text on screen,
often works like INPUT command in other languages

Command Button

Main property: caption

Main event: click

Abbreviation: cmd

Main uses: indicated user's desire to do something, frequently houses significant amount
of program code, graphically shows being depressed, easily recognized as something to
click

Sample Code:

Private Sub cmdQuit_Click()


'when the user clicks here end the program
End
End Sub

Scroll bar

Main property: value

Main event: change

Abbreviation: hsc (horizontal), vsc (vertical)

Main uses: primary form of INTEGER input in VB, allows user to input numeric value
graphically, range can be determined at design time, allows little opportunity for error

Sample Code:

Private Sub hscHorizontal_Change()


'when the user moves the scrollbar indicate in the
'label that this is a horizontal scroll bar

lblLabel.Caption = "This is a horizontal scroll bar " & hscHorizontal.Value


End Sub

Option button

Main property: value (true or false)

Main event: click

Abbreviation: opt

Main uses: allows user to check ONLY ONE of a series of options, grouped in a form or
frame, when one is true all others are false, like a car radio

Check box

Main property: value (checked, unchecked or grayed)

Main event: click

Abbreviation: chk

Main uses: allows user to check one OR MORE of a series of options, can also be
grouped, more than one can be checked at a time

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Properties

Properties are a number of variables associated with an object

Each object has a different list of properties

Some properties are common to most objects (visible)

Some properties are specific to only one type of object (Max, Min in scroll bars)

Properties Characteristics

Can have different types of values:


- Text (caption)
- Numeric (min, max)
- Boolean - True/False (visible)

Properties are used to:

Refine an object's appearance (BackColor)

Refine an object's behavior (Enabled)

Set up the object so it will do what the programmer wants (Design time)

Change the characteristics of the property while the program is running (Run time)

Properties can be changed at:

Design time:
- as the program is being built
- uses the properties box
- All properties will be set this way when the program starts execution

Properties can be changed at:

Run time:
- while the program is running
- is accomplished using code
- allows properties to be changed on the fly
- allows response to environmental (user) input

Example:

MyFirst used
- design time to set up the BackColor of the picture boxes
- run time to set up the BackColor of the form

Methods

A special kind of command attached to specific objects

Works only with the object it is attached to

Some objects (check boxes) have a few methods

Others (data controls) have many

Method Characteristics

Usually found searching the online help

Activated only in run time

Relatively limited use

Syntax: Object.Method

Examples

Move event - used to move an object

Syntax - Object.Move X, Y, Height, Width


- where X and Y are coordinates the object will be moved to
- height and width are the size of the object

Common Methods

Hide, Show used with forms

AddItem used with listboxes, grids

Print, EndDoc to print to printer

Events

Are the stimuli an object can recognize

Are listed in the Proc box of the object's code window

Some events are nearly universal (e.g., Click)

Can be activated by the user (e.g., Click)

Some are object specific (e.g., Timer)

Event Driven Program Design

Most code in Visual Basic is related to an object-event relationship

The user or environment activates events in objects, which then activates code

Very different than earlier types of program organization techniques

Example:

Picture1_Click in last week's program

Read 'When the user CLICKS on the PICTURE1 control, this will happen.'

Common Events

Click, Double-click

Load, Unload on forms

Change on controls that get user input

Paint on controls that contain graphical information

Getting Help

Visual Basic is a complex, growing language with many subtleties

Traditional reference books are cumbersome

There is a hypertext online help which uses a Windows help engine

Help Menu in VB

Contents and submenu is good if you need general information

Search for Help on - is much more flexible


- type in whatever you want help on
- a list of similar topics will appear
- select the topic you want

Keyword Help

This is the fastest way to get help

Type or point to a keyword that you are having trouble with in a code window

Be sure the cursor is somewhere inside that word

Hit the F1 key


- if the word is a keyword and spelled correctly,
a help screen for that word will appear
- good for checking syntax

General Declarations

This is an area that can be used to make comments about your program

Example:
'Create a clock that displays a time in a label.
'Place two horizontal scroll bars on the form,
'one that will change the backcolor of the clock label and one
'that will change the forecolor of the clock label.

Some New Objects

Timer
- is invisible at run time
- goes 'off' at specified intervals
- used to replace loops

Timer Properties

Interval (in 1000ths of a second)

Enabled (True or False)

Timer Events

Timer
- it has 'gone off'

New Properties

BackColor, ForeColor - attached to most objects

FontName - tells which font to use in current object

FontSize - tells the size of the current font

New Functions

QBColor
- gets a color using the Qbasic value
- uses a number between 0 and 15
- is an easy way to get most common colors

Sample Syntax

frmSample.BackColor = QBColor (4)

Time

Time (displays 12 hour clock)

Time$ (displays 24 hour clock)

Gets the current time from the system clock and returns it as a string

Sample Syntax:

lblTime.Caption = Time
or
lblTime.Caption = Time$

End

Ends the program

Syntax Examples

Private Sub Timer1_Timer()


'when the form loads the clock
'should appear in the lblClockFace
'caption area
lblClockFace.Caption = Time
End Sub

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Variable Description

A container for information (data)

A name that refers to a chunk of computer memory

Variables have value

Can be used in statements rather than a value

Value can change

Principal Uses

Storing information gotten from the user, environment or another source

Works with information stored in object properties

Can manipulate information (info garage)

Type of Variables

Computer stores different types of information in different ways

Examples:
Text - fixed or dynamic length
Integers - integers or long integers
Real numbers - single and double precision
Currency - 8 digits plus four decimal places
Variant - computer takes its best guess (risky)

Variable Declaration Modes

Implicit - simply by using the variable you declare its existence

This is used by older forms of Visual Basic

Used type declaration characters ($ % & #, etc.)

There is no way to check for spelling of variable names - common errors

Explicit Declaration

Each variable is declared in a DIM statement, using a variable name and the type

Example Syntax:
- Dim UserName as String

Variable should be declared before the code using it in the appropriate code area

Can also be set by typing OPTION EXPLICIT in the General area of the form

Advantages of using variables

Your code is easier to read

Misspelling variable names is caught by the complier

Makes it easier to set the scope

More professional

Scope

There are different levels where you define variables


1. Procedure
2. Form or general declarations
3. Project level (global)

Description

Variables can be accessed only in specific parts of the program

Prevents errors especially in large programs

Allows for compartmentalization of the program

Variables are only available to those parts of the program that need it

Law Enforcement

Scope can be compared to different types of law enforcement:


local = same as local police
general or form = county sheriff
global = state police

General (form) Level Variables

Are declared in the general area of the form

Are available to all objects and code windows attached to the form

The value of the variable is accessible to any code in the form

NOT the same as a global variable

Object Level Variables

Are declared in the code window of the specific object

Exists only when that code is running

If the same variable name is used in a different code window, they are DIFFERENT
variables

Also called local variables and are preferred when possible

Which should you use?

If only one object will use the information stored in the variable, make it Object Level

If more that one object needs it, make it Form Levelmore later

Type Conversion Functions

This allows you to convert from one data type to another

Val - grabs a numeric value from a string

Str$ (Str) converts a numeric value to a string

Is frequently used to convert from variant to a more specific type

Simple Dialog Boxes

Message Box (MsgBox) is a easy way to send a short message to a user

Syntax: MsgBox ("String value to send")

Example: MsgBox ("Hello World")

Or: Dim Message as String


Message = "Hello World"
MsgBox (Message)

Inputbox

These are easy ways to get quick input from the user

Syntax: VariableName = Inputbox(String value representing questions)

Example: Dim UserName as String


UserName = Inputbox ("What is your name?")

or , Dim Answer as Integer


Answer = Inputbox ("What is 5 + 3 ?")

If - Then - EndIf

Allows for simple evaluations

Syntax: IF expression THEN command

Example: If Name = "Wally" then MsgBox ("You're a Nerd")


If Answer <> 12 then MsgBox ("Sorry, 5 + 7 = 12")

Block for of IF Else EndIF

IF expression THEN
code
ELSE
more code
END IF

Example:

IF Ans4 = Total THEN


MsgBox ("Very Nice!")
ELSE
MsgBox ("Too Bad !")
END IF

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Conditions

Conditions are expressions that can be evaluated as true or false.

Conditions are NOT an equation.

Conditions usually compare a value to a variable - can also be a variable to a variable.

If - Then - Else

This is the most basic condition

This is used for simple branching

Syntax

Simple form: IF expression Then command


If userName = "Wally" Then MsgBox("Hello, Wally")

Block form:
IF expression Then
code
ELSE
more code
END IF

Select Case

Select Case is used for multiple branching

Tests one variable for multiple values

Syntax

SELECT CASE variable


CASE value 1
Basic statement
CASE value 2
Basic statement
CASE ELSE
Basic Statement
END SELECT

Example

Dim Year as String


Year = InputBox "In which year was 'Gone with the Wind' produced?"
Select Case Year
Case "1937"
MsgBox "WAY too early"
Case "1938"
MsgBox "A little too early"
Case "1939"
MsgBox "PERFECT!!!"
Case Else
MsgBox "Your are WAY off!!"
End Select

Do..Loop

This is used for conditional looping

DO and LOOP keywords mark the beginning and the end of the loop.

Syntax

DO [WHILE, UNTIL, or NOTHING] [Condition for WHILE or UNTIL]


code inside loop
LOOP [WHILE, UNTIL or NOTHING] [Condition for WHILE or UNTIL]

WHILE Condition

The loop continues as long as the condition is TRUE

The loop ends when the condition is FALSE

UNTIL Condition

The loop continues as long as the condition is FALSE

The loop ends when the condition is TRUE

This is the opposite of WHILE

Placement of the Condition

DO - the condition is evaluated BEFORE the code is run

It is possible to skip code

Is usually necessary to initialize a sentry variable


- a sentry variable is a counter type variable

Loop

Code runs at least once before condition is checked

The initialization often occurs in code

Is more commonly used

Example: Until at bottom

Dim Answer as Integer


Answer = 0
Do
Answer = Val(InputBox ("What is 2+3"))
Loop Until Answer = 5

Example: While at top

Dim At_Peace as Boolean


At_Peace = True
Do while At_Peace = False
Launch_Missles(Russia)
Loop

Example: While at bottom

Dim At_Peace as Boolean


At_Peace = True
Do
Launch_Missles (Russia)
Loop while At-Peace = False

3 things to consider

What is the condition?

Do I need the condition at the top or the bottom?

Do I want a while or until condition?

For/Next Loop

This is a simpler and older loop

Used for counting

You must know how many times you will do the task (either directly or in a variable)

Syntax:

For counting_variable = 1 to limit [STEP steps]


BASIC code?..
NEXT counting_variable

Example: Simple counting loop

For I = 1 to 10
MsgBox Str (I)
NEXT I

Example: Counting backwards

For I = 10 to 1 Step -1
MsgBox Str (I)
Next I

Using the counter inside the loop

For Xpos = 0 to MyForm.Width Step 100


ImgCar.Left = Xpos
Next XPos

Other techniques you will need

CLS Method

Atached to picture boxes and forms

Allows you to clear the object

Derived from the old CLS command

Syntax: ObjectNaame.cls

Print method

Attached to picture boxes, forms and printer object

Allows you to print a value directly to the object

Derived from old PRINT command

Syntax: ObjectName.Print Value

Value can be a string or numeric, direct or variable name

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Variable Arrays

A list of variables, all of the same type, with similar meaning but different values each
one having an index number

Can be any valid variable

Example: Putt-Putt scores

Syntax

Dim hole(18) As Integer


hole (0) = 1
hole (1) = 2
hole (2) = 3

Initialization

Individual numeric array elements are initialized to zero by default

You, the programmer can explicitly initialize the array with assignment statements as in
the previous slide

Bounds versus Index

The position number contained within parentheses is called an index

Declaring the variable - Dim numbers (5) As Integer - would tell the computer to reserve
6 elements for an Integer array of numbers
- the value 5 defines the upper bound (highest value) of numbers
- the lower bound of numbers defaults to 0

When an upper bound is specified in the declaration, a fixed-size array is created

Uses

A variable array frequently used in a for-next loop

The upper bound is frequently a constant

Used when you want to be able to have multiple values for properties (e.g., the same
label used to display three different captions at different times)

Used when you are keeping track of a list or table of data (e.g., your grades)

Control Arrays

Conceptually similar to variable arrays

Are an array of controls of the same type and all controls in an array share the same
properties as a default (properties can be changed through code individually)

All controls in an array share the same code box

All events related to a code array automatically pass an Index parameter

Using a Control Array

Used when several controls need to do the same thing (e.g., color box)

Example: you want to store images off-screen for quick access

Creating a Control Array

Create the first object in the regular way

Set the properties of this object ESPECIALLY the name

Copy the object, paste it - a dialog box will ask you if you want to create an array

Click "YES" and move the new object wherever you want it. Continue this process until
you have all you need.

Constants

Treated much like variables in code except:


- the value of a constant cannot change during the execution of the program
- a constant cannot be given a new value during the run of the program

Uses of a constant

A constant would be used to name a number so it is easier to use in code

Example: PI = 3.1415927

A constant would be used to refer to a commonly occurring value in a program

Example: NumPics = 3

Additional uses

If the programmer updates the program to handle more frames, he only has to change the
constant definition - this saves time and makes the program easier to read

Syntax

CONST Identifier = Value

Image boxes

Are a control to handle pictures and the property of the picture determines what image is
shown

The picture can be copied to the clipboard, loaded from a disk file or copied from another
object

The image box automatically resizes itself to the picture size and can be used to scale
pictures

Special property

The image box has a special property - visible that is used to hide pictures "off stage"

Syntax: ControlName.visible = True or False

True means the control is visible and is the default

False means the control is invisible

Multitasking as a programming tool

Multitasking is the ability to run multiple program simultaneously on the same processor

Multitasking is commonly used when defining graphic elements of a visual basic


program

Visual Basic has limited drawing features of its own but allows use of Windows Opaint
or other specialized drawing programs

It also allows the programmer to define icons, sound effects, and other elements using
specialized tools

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Designing Menus

Menus should follow Windows standards (be along the top of the screen)

Have an option for the user to have quick access to an item (alt + underlined letter, i.e.,
File), also known as shortcut keys

How the menus are seen by VB

They are attached to the form and each menu item is a mini control with only a few
properties

Each menu item has only a CLICKED event it recognizes

The menu design window

The component "CommonDialog" must be added to the list of tools by choosing Projects
from the menu, then Components, and select the Common Dialog option from the list of
items available

Designing the menu

The 'Menu Editor' is located on the horizontal toolbar on the left-hand side

This allows you to create an outline of the menu structure, change properties of the menu
items

The user will see what the developer places in the caption area

Placing an & in front of a letter indicates that the next letter will be underlined and used
for quick access (&File will show File)

Name is like a control name and should use mnuFile naming convention, each menu item
MUST have a name

The Shortcut

This allows you to assign a Control combination or function key to the menu item

Checked: tells whether there is a check mark placed next to the item (TRUE or FALSE)

Enabled shows whether the user can access the item (TRUE or FALSE)

Visible shows whether the item is visible (TRUE or FALSE)

Accessing the code

Once you have your menu designed, it will appear at the top of your form, all you will
need to do is click on the menu item's name to access the code window for the name you
have chosen

Common Menu Guidelines

Items are usually 2-3 items deep, but can be deeper and usually less than 7-10 choices per
menu

When possible, the first letter should be underlined and be related to a shortcut key

Common Dialogs

There are already dialog boxes existing in Windows

Many commands are used in various types of programs (Save, Open, Font, etc.)

Dialog boxes related to these commands are available as common dialogs

The Common Dialog Box Control works very differently from most controls

The control is NOT visible on the form (similar to the Timer - it's there but you don't see
it)

The control is 'called' by the use of an action statement or a show method

Example:

CmDialog1.Action = 3

CmDialog.ShowColor

Actions of the Common Dialog

Same control can 'call' any of the dialogs depending on the value of the action property

Action
1
2
3
4

Type of box
Open
Save
Color
Font

Methods

The common dialog control actions can also be controlled through methods. Many
programmers find these easier to remember than use rather than the action property

Some methods are:


ShowOpen
ShowSave
ShowColor
ShowFont

Example:

CmDialog1.Action = 1
is exactly the same as
CmDialog1.ShowOpen

Properties set in design time

Filter - this is used in file dialogs to determine how dialog will isolate files

Format - .TXT(TextFiles)|.TXT (there is no space on either side of | which is the 'pipe'


character

This is usually located on the backslash key, sometimes it looks like a broken vertical line

Properties changed in run time

The properties of a common dialog are used for communication between the user and the
programmer

Common dialogs DO NOT do actual file manipulation, color changing, or whatever

They bring up dialog boxes for the user to select these things and they store the user's
choice in the properties of the common dialog object

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File Handling

Is a method of handling external data

Data is kept in FILES on the disk and a program can read and write information from or
to these files.

The programmer is responsible for controlling the flow of this information

Sequential Access Files

These work like a cassette tape or VHS tape. You start at the beginning of the tape and
listen or watch from beginning to end (if it is a good tape or movie)

This method can be slow if there is a large number of records

Records can have a variable length

This type of file access is useful when a flexible structure is more important than quick
access

The OPEN Statement

Syntax: OPEN filename FOR method AS # filenumber

The filename is any valid DOS filename

Caution in allowing the user to create the file names

Methods for the OPEN Statement

INPUT: reads information from an existing file (retrieving existing file for input)

OUTPUT: creates a new file, adds information to it, overwrites with new information to
an existing file

APPEND: adds information to the end of an existing file

Choosing a method

Usually OUTPUT is used only when creating a new file as it will destroy existing files
with the same name

APPEND is generally used for output

The filenumber

Must be an integer, usually 1 or 2

This is unique for each file opened - it tells what file number you want to access

Keep this simple

The WRITE # statement

This is used to write to a file

Before you can write to the file, you must have opened the file via OPEN
(Output/Append)

The Syntax

WRITE # FileNumber, Value(s)

The FileNumber must match the file number on the OPEN statement

The Value(s) would be the direct value or variables separated by commas

The INPUT # statement

This is used to get data from a file and the file must have been opened via the OPEN
statement (Input)

The INPUT Syntax

INPUT # FileNumber, variable

Where the FileNumber is a valid, open file and variables separated by commas

The CLOSE statement

This statement is used to close the file and release its filenumber

The syntax: CLOSE # FileNumber

The EOF function

EOF (end of file) is a Boolean function - it is either TRUE or FALSE

Is TRUE if the program has reached the end of the file and is usually used in DO LOOPS
with file handling

Syntax and Example

EOF (FileNumber)

Example:
DO
..program code
LOOP UNTIL EOF(1)

NOT operator

This sets a Boolean to its opposite value and is commonly used for check boxes and
Boolean properties

Example:
Text1.FontUnderlined = NOT Text1.FontUnderlined

If Font Underlined is true, it will become false, if false it will become true

SETFOCUS method

This method is used in conjunction with an object and that object receives the focus.

Example:
Text1.SetFocus

By doing this the insertion cursor will appear in the text box.

Any subsequent key presses will be processed by the text box

On Error Resume Next

This is used when you anticipate an error in a procedure, especially in file handling

When an error occurs, the program skips to the next line

This is only good within the procedure where it is defined

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Modules

Description of a module:
- they are like separate files on a disk
- they are like the code part of a form - no objects are attached
- are saved on the disk with a .BAS extension

What do they contain?

Modules contain record definitions

GLOBAL variable declarations

Global procedures

How are they used?

Modules are used to declare GLOBAL variables


- use the keyword GLOBAL in place of DIM
- can only be used in the general area of a module
- otherwise used just like DIM

Creation of global procedures

Because they are global, they can be called from any form, any procedure in the project

It is just like creating a new command

Can be used to store a library of useful subprograms (e.g., printing related)

Are created by choosing New Module from the File menu or hitting New Module button

Scope map

Global procedures

Are created in the general area of forms or modules

In forms, makes a form-level procedure

In modules, makes a global procedure

Can be called from within code - New command

Syntax

Sub ProcedureName (Parameters)

Creates a new section of the general area

Code can be written in this area

Parameters

"Instant" local variable(s)

They don't have to be declared

To call a procedure -simply use its name in code

Multiple forms

To create use New Form on the File menu or New Form button

Useful methods -Show


- Hide

Show

Syntax: FormName.Show 1

This action is modal

The FormName is the name of the form you have created in the project

Example

Second.Show 1

This loads Second into memory if it's not there and shows it to the user

Modal switch

If you end the show method with a 1, the form will be modal

The new form gets focus

The next code that is activated is in the form_load procedure of the second form

The control reverts to the original form after the second is closed

If you do not put a 1 at the end, the form shows up, but does not get the focus

The control of the program moves on to the next line of code in the first form

Hide

Syntax: FormName.Hide

Example: Second.Hide

This hides the named form and the control reverts back to the procedure that showed the
form

Warning! Don't hide ALL the forms in a project!

Startup form

One form must be designated as the startup form

By default this will be the first form created

To change this, use the Project dialog under the Options Menu

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Databases

Sequential access is used when records with be of differing length

Allow more flexibility, but more difficult programming

Require programmer to keep tack of the record number

Can use custom variable types

Random Access

Individual pieces of data may be referenced without having to process sequentially all of
the information that precedes that data in the file.

Random Access Files

The simplest is to require that all records in a file are of the same fixed length

Using fixed length makes it easy for a program to calculate the exact location of any
record relative to the beginning of the file

Data can be inserted, updated or deleted and each random-access file will have one of
these three access types

User defined TYPES

A compound variable that combines many standard variable types

Usually refers to a RECORD in a database and is also called a RECORD variable

Usually fixed length which is ideal for ramdom-access

The TYPE statement

TYPE newType
var1 as datatype
var2 as datatype
var3 as datatype
END TYPE
GLOBAL variable AS newType

Description

newType is your custom data type

Usually ends in TYPE (by our convention)

This is NOT a variable. It is a new variable TYPE (like string, integer, etc.)

var1, var2, etc. are regular variable names

Datatype refers to standard variable types (string, integer, single, etc.)

Example

Type AddressType
Name as String * 30
Phone as String * 15
Add as String * 50
End Type
Global Address as AddressType

Use of record (compound) variables

Are much like Object Oriented Programming syntax

Variable.Record (e.g., Address.Name = "Andy")

Files (description)

Must be fixed-length records for random-access file

More like a CD player. Individual records can be accessed directly

Frequently use custom data types

OPEN statement

OPEN filename for RANDOM AS #filenumber LEN = LEN(RecordVariable)

Example:
OPEN "A:\Address.dat" for Random as #1 LEN = LEN (Address)

The same open statement is used for reading, writing, and appending.

PUT statement

Is used to Copy information from a variable to the file

The filename must have been opened with an OPEN for RANDOM command

Syntax:

PUT # fileNumber, RecordNumber, RecordVariable

Example:
to place the current contents of the address variable to the 4th position in the file:
PUT #1, 4, Address

To place the current contents of the address variable in the position in the file contained
in the recNum variable:
PUT #1, recNum, Address

GET statement

Identical to the PUT statement except it transfers information FROM the database TO a
variable

Filename must have been opened with an OPEN for RANDOM command

Syntax:

GET # FileNumber, RecordNumber, RecordVariable

Note: Filename must have been opened with an OPEN for RANDOM command

Example:

To place the current contents of the 4th position in the file to the address variable
GET #1, 4, Address

Notes on use of GET and PUT

Both are frequently put in separate procedures to simplify use

Both require an OPEN statement before use and a CLOSE statement after

Sample GET procedure

(assumes Record variable called Address)

Sub GetAddress
OPEN FileName for Random as #1 Len = Len(Address)
Get #1, RecNum, Address
Close #1
TxtName.text = Address.Name
TxtPhone.text = Address.Phone
TxtAdd.text = Address.Add
End Sub

Notes:

The previous code assumes access to variables FileName, RecNum and Address (the
Record Variable)

Notice that we first GOT the variable from the file, then copied it to the form

This code would probably be at form-level

PUT procedure

A similar PUT procedure would:


Copy the fields from the form objects to the variable
Open the file, put the variable to the file
Close the file

Parallel Arrays

Loads all records into a record array (record variable) or a series of arrays in memory

Provides fast execution

Loads from the disk only once

Only allows a number of records that will fit into memory at one time

Information is volatile until saved.

Linked Lists

Each record contains a field that points to the next record

Done by adding extra field(s) in custom variable type

There is a Pointer field containing the record number of the next/previous record in the
field

Allows for convenient sorting, but slow searching

Double-linked lists

Binary tree

Indexing

A separate file or array is maintained comparing the record number to the position in a
sorted list

Various indices can be created sorting by different criteria

This can be easily created with sorted list box technique in Visual Basic

Relational databases

Information is contained in more than one table of data

One table may track personnel, another may track payroll

Links between tables

Allows flexibility

Sorting algorithms

Bubble sort - slow but unwieldy - easy to write

Shell sort - more efficient but more complex

Quick sort - among the best overall techniques, uses recursion

outline
Purpose of the class

Who is it for?

What we are learning

Programming essentials

Specific languages

Emphasis on concepts

Practical applications
- educational
- scientific
- business settings

Why program?

History

Usefulness now

Engineer analogy

Hardware information

Disk
- floppy 1.44 meg
- you may want to have 3 available - one to turn in, two to work on

Computer requirements

Visual Basic v6.0

Solving problems with STAIR

ools

lgorithm

tate the problem

mplementation

efinement

History of programming

Sumerian Algorithms

Abu Ja'far Muhammad ibn-Musa Al-Khowarizimi (algorithm is derived from the last
name)

Pascaline 1659

Analytical Engine 1834

Lady Ada

Birth of programming languages

Eniac - cords and wires

Grace Hopper and A0-first compiler

(first bug - origin of debugging)

Higher level languages

Fortran - first practical higher level language

COBOL - business oriented

PASCAL - teaching language

BASIC - hobbyist's language

QuickBASIC - BASIC comes of age

OOP - object oriented programming (C, PASCAL)

Next generation - Hypertalk, Visual BASIC

Windows-general characteristics

GUI, graphically based

Multiple ways to do things, User-driven

Device Independence, Event oriented

Mouse is critical, Multi-tasking

Programming differences-DOS

Programmer in control, user interface up to programmer

User has few options - computer 'train' the user

Programmer must anticipate user's wishes

Procedural program design, programmer directly responsible for all device control

Programming differences-WINDOWS

User in control

OOP - object oriented program design

Standardized user interface

Generally harder to program, easier to use

Visual Basic Guided Tour

Parts of the VB Editor

Menu bar, Tool bar, Tool box, Project window, Properties box

Using menu bar to show, hide other components

Naming a form

Click on the form to select it

Click on the properties box or right-click on the form

Click on the NAME property to select it (scroll through the list to locate)

Highlight editing part of the properties box - change name to MyFirst

Notice change in the properties box - caption of form has not changed

Changing the form's caption

Use the same procedure to change the form's CAPTION property to {your name}'s First
VB Program

Examine other properties of the form, but do not change them randomly

Adding a picture box

Show the toolbox if hidden

Click on the Picture box icon (the cactus picture)

Drag small area on the form - this is your picture box

Change shape by using the '"handles"

Picture box

Naming convention - pic, so name something like picBlue

Change background color of the box

Double-click on the BackColor property

Choose a color for your box from the palette

Adding some code to Picture box

Double-click on the picture box - this brings up the code window

First, decide on the algorithm - then implement it

Some concepts

Object oriented syntax


- OBJECT.PROPERTY
- sometimes FORM.OBJECT.PROPERTY
- note the periods and lack of spaces

Variable = value

Read "Variable gets value"

NOT equality

For our purposes, an object property is a variable

Saving the program

VB has TWO different files for each program:


Form has a .FRM extension
- contains description of the form, objects and code
Project has .VBP(Visual Basic Project) extension
- essentially has a list of the forms in the program

Use the Disk icon to save

This is the safest way to be sure everything is saved

Look at the default name given and ALWAYS use the same extension

If you are confused, use NO extension at all

VB will guess better than you

Test the program

Press the Play button on the toolbar - you will see your program running

Click on the form outside the box, nothing should happen

Click inside the box, the window should change colors

Hit the stop button to return

Save the program

Test and save the program


HAVE FUN!

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