A%20First%20Look%20At%20Microsoft%20Visual%20Basic

1
A First Look At Microsoft Visual Basic

• Lesson 1

2
What is Microsoft Visual Basic?

• Microsoft Visual Basic is a software development
  tool, which means it is a tool that allows you to
  create programs.

3
Starting Visual Basic

• Visual Basic can be started from a shortcut on
  the desktop or from the Start button and Programs
  menu.
• Step-By-Step
• Click the Start button.
• Open Programs.
• On the Programs menu, position your mouse pointer
  on the menu that leads to Microsoft Visual Studio
  6.0.

4

• 4. On the Microsoft Visual Studio 6.0 Menu,
  position your mouse pointer on the menu that
  leads to Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. Double
  click Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 to open the
  program.
• The Visual Basic compiler starts and the New
  Project dialog box opens.
• Choose Standard EXE and click on the Open button.

5
Components of the Compiler

• When you first run the Visual Basic
  programming environment, it look similar to other
  program you have run in Windows.

6
Components of the Compiler
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The Project Explorer

• Allows you to see the forms and files that make
  up your program.
• Use the Project Explore to access the forms that
  you want to work on.
• By default, the Project Explorer window is docked
  at the upper-right corner of the screen.
• The Project Explorer window organizes the forms
  used in a Visual Basic program.

8
The Properties Window

• The pieces that make up a VB program are called
  objects. Windows, command buttons, text boxes,
  and scroll bars are all examples of objects.
• Objects placed on forms, such as command buttons
  and text boxes, are also known as controls.
• Each object has characteristics that can be
  customized. These characteristics are called
  properties.
• To see the properties of an object, select the
  object and view the properties in the Properties
  window.
• The properties of the object can also be changed
  from the Properties window.

9
The Toolbox

• The toolbox is the collection of tools that
  allows you to add objects (controls) to the forms
  you create in VB.
• You can find tools such as command buttons, text
  boxes, check boxes, option buttons, picture
  boxes, and scroll bars.

10
Running a Visual Basic Program

• To run a Visual Basic program, click the Start
  button from the standard tool bar.

11
Positioning a Form in a Visual Basic Program

• The Form Layout window, which appears in the
  lower right corner of the screen, shows the
  position the form will take when the program
  runs.
• You can change the position of the form by
  dragging the forms representation in the Form
  Layout window.
• Only the Form Layout window can change a forms
  placement when the program runs.

12
Exiting Visual Basic

• You can exit VB by choosing Exit from the File
  menu, or by clicking the Close box at the right
  end of the Visual Basic title bar.

13
Opening an Existing VB Project

• From the New Project Dialog box, click the
  Existing tab.
• Note If the New Project dialog box did not
  appear when you started Visual Basic, choose Open
  Project from the File menu.
• Click the down arrow in the Look in drop down
  list box to open a list.
• Click the up or down scroll bar arrows to scroll
  as needed, click the item that identifies where
  your file is located.

14

1. Double-click folders until you see the SnakeGame
   file name.
2. Click Snake Game, then click the open button.
3. Run the program and play the game.

15
Homework!

• Read Pages 2 to 13 and take notes!
• Answer T/F questions on page 14.
• Ms. Oleksyk