Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 BASICS

Lesson 1

A First Look at Microsoft Visual Basic

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Objectives

Explain the purpose of Microsoft Visual Basic.

Start Visual Studio 2005. Open an existing Visual Basic project. Explain the purpose of the components

on the compiler screen.

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Objectives (cont.)

Run a Visual Basic program. Position a form in a Visual Basic

program. Exit Visual Studio 2005.

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Introduction to Microsoft Visual Studio 2005

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Software development tool Allows you to use a variety of programming

languages Combines graphical interface and

programming code Makes program development as rapid as

possible

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Starting Visual Studio 2005

Visual Studio 2005 can be started from A shortcut on the desktop The Start button and All Programs menu

Integrated Development Environment (IDE) Program that includes tools for creating,

testing, and running computer programs

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Starting Visual Studio 2005 (cont.)

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Opening an Existing Visual Basic Project

Visual Studio 2005 stores programs in a group of files called a project.

The main project file has a VBPROJ extension.

The SLN file is the solution file.

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Opening an Existing Visual Basic Project (cont.)

Opening an existing Visual Basic project Click the Open Project button. Open the SLN file

That corresponds with the project you wish to open

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Opening an Existing Visual Basic Project (cont.)

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Components of the Compiler

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Menus and Toolbars

Visual Studio 2005 menu bar Contains some menus found in other

Windows programs Contains some that are unique to this

programming environment More than one toolbar available

The Standard toolbar appears by default.

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Menus and Toolbars (cont.)

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Menus and Toolbars (cont.)

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The Solution Explorer

Solution Explorer Allows you to see the forms and files that

make up your program Use the Solution Explorer

To access the forms on which you want to work

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The Solution Explorer (cont.)

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The Solution Explorer (cont.)

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The Solution Explorer (cont.)

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The Properties Window

Objects Pieces that make up a Visual Basic

program Each object has characteristics that can

be customized. Called properties

To see the properties of an object Use the Properties window

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The Properties Window (cont.)

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The Properties Window (cont.)

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The Toolbox

The Toolbox Allows you to add objects to forms Has tools for creating objects

Command buttons Text boxes Check boxes Option buttons Picture boxes Scroll bars

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The Toolbox (cont.)

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Running a Visual Basic Program

To run a Visual Basic program Click the Start Debugging button.

Found on the Standard toolbar

Debug version Can be stopped and examined in the IDE

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Running a Visual Basic Program (cont.)

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Exiting Visual Studio

Exiting Visual Basic Requires that you close Visual Studio 2005

Exit Visual Studio Choose Exit from the File menu. Click the Close box at the right side of the

Visual Studio title bar.

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Summary

Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 is a tool that allows you to create Windows programs. Visual Basic is a language you can use in Visual Studio 2005 that allows you to easily create complex programs.

Visual Studio 2005 can be started from a shortcut in the All Programs (or Programs) menu or from the desktop.

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Summary (cont.)

A Visual Studio 2005 project is made up of several files. Information about a project is stored in a file with a VBPROJ extension. A collection of projects is called a solution. Information about a solution is stored in a file with an SLN extension. To open a Visual Studio 2005 project, you simply have to open the SLN file.

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Summary (cont.)

Visual Basic has some menu items found in other Windows programs and some menu items that are unique to Visual Studio 2005.

The Standard toolbar appears by default and contains buttons for frequently used Visual Studio 2005 commands.

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Summary (cont.)

The Solution Explorer allows you to see and open the forms and other files that make up a project.

The Properties window lets you view the characteristics, or properties, of the objects that make up a Visual Basic program. The Properties window also allows you to make changes to those properties.

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Summary (cont.)

The toolbox holds the tools that allow you to add objects, such as command buttons, to a form.

To run a Visual Basic program,click the Start Debugging button from the Standard toolbar.

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Summary (cont.)

Exit Microsoft Visual Studio by choosing Exit from the File menu or by clicking the Close box on the Microsoft Visual Studio title bar.