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Using Visual Basic 6

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Using Visual Basic 6

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FAQs

Question 1: When trying to load the first example i.e.. usingvb6\ch01\Project1.vbp there is an error - cannot load MSCOMCT2.OSX. How do I fix this?

Solution 1: I tried to run the first example as well. I also got the error message but was able to run the code without problem. It is possible that you receive the error message because you are using a working edition of VB and not a full version. You should, however, be able to run the code without problem.

Description

  • Copyright 1998
  • Edition: 1st
  • Book
  • ISBN-10: 0-7897-1633-X
  • ISBN-13: 978-0-7897-1633-0

Using Visual Basic 6 is broken into four sections. Part One is Visual basic and its Integrated Development Environment. Part Two takes you through the concepts and practices that are applicable not only to Visual basic programming, but other programming environments as well. Part Three teaches programming tools and techniques. Part Four introduces the advanced features including database programming, ActiveX controls, and objects oriented programming.

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Source Code

The examples developed for the book in one convenient file for download - 864 KB -- examples.zip

Sample Content

Table of Contents

I. VISUAL BASIC FUNDAMENTALS.

1. Building Your First Application.

Writing Your First Application. Starting Visual Basic. Building the Calendar Feature. Adding a Clock Feature. Configuring the Timer Control. Using the Label Control to Display the Time. Adding a Message. Improving Your First Application.

2. What's New with Visual Basic 6.

Getting a Quick Overview of VB6. Getting More Power from Enhanced Controls. Working with the New Controls. Working with the New Language Features. Learning About VB and the Internet. Finding Out About the New Data Capabilities. New Object Programming Additions.

3. Working in the Visual Basic 6 Programming Environment.

Understanding the Parts of the IDE. Adding and Removing Toolbars in the Visual Basic IDE. Adding Controls with the ToolBox. Navigating Through the Form Window and Code Window. Managing Applications with the Project Explorer. Controlling Settings with the Properties Window. Setting Form Position with the Form Layout Window. Viewing the IDE.

4. Using the Intrinsic Controls.

What Are Forms and Controls? What Are Intrinsic Controls? Adding and Removing Controls. The Importance of Naming Controls. How to Size and Position a Control. Modifying a Form's Size. Working with Containers. Extending Visual Basic by Adding Controls.

5. Working with Projects in VisualBasic 6.

What is a Visual Basic Project? Using the Project Explorer. Creating a New Project. Changing a Project's Properties. Saving and Naming a Project. Opening an Existing Project. Adding Files to a Project. Removing Files from a Project. Using Project Groups.

6. Working with Properties, Methods, and Events.

What Are Properties, Methods, and Events? The Relationship Between Properties, Methods, and Events. The Importance of Event-Driven Programming. Using Properties, Methods, and Events in a Sample Program.

II. PROGRAMMING WITH VISUAL BASIC.

7. Using Data Types, Constants, and Variables.

Storing Information in Variables. Making Explicit Declarations. Using Type Suffixes with Variables. Using Strings. Determining Where a Variable Can Be Used. Using Static Variables. Using Constants. Using the Assignment Statement. Revisiting the Addition Program.

8. Making Statements in a Program.

Using the Assignment Statement. Using Variable Default Values. Using Math Operators. Setting the Order of Precedence in Statements. Concatenating Strings.

9. Working with Conditional Statements.

Making Decisions in Your Program. Writing If...Then Statements. Using the Select Case Statement.

10. Working with Loops.

Putting Loops to Work. Using For...Next Loops. Using Do...Loop Statements. Breaking an Infinite Loop. Nesting Loops.

11. Working with Arrays.

What is an Array? Declaring Arrays. Changing the Number of Elements in an Array. Multidimensional Arrays. Using Loops to Traverse an Array. Adding Items to ListBoxes and ComboBoxes. Selecting Items from a List. Removing Items from a List. Clearing a List. Understanding ComboBox Styles. Using Arrays, ComboBoxes, and ListBoxes in a Sample Program. Examining ScoreKeeper's Event Procedures.

12. Working with Strings and Typecasting.

Manipulating Strings. Using Strings and Arrays of Strings. Changing a String's Case with UCase() and LCase(). Using String-Parsing Functions. Controlling Data Types with Typecasting. Validating Data with IsNumeric().

III. THE ELEMENTS OF VISUAL BASIC 6.

13. Creating Menus in Your Programs.

Understanding the Windows Standard Menus. Using Visual Basic's Application Wizard. Using Visual Basic's Menu Editor. Setting Menu Properties. Creating Complex Menus.

14. Enhancing Your Programs with Forms and Dialog Boxes.

Creating Message Boxes with the MsgBox() Function and the MsgBox Statement. Using Predefined Forms. Getting User Input from the CommonDialog Control. Making a Simple MDI Application.

15. Handling Keyboard and Mouse Input in Your Programs. Understanding Device Input. Working with the KeyPress Event. Understanding Mouse Input.
16. Working with Time and Timers.

Understanding Serial Time. Understanding the Timer Control. Using the Time, Date, and Now Functions. Use a Timer to Build a Clock Program. Using the Format() Function. Calculating Date Differences. Using Static Variables with a Timer.

17. Adding Graphics to Your Programs.

Adding Graphics to a Form. Changing a Picture at Runtime. Making a Custom Button. Adding Graphics to Forms with LoadPicture(). Making a Form Icon. Loading Files with a File List Box. Creating Special Graphic Effects.

18. Writing Reusable Code with Subs and Functions.

Using Procedures in Visual Basic. Making and Calling a Simple Sub. Making Subs by Using Add Procedure. Making a Simple Function. Passing Arguments into Subs and Functions. Exiting Subs and Functions. Understanding Scope. Documenting Subs and Functions. Determining Your Entry Point with Sub Main().

19. Saving and Retrieving Your Data with Visual Basic.

Understanding Persistence. Working with Files to Store and Retrieve Data. Saving Data with the Open Statement. Retrieving Data with Input Statements. Manipulating Graphics with LoadPicture() and SavePicture(). Saving and Retrieving Data with the Visual Basic Registry Functions. Using File System Objects.

20. Deploying Your Visual Basic Applications.

Working with Version Information. Compiling Your Project. Using the Package and Deployment Wizard.

IV. ADVANCED PROGRAMMING WITH VISUAL BASIC 6.

21. Debugging Your Applications.

Catching Undeclared Variables with Option Explicit. Checking Code Segments with Breakpoints. Using Advanced Debugging Tools. Using Find and Replace. Designing Applications for Debugging. Creating an Error Handler.

22. Creating Controls On-the-Fly Using Control Arrays.

What is a Control Array? Working with a Common Event Handler. Grouping Objects with the Frame Control. Using the Scroll Bar Controls. Using For...Next Loops with Control Arrays.

23. Programming Beyond Visual Basic Using the Windows API.

Understanding the Windows API. Working with the API Viewer. Monitoring Mouse Movement with GetCursorPos. Keeping a Window Always on Top by Using SetWindowPos. Dragging a Window by Using SendMessage. Enhancing a List Box with SendMessage. Providing Help for Your Programs. Using the Help Workshop.

24. Adding Help to Your Programs.

Making a Help File. Adding Help Files to Your Application. Making Context-Sensitive Help.

25. Using VBA to Connect Your VB Programs with Microsoft Office.

Working with VBA. Using VBA with Microsoft Office. Making a Spelling Checker with VB and Word. Making a Word Search Program. Working with Visual Basic, Access, and Excel.

26. Making Object-Oriented Programs with Visual Basic.

Understanding User-Defined Types. Making Objects from Classes. Making an ActiveX DLL. Working with Components.

27. Creating Your Own ActiveX Controls with Visual Basic.

Creating an ActiveX Control. Adding Functionality to an ActiveX Control.

28. Creating VB Programs for the Internet.

Working on the Internet. Making a Simple Program with VBScript. Using VBScript with Internet Explorer. Understanding a DHTML Application.

29. Making Programming Easier with Visual Basic Add-Ins.

Working with Add-Ins. Using Add-Ins. Creating a Custom Add-In.

V. DATABASE PROGRAMMING WITH VISUAL BASIC 6.

30. Database Basics and the Data Control.

Understanding Databases. Working with the Intrinsic Data Control. Creating Database-Bound Forms with the Data Form Wizard.

31. Making Reports in Visual Basic 6.

What's New with Reporting? Building a Simple Report.

32. Enhancing Your Programs Using the Advanced Data Controls.

What are Advanced Data Controls? Adding and Configuring the ADO Data Control. Using the DataGrid Control. Using the DataList Control. Using the DataCombo Control. Working with the Data Form Wizard.

Appendix A.
Appendix B.
Glossary.
Index.

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