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Introduction to Visual Basic

Price: Contact SST for pricing  |  Duration: 5 days

Prerequisites: Basic computer skills and familiarity with Microsoft Windows.

Description: This hands on Visual Basic training course provides a thorough introduction to the use of Visual Basic 6. The main goal of the course is to enable the participant to create business applications with Visual Basic that utilize multi-tier application design strategy for maintainability and reusability. The hands on exercises are focused on solving commonly encountered business problems. The course introduces the Visual Basic Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and its wealth of development tools. Students will learn to build effective user interfaces with Visual Basic controls, forms, and other GUI components. The Visual Basic language is covered in detail. Students will learn the use of the debugging and testing tools available in Visual Studio. Database access is introduced, using Visual Basic's ADO Control (ADC) and data-aware components like the Data Grid, Data Environment Designer and DBList control. The course includes an introduction to object-oriented programming techniques, integrating help files, and using the Packaging and Deployment tool to deliver completed applications to end users.

Visual Basic Overview
  • Capabilities of Visual Basic
  • Visual Basic Overview
  • Types of Visual Basic Projects
  • Rapid Application Development
  • RAD Problems
  • Visual Basic Editions
  • The Visual Basic IDE
  • Managing the Workspace
Using VB Reference Resources
  • Integrated Documentation
  • Microsoft Developer Network
Developing Data Entry Dialogs
  • Dialogs
  • Dialog Modality
  • Data Entry Dialogs
  • Validating Entries
  • Command Dialogs
  • Standard Windows Dialogs
  • Creating a New Dialog
  • Form Load and Unload
  • Form Control Syntax
Developing Code Modules
  • Fundamentals of Coding
  • Code Editor
  • Module Basics
  • Event Procedures
  • Code Window Tips and Shortcuts
  • Statements and comments
Manipulating Data
  • Arithmetic Expressions
  • Logic and Boolean Expressions
  • Type Conversion
  • Arrays
  • Working with Strings
  • Dates, Currency and Variants
  • The Format Function
Writing Subroutines
  • Application Structure
  • Purpose of Subroutines
  • Procedures
  • Local Stack v. Global Heap
  • Functions
  • Arguments
  • ByRef vs. ByVal Parameters
  • Optional Arguments
  • Designing for Maintainability
Validating User Input
  • Writing Validation Routines
  • Invoking Validation
  • Controlling Flow
  • Keyboard Event Handling
  • The Validate Event
Application Interfaces
  • Menus
  • Toolbars
  • Status Bars
  • The Application Wizard
  • Mouse Events
  • Drag and Drop Interfaces
  • Other Useful Controls & Objects
  • Control Arrays
Database Client Applications
  • Database Concepts
  • The ADO Data Control
  • The DataGrid Control
  • DBList and DBCombo Controls
  • Data View Window
  • Data Form Wizard
  • Data Environment Designer

Visual Basic Project Development Cycle

  • Life Cycle Overview
  • The Visual Basic Project Lifecycle
  • Creating Projects
  • Project Files
  • Source Management
  • Test Running a Project
  • Compiling
  • Deploying Applications
  • Three Layer Applications
Using Visual Basic Objects
  • Forms
  • Form Design Window
  • Code Window
  • Form Properties and Methods
  • Controls
  • Overview of Control Types
  • Properties
  • Events and Event Handling
Dialog Layout
  • Laying Out a Dialog Interface
  • Control Layout
  • Working with Frames
  • Tab Order
  • Hot Keys
  • Layout Tools and Techniques
  • Validation Controls
Data Declarations
  • Scope in Visual Basic Programs
  • Setting Scope Blocks
  • Data Types
  • Constants
Logic and Iteration
  • Logic Statements
  • Conditional Constructs (If/Then, Select Case)
  • Iteration (Do Loop, For Loop)
  • Background Loops
  • Background Processing
  • DoEvents
  • Exit, Stop and End
Debugging and Error Handling
  • Types of Errors
  • Error Handling
  • Creating Error Handlers
  • Debugging
  • Debugging Tools
Application Frameworks
  • SDI Applications
  • MDI Applications
  • Application Lifecycle
  • Displaying Child Windows
I/O and Persistence
  • Visual Basic File Access
  • File I/O Commands
  • File Common Dialogs
  • File System Objects
  • The Registry
Deploying Applications
  • Help Files
  • Integrating a Help File
  • The Packaging and Deployment Wizard
  • Creating Deployment Packages