We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3
Introduction to Visual Basic
Computer programming - process of creating computer software using a
programming Language. Kinds of Programming Language are Machine Language, Assembly Language, Third Generation Language, Fourth Generation Language, Fifth Generation Language and Natural Language. Procedure-Oriented High-Level Languages - programs that the programmer has to design and write every single step to do a certain task or solve a particular problem. It is sequential and its execution is on a line-by-line basis. Examples: Ada, ALGOL, BASIC, C, C++, C#, COBOL, Commom Lisp, Fortran, Pascal Object-Oriented / Event-Driven Languages - program applications in windows by focusing on objects (such as button and scroll bars) and events (mouse actions such as clicking and scrolling). It is also event-driven, such that when a particular event occurs, a program is executed. Examples: Visual Basic.NET, Java, C#, C++, PHP5, Perl, Ruby, Smalltalk Visual Basic a third-generation language Based on BASIC (Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code) and provides a graphical programming environment in developing user interfaces. Programmer has the ability to drag and drop controls (to create buttons, labels, textboxes, list-boxes, checkboxes and other dialog boxes) allows quick creation of prototype graphical applications that is why it is often called a Rapid Application Development (RAD) system
History of Visual Basic
Basic - also called Dartmouth BASIC is designed by John George Kemeny and Thomas Eugene Kurtz at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, USA. It became popular with the emergence of the IBM PC running in DOS (Disk Operating System) several versions of BASIC: GW-BASIC, Quick BASIC, IBM BASICA, Borland’s Turbo Basic Visual Basic 1.0 – introduced and released by in 1991 by Microsoft, original with the BASIC program. Codes are automatically generated using “drag and drop” method Visual Basic 2.0 (November 1992) - increased speed and easier usage Visual Basic 3.0 (1993) - used for custom-made programs for business applications Visual Basic 4.0 (1995) - capable of creating 16-bit and 32-bit program Visual Basic 5.0 (February 1997) - as purely 32-bit version, provides ability to compile to a native executable code Visual Basic 6.0 (1998) - most stable visual basic, it offers the capability to create web based applications Visual Basic. NET (2002) - also called Basic 7.0, first Visual Basic running on the .NET framework Visual Basic 2005 (VB 8.0) (2005) - .NET framework was dropped Visual Basic 2008 (VB 9.0) (November 19, 2007) - simultaneously with Microsoft .NET framework 3.5 Visual Basic 2010 – it has become wholly Object-Oriented Programming (OOP) at par with the likes of C++, Java and C#. It is classified as a RAD (Rapid Application Development) system tool created by Microsoft to be an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for software development. RAD - allows ease and quick creation of prototypes IDE - software that provides the complete development facilities to programmers in order to develop programs. In IDE Source code editor - usually a text editor program used by programmers to edit programs. Visual Studio has Intelligence - feature that make suggestions for
programmer, to facilitate programming and lessen mistakes in
coding the syntax Interpreter and/or compiler – a program that allows the language to be machine readable. Debugger - a program to check to test and check for errors on target program. Build Automation - automating tasks to facilitate programming activities A Visual Basic Programmer needs to learn the following: Creating windows application Coding Debugging Deploying the application Object-Oriented Programming - uses objects to design an application and program; programming paradigm that attempts to mimic the way people think and deal the world. Features: Encapsulation - refers to data bundling and restrictions to access object’s data; it is a way of hiding data from the outside Modularity – is a programming design technique that allows breaking down of the software into modules and each module accomplishes a given task on its own Data Abstraction - is where data and program are represented by their close image representation Polymorphism - is the ability to create variables, functions and objects and allow more than one form. Inheritance - is reusing codes of existing objects, and the establishment of related objects with similar attributes and behavior. Messaging - is a means of sending and receiving messages as a form of communication between processes. Concepts of Classes, Objects, Properties, Methods and Events Class – a blueprint or template on which all objects are based upon. Each object is based on a class and from this class one can create an instances of itself. A class defines integral members. Example: “Mango” is an instance of the class “Fruit”. Or “Mango” is a kind of “Fruit” Object – is an instance of a class. Object can be handled and manipulated by the commands of programming language. The object handling will be on its value, variable or data structure. Example: a “Cow” is an object or instance of the class “Animal” Property - it should have a name usually provided by the programmer, name should be meaningful Example: the object “Mango” has color and size as its properties Method – is a function or procedure associated with class. It defines the exhibited behavior of the object at program runtime. It contains statements that will be executed when the method is called. Example: Open and close Event - a user-initiated action; program that changes its behavior in response to an event is called an event driven program. Each user-initiated action causes an event to occur. Ex: a mouse click, a keyboard stroke Event Procedures – are codes written by the programmer to react to an event; if code is not written, VB will simply ignore the event. Basic Steps for Writing a Visual Basic Project Explore the files Design the user interface Set up the Properties of the controls Coding – following the syntax rules of VB Various Timing and Modes in VB Design Time – time spent in writing and designing the codes for the user interface Run Time - time spent when a user runs an application Break Time – time spent in checking, debugging, and other situations Errors in VB Syntax Error (Compile Error) - wrong spelling, symbols, spacing Logic Error – a program bug; produce an incorrect or undesired output. Runtime Error – detected during execution of the program or when the program is running