Understand Variables and

Naming Conventions

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING I
 Objective/Essential Standard

Essential Standard: 4.00 Understand Variables and

Naming Conventions

Indicator 4.01Understand Variables and Data Types

(5%)
Indicator 4.02 Understand Object Naming (3%)
 Indicator 4.01 Understand
Variables and Data Types (5%)
3

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING 1
 Variable

Hey what do you know? Something you learned in

Algebra I will be used in another class?!

What is a variable?
 Variables

Hey what do you know? Something you learned in

Algebra I will be used in another class?!

What is a variable?
 Simply put- a variable is a named place in computer memory
that holds a value. The user (who runs the program) or the
programmer (coder) can supply the value of a variable.

 A variable can only hold one value at any given time.

For example: i, j, intGrade, strName are variables.

 Declare (Create) a Variable Using DIM

Variables must be given (assigned) a name and

data type.
Syntax
Dim varName As DataType
•

Example
Dim intNumber as Integer
 Variable Basics

To use a variable we first must “declare” it using the DIM

keyword. This tells the computer the name we are going to
use and its data type.
A variable name is the address used when working with a
variable (placing data inside, or changing the data). Like
the address on your mailbox.
A data type tells the computer what type of value to expect
in a variable.
Using the wrong data type can produce errors. For example
trying to put “apple” in a variable of an integer data type
will cause problems.
 Keywords
8

Visual Basic has reserved KEYWORDS that have

special meaning.
They appear in a different color
When naming your variables, no keywords may be
used.
If you follow Hungarian notation properly, the prefix
will keep this from happening!

Computer Programming I- Summer 2011 05/22/2024

 Data Types and Prefixes used in Names

Common Data Types:

 Integer (int) used with whole numbers (+/-)
 String (str) used with strings of characters/words
 Double (dbl) used with larger decimal numbers
 Decimal (dec) used with decimal numbers - currency
 Char (chr) used for a single character
 Boolean (bln) used for true or false

 The prefixes for Hungarian notation are listed in the ().

 Use the prefixes to properly name variables.
 Examples:
10
 Integer (int) used with whole numbers (+/-)
 Dim intNumber As Integer
 String (str) used with strings of characters/words
 Dim strName As String
 Double (dbl) used with larger decimal numbers
 Dim dblRealNumber As Double
 Decimal (dec) used with decimal numbers – currency
 Dim decMoney As Decimal
 Char (chr) used for a single character
 Dim chrLetter As Char
 Boolean (bln) used for true or false
 Dim blnQuestion As Boolean

Computer Programming I- Summer 2011 05/22/2024

 Data Types

Data Type Storage Value Range

Integer 4 Bytes -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647

Double 8 Bytes 1.7E +/- 308 (15 digits)

Decimal 16 Bytes 1.7E +/- 308 (15 digits)

Char 1 Byte –128 to 127 by default

Boolean 1 Byte True or False

String Varies 0 to approximately 2 billion Unicode

characters
 Variable Naming Rules

Variables should have a descriptive name that describes their

purpose and data type.

Examples: intGrade, strName, decTaxRate, dblTotalSales

Do not capitalize the prefix but do capitalize the first letter of
each subsequent word.
 strLastName
 intStdNum

Variable names cannot start with numbers or have spaces or

special characters except for the underscore.
 Initial Values when Declaring a Variable

Example:
Dim intNumber as Integer
When a numeric variable is declared, its initial
value is 0 unless it is given a value at the same time.
When a string variables is declared without a value,
its initial value is null.
 The compiler will not like this.
 Initialize Variables

After we declare a variable we must give it a value.

 This is called assignment and is done with the assignment
operator (=)

This can be done several ways:

 Dim intNumber as Integer = 0
 Dim intNumber as Integer
intNumber = 0

Variables can be assigned values like numbers or

strings or be assigned values from other sources (like
a textbox).
 Initialize Variable
15

Always initialize your variables, even if it is to 0 or

Nothing.
Numeric variables of all types can be initialized to
zero.
 Dim intNum As Integer = 0

String variables can be set to “empty” two ways:

 Dim strName As String = “”
 Dim strName As String = Nothing
NOTHING is a keyword

Computer Programming I- Summer 2011 05/22/2024

 Assignment Statement

Dim intSide As Integer = 10

Keyword to Value that
Declare a matches
Variable DataType

Variable Assignment
Name =

Keyword
before the DataType
Data Type
 Assignment Statement

Dim intSide As Integer = 10

intSide
Creates the
place in 10
memory

The actual value that will

“reside” in the memory
place.
Also known as a literal.
 Variable Rules

Whenever a data type of string or char is used their

values must be enclosed in quotes.

For example:
 strName=“Alex”
 chrLetterGrade= “A”

Do not enclose numbers in quotes when using a

number data type (integer, float, double, etc.)
 Variable Rules

Only number data types can be used in calculations.

Strings can be combined from several different

sources. This is called concatenation.
 Use & in between each segment.

strData = “This is some data “ & intNum & “and this is a number.”
 Variable Scope

 Variables only exist within their defined scope.

 The time that the variable is available for use is called its lifetime.

 A variable cannot be called from outside that scope.

 There are 3 different types of scope.

1. Global
 Can be called anywhere in the program

2. Local
 Can only be called in the sub/function it is declared in

3. Procedural
 Can only be used in the block of code it is declared it
 Example: within an IF statement or loop
 Variable Scope

A global variable is declared at the top of the

program before any procedures or subs are called.

Example

public Class Form1

Dim intNumber As Integer

...
 Formatting Output

Output is values or strings the program displays for

the user based on the execution of the program.
Frequently output needs to be formatted - that is
displayed to the user in a readable format.
There are functions that will allow you to format
your output.
 ToString

One way to format output is use the ToString method.

This converts any value given to it to a string and

formats it with the format given.
General format:

label.Text = variable.ToString(“format”)
For example:

lblTotal.Text = decTotal.ToString("$##.00")
 ToString Formats

To find more formats

http://
msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/dwhawy9k.aspx
#Y2728
Getting Input from the User

ADDING TEXTBOXES TO YOUR PROJECTS

 The TextBox Control

 To allow users to enter (input) values at run time, use the

TextBox control.
 Click on the TextBox control in the Toolbox.
 Click on the Form.
 You can resize by dragging the handles.

 TextBox properties:

◦ (Name) – start with txt

◦ Text – what is displayed inside the text box
◦ Alignment – aligns the text relative to the text box.
◦ PasswordChar – Sets a character to be displayed in the textbox as the
user types.
◦ For example, if the user types toy and the PasswordChar is set to *, *** is
displayed in the textbox instead of “toy”
The TextBox Control
 Using the TextBox Control

 To tell the user the purpose of the TextBox, add a Label

control to the left of the TextBox.
 Type your prompt in the label
 Example
Enter your last name:

 The label placed near the text box to describe its contents
or purpose is called a prompt.
 Using the TextBox Control

Syntax to get a value from the TextBox

strVariable = txtTextBox.Text

Visual Basic Textbox example:

strExample = Me.txtExample.Text

The TextBox returns a string object.

 Using the TextBox Control

Because the TextBox returns a string, the

programmer may want to convert the string to the
another, appropriate datatype.
Convert Method
 Convert is a function that changes the data type of a variable
from one type to another.

 Common Convert Methods

ToChar
ToDouble
ToInt32
 Using the TextBox Control

Examples of using the Convert method.

intNum = Convert.ToInt32(strNumInput)
intNum = Convert.ToInt32(txtNumInput.Text)

dblGpa = Convert.ToDouble(strGpaInput)
dblGpa = Convert.ToDouble(txtGpaInput.Text)
 Input Does Not Match Variable DataType
32

So what happens if you have the following code and

the user enters “five”?
dblSide = Convert.ToDouble(txtSide.Text)

The Convert is going to try to convert the string

entered into the TextBox into a numeric value for the
variable.
“five” cannot be converted to a numeric 5

Result: Error
 Using a TextChanged Event
33

TextChanged event procedure

 Executes when the user types in the text box.

You can clear a label by creating a TextChanged

event for your TextBoxes.

Computer Programming I- Summer 2011 05/22/2024

Displaying Output

MESSAGEBOX
 Display Output

In addition to labels and textboxes we can use

message boxes to display output or alert users to
fatal errors.
MessageBox Syntax
MessageBox.Show (“string here”)
MessageBox.Show("Please enter numbers for sales and tax rate!")
MessageBox.Show("Your name is: " & strName & " ." & “You are " &
intAge & "years old.")
 Sample Program

Write a program that asks a user their name and age.

Store this information in two variables and then
using a message box show the information back to
the user.
Use a button to start the program.
 VB Sample Code

Private Sub btnStart_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As

System.EventArgs) Handles btnStart.Click

Dim intAge as Integer = 0 ‘variable is initialized

Dim strName as String = "“ ‘variable is initialized

strName = txtName.Text ‘get input

intAge = txtAge.Text ‘get input

‘Show output in MessageBox

MessageBox.Show("Your name is: " & strName & " ." &
“You are " & intAge & "years old.")

End Sub
 Advanced Variables

Sometimes we need to use a variable in different

ways. Like a variable that needs to hold its value
beyond the end of the program or a variable whose
value cannot be changed.

When the variable is declared these options can be

set.
 Static/Constant Variables

A static variable holds its value between runs of the

program. This is used commonly with loops.
 Static variables cannot be defined globally.
 Static intNumber As Integer

A constant variable is a variable that once declared

cannot be changed by the program.
 Constant variables should be declared using all uppercase letters.
 Const decTAXRATE As Decimal = 0.775

Notice Dim is omitted and the keyword Static or Const

is used instead to declare the variable.
 Counter Variables

A counter is a variable storing a number that is incremented

by a constant value.

Updating Counter Form:

counter = counter + constant or counter += constant
Initialize the counter when it is declared.

It is then updated by an unchanging amount (the constant)

A counter in an event procedure should be declared as a
Static variable so that it is initialized once.
 Vocabulary

 Variable  Global
 Data Type  Local
 Integer  Procedural
 Double  Output
 Decimal  ToString
 Char  TextBox
 Boolean  Prompt
 String  MessageBox
 Literal  Static Variable
 Hungarian Notation  Constant Variable
 Concatenation  Counter
 Scope  Assignment
 Code

Dim varName As DataType

&
label.Text = variable.ToString(“format”)
strVariable = TextBox.Text
MessageBox.Show (“string here”)
Indicator 4.02 - Understand
Object Naming (4%)
43

COMPUTER PROGRAMMING 1
 Naming Objects

In the last unit we learned about naming variables.

Let’s focus on objects now.

What is an object?
 Objects represent “real” things
 Dog, Chair…
 Label, Button
 Objects have properties and behaviors (methods)
 Button
 Properites: Name, Text …

 Behaviors/Methods: Click . . .
 Naming Objects

 Common object names are listed below with examples in

():
 Form - frm (frmMain)
 Button - btn (btnSubmit)
 Label - lbl (lblTotal)
 Text Box - txt (txtAge)
 Radio Button- rad (radAdd)
 Check box - chk (chkDivide)
 Image - img (imgMegaMan)
 Combo Box - cbo (cboState)
 Picture Box - pic (picFlower)
 List box - lst (lstState)
 Menu - mnu (mnuFile)
 Keyword “Me” used on Forms
46

Ex: Me.Close
Preceeding a form name with “Me” refers to the
current form (The active one).
Using Me is optional in VB 2010 in most cases
when using only one form.
When using multiple forms, opening and closing
forms must use the Me.Hide or Me.Show.

Computer Programming I- Summer 2011 05/22/2024

 Vocabulary

Object
Naming Conventions for our objects