8 Basic Steps to Create a Program in Visual Basic

Visual Basic is one of even-driven programming. Creating an even-driven programs like Visual Basic requires different approach from that used in procedural languages. The approach may seem unusual, if you are experienced with procedural programming.

Here are 8 basic steps in creating an application with Visual Basic:

1. Create a Design Plan

2. Create the user interface

3. Set the properties of interface objects

4. Write code for events

5. Save the project

6. Test and debug the application

7. Make an executable file (by compiling it)

8. Create a setup application

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How to Name Objects in VB6 Programming ?

When an object is created, a default name based on its object typed will be given to the object. For example Form1 will be given to object/control with type Form, Text2, Text3,... will be given to Textbox object, Command1, Command2,.... will be given to command button object. You should immediately change the name property of the object to a name that describes the purpose of the control. Changing the Name property of your object with a name that describe the purpose with the object will make the code in your application easier to read and debug.

Visual Basic has several Standard Naming Convensions. Although you can assign any name you want to an object, but it is a better to adopt a naming convension and use it ocnsistently throughout your programms. Because it will make easier for others to understand your code.

Here it is a list of Standard Naming Convensions used in Visual Basic that assign to each type object:

Object type: Check box
The prefix you should use: chk
Example name: chkDrink

Object type: Combo box
The prefix you should use: cbo
Example name: cboStore

Object type: Command button
The prefix you should use: cmd
Example name: cmdSelect

Object type: Data
The prefix you should use: dat
Example name: datSales

Object type: Directory list box
The prefix you should use: dir
Example name: dirImage

Object type: Drive list box
The prefix you should use: drv
Example name: drvSource

Object type: File list box
The prefix you should use: fil
Example name: filSource

Object type: Form
The prefix you should use: frm
Example name: frmEntry

Object type: Frame
The prefix you should use: fra
Example name: fraOption

Object type: Grid
The prefix you should use: grd
Example name: grdItem

Object type: Horizontal croll bar
The prefix you should use: hsb
Example name: hsbTemperature

Object type: Image
The prefix you should use: img
Example name: imgEmployee

Object type: Label
The prefix you should use: lbl
Example name: lblName

Object type: Line
The prefix you should use: lin
Example name: linHorizontal

Object type: List box
The prefix you should use: lst
Example name: lstCustomer

Object type: Menu
The prefix you should use: mnu
Example name: mnuReport

Object type: OLE
The prefix you should use: ole
Example name: oleObject2

Object type: Option button
The prefix you should use: opt
Example name: optCountry

Object type: Picture box
The prefix you should use: pic
Example name: picFlower

Object type: Shape
The prefix you should use: shp
Example name: shpSquare

Object type: Text box
The prefix you should use: txt
Example name: txtName

Object type: Timer
The prefix you should use: tmr
Example name: tmrStep

Object type: Vertical scroll bar
The prefix you should use: vsb
Example name: vsbRate

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How to Return Property Values in VB6 Programming?

It is often needed to return property value of an object to perform a calculation or some other task in your Visual Basic Application. And in the most previous sample program I've written use this way to perform some calculations, and also some other tasks. For example in the sample program of How to Convert Degree from Celcius to Another in VB 6 Programming? also returning property value to be calculated, and then the result of calculation to set the property value of other object.

To return the value of an object property, you can use below syntax:
Variable = Object.Property
Or
Object2.Property = Object1.Property

Note:
You can use the first syntax if you want to return the value of an object property into a variable, so the value will be kept in the variable.

You should use the second syntax if you want to return the value to set another object property value.

In the most sample program I've written in the previous postings use the second syntax to return value of an object property and perform the calculation, then the result kept as value of another object property.

Notice below sample code:
Text2.Text = Val(Text1.Text) * 1.8 + 32

The value of Text1.Text is returned and used as an operand in the calcuation phrase and the result of calculation then used as value of Text2.Text. In this example you don't need a variable to keep the calculation result.

Another example code:
strName = txtName.Text
lblName.Caption = txtName.Text

Any comment? Please leave it in the below comment box.

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Setting Object Properties at Run Time in VB6 Programming

In the previous posting you have learnt how to set object properties at design time, by clicking the object you want, then change/set the value of property in the properties window. In this posting I'll write how to set/change property value at run time (when program running). And also I'll give you a sample program (code).

Below is the syntax how to set an object property at run time:
Object.Property = Expression

For example:
Below statement will set Caption of lblName with "John Smith" at run time.
lblName.Caption = "John Smith"

However not all object properties can be set their values at run time, because some object properties can be set just at design time. In the next posting maybe I'll write lists of which object properties that can be set just at design time, which ones that can be set just at run time, and which ones that can be set both at design time and run time.

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Setting Object Properties at Design Time in VB6

In the previous posting I've written that you can set the properties of an object at design time. The properties settings that you establish at design time are used as the initial settings each time your application runs. You can set the object properties by using Properties window.

Although it is not a must, because you set the properties of course according to your need. But some properties usually you set them at design time, such as:
BackStyle
BorderStyle
Caption
Enabled
FillColor
FillStyle
Name
Visible

How to set the value of property at design time, you can follow below steps:

At the Form Designer window, select the form or control which you want to set the property by clicking it.
Visual Basic will activate the form or control, and displays the property for the object.

In the Propertis window, select the property you want to set.

Type or select the property setting value you want.
Some property values can be selected from the list, but others must be typed.

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A Tips to Create a Function to Convert Numbers into Roman Numerals

To create a number of letters we often use roman numerals to indicate the month of making the letter.For example, the letter number is '001 / Int/III/2010' where the symbol 'III' indicates that the letter was made in March 2010.

For this we need a function that can convert an integer number from 1 to 12 into roman numerals. In the Visual Basic programming, we can easily create such a function. Well, here we'll show an example program to create such functions, as well as examples of how to use it.

First open your VB program and select standard exe form

Click the View menu

Click the Code menu

Write the Visual Basic (VB) program code below

Function IToR(i As Integer) As String
   Dim s As String
   s = "I   II  III IV  V   VI  VII VIIIIX  X   XI  XII "
   IToR = Mid(s, (i - 1) * 4 + 1, 4)
End Function

Click the View menu

Click the Object menu

Put two label controls, two textboxes and a CommandButton to the form

Change the Caption of first label into 'Month'

Change the Caption of second label into 'Roman Numeral'

Change the name of the first textbox into 'txtMonth'

Change the name of the second textbox into 'txtRomNum'

Remove texts on the first and second textboxes

Change the name of the CommandButton into 'cmdConvert'

Change the CommandButton caption into 'Convert'
So your Screen design will look like the image below:

Double click CommandButton 'Convert'

Write below Visual Basic (VB) program coding

Private Sub cmdConvert_Click()
   txtRomNum.Text = IToR(Val(txtMonth.Text))
End Sub

Okay, you have completed the program
Now it's time to test

• Run your program

Type a number such as 8 in the first textbox

Click CommandButton 'Convert'
Consider the results

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With...End With Statement to Set Object Properties in VB6

In the earlier posting I have written that you can set object properties in two session, at design-time and at run-time, although some object properties can be set in both run-time and design-time, other can be set just in design-time, and onother can be set just in run time.

When you set object properties maybe you need to several properties at once, for example you want to set the properties of TextBox as following:

set font to Bold mode

set Font Size to 24

set the text with a value "Set Object Properties"

So you can do with the following coding:
Text1.Font.Bold = True
Text1.Font.Size = 24
Text1.Text = "Set Object Properties"

However to make it easier to read, and easier to understand, you can use With..End With statement to set several Object Properies.
You can use below code statement:

With Text1
.Font.Bold = True
.Font.Size = 24
.Text = "Set Object Properties"
End With

Example:
Create a screen design like below image:

Note: Set property "Multiline" of Text1 and Text2 to "True".

Double-click command1 button.
Write below coding:

Text1.Text = "One by one set object properties"
Text1.Font.Bold = True
Text1.Font.Size = 24
Text1.FontUnderline = True

Double-click command2 button.
Write below code statements:

With Text2
.Text = "Using With..End With to set object properties"
.Font.Bold = True
.Font.Size = 24
.FontUnderline = True
End With

So your coding should like below listing:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
Text1.Text = "One by one set object properties"
Text1.Font.Bold = True
Text1.Font.Size = 24
Text1.FontUnderline = True
End Sub
Private Sub Command2_Click()
With Text2
.Text = "Using With..End With to set object properties"
.Font.Bold = True
.Font.Size = 24
.FontUnderline = True
End With
End Sub

Now run your program, click command1 button, and then also click command2 button.
Your program sholud like screenshot in the top of this posting.

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How to Place Controls into Form in VB6 Programming?

In the previous posting I've told you that one of Visual Basic Development Environment's element is Toolbox, that contains controls. And another element is Form Design window (Form). You can place controls into your Form to build your VB application.

Now, how to place controls from Toolbox into your Form? Ok, it's just a simple way to do that. You just click, drag and drop the control you want. Or also you can double-click the icon Toolbox of the control you want.

There are two manners to place (add) controls to a form. The first manner is double-click the Toolbox icon of the control you want to add. In instance it will place the control with default size in the centre of active form.


When you adding more than one controls with this way, they will be placed on the top of each other in the center of the form. Then you can reposition/rearrange them into new place you want in the form.

The second manner, you can follow below steps:

First, click on the Toolbox icon of the control you want (for example TextBox control)

Place your mouse pointer on the Form (the pointer change to crosshair / + sign)

Position the pointer in the place where you want the upper left corner of the control

Click your mouse, hold, and drag (so your pointer draws a rectangle that indicate the size of your control)

When your control is correctly sized, release your mouse, so the control now appears on your Form


After you add controls to your form, you can reposition them to new location in the form, and also you can resize them according to your need. That are the way how to add / place control to your Visual Basic form.

Ok, I think you get it. And I'll write another Visual Basic tips in the next posting.

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Visual Basic Code Editor Window

In the earlier posting I've told you that a VB Project maybe contains one or more files like form, module, and so on. One form usually contains one or more controls. However a form with it's control contained on it can't do anything without code statements (programming code) that associate with them. And a module also contains one or more statements.

A place in VB Development Environment where you can write your VB code statements (programming code) is called Visual Basic Code Editor Window. It's also known as the Code Window. A sparate Code Editor Window is displayed for each form or module in your project, making it easy to organize, view, and navigate.

There are two drop-down lists at the top of the Code Editor Window called Object List and Procedure List.The Object list contains a list of all the Contols that exist on the form. When you selectiong a control name from the list, the Procedure list shows all the events (actions) for the control.

Using the Object and Procedure list together, can make you easy to located and edit the code you want in your VB application. The image above (on the top of posting)illustrates the Code Editor Window.

To open the Visual Basic Code Editor Window you can follow the following steps:

In the Project Explorer window, click the form which code you want to open

Then Click View Code button


Tips:
For example: You have a control called txtAmount on your form. You want to write code statements on Sub txtAmount_LostFocus(). How can you do that?
Ok, you can follow the tips below:

Click the Form in the Project Explorer window

Click View Code button

In the Code Editor window, click txtAmount from the Object list

Then click LostFocus from the Procedure list


So, Sub txtAmount_LostFocus() appears on your screen (in the Code Editor window) and you can write your code statements you want.

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How to Automate Convert Numbers into Letters in VB6 Programming?

How to automate conversion numbers? In the previous posting you have learnt how to convert numbers into letters with Select Case..End Select control structure, If..Then..Else..End If control structure, and command button. The conversion will be processed after you clik command button. In this session you still learn how to convert number into letter with Select Case..End Select and If..Then..Else..End If, however you don't need a command button anymore. The conversion will automatically processed when you typing a number in the text box. How to do this? What's the program like?

This is just an easy thing to do. You can use the previous program conversion number you have created. You just write down your coding in Sub Text1_Change() and Sub Text2_Change(). This two Subs that make conversion process automatically done. For detail how to do, you can follow below instructions (it's a simple VB programming tips).

1. Using if..then..else..end if control structure

Create a VB project for example Project1

Create a VB standard form for example Form1

Create a text box for example Text1

Create another text box for example Text2

Create a label for example Label1

Create another label for example Label2

Doubleclick Text1 text box to create a Sub Text1_Change()

Write down below program coding in the Sub Text1_Change() area

    If Val(Text1.Text) = 0 Then
Label1.Caption = "zero"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 1 Then
Label1.Caption = "one"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 2 Then
Label1.Caption = "two"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 3 Then
Label1.Caption = "three"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 4 Then
Label1.Caption = "four"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 5 Then
Label1.Caption = "five"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 6 Then
Label1.Caption = "six"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 7 Then
Label1.Caption = "seven"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 8 Then
Label1.Caption = "eight"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 9 Then
Label1.Caption = "nine"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 10 Then
Label1.Caption = "ten"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 11 Then
Label1.Caption = "eleven"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 12 Then
Label1.Caption = "twelve"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 13 Then
Label1.Caption = "thirteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 14 Then
Label1.Caption = "forteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 15 Then
Label1.Caption = "fifteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 16 Then
Label1.Caption = "sixteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 17 Then
Label1.Caption = "seventeen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 18 Then
Label1.Caption = "eighteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 19 Then
Label1.Caption = "nineteen"
Else
If Val(Text1.Text) = 20 Then
Label1.Caption = "twenty"
Else
Label1.Caption = "unrecognize number"
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If
End If

2. Using Select Case..End Select control structure

Doubleclick Text2 text box to create a Sub Text2_Change()

Write down below program coding in the Sub Text2_Change() area

    Select Case Val(Text2.Text)
Case 0
Label2.Caption = "zero"
Case 1
Label2.Caption = "one"
Case 2
Label2.Caption = "two"
Case 3
Label2.Caption = "three"
Case 4
Label2.Caption = "four"
Case 5
Label2.Caption = "five"
Case 6
Label2.Caption = "six"
Case 7
Label2.Caption = "seven"
Case 8
Label2.Caption = "eight"
Case 9
Label2.Caption = "nine"
Case 10
Label2.Caption = "ten"
Case 11
Label2.Caption = "eleven"
Case 12
Label2.Caption = "twelve"
Case 13
Label2.Caption = "thirteen"
Case 14
Label2.Caption = "forteen"
Case 15
Label2.Caption = "fifteen"
Case 16
Label2.Caption = "sixteen"
Case 17
Label2.Caption = "seventeen"
Case 18
Label2.Caption = "eighteen"
Case 19
Label2.Caption = "nineteen"
Case 20
Label2.Caption = "twenty"
Case Else
Label2.Caption = "unrecognize number"
End Select

You can run your program by clicking Start button on your VB toolbar to check whether your program is correct or not.

Type a number in Text1 box for example 15

Type a number in Text2 box for example 15

If letter "fifteen" appears in both Label1 and Label2, it means that your program is correct, and running properly.

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