Hands on Visual Basic 5 Book

Introduction

Chapter 1 Features of Visual Basic 5

Visual Basic's Foundation: Basic

Visual Basic as a Shared Language

The Visual Basic Interface

Database File Storage, Retrieval, and Manipulation

Native Code

OLE Support

Create Your Own ActiveX Controls

Wide Range of Add-In Controls Supported

ActiveX Documents

Wizards

Visual SourceSafe

Visual Basic Editions

Learning Edition

Professional Edition

Enterprise Edition

Control Creation Edition

Summary

Chapter 2 The Visual Basic Development Environment

Starting Visual Basic

Parts of the VB Environment

Customizing the Windows in the VB Environment

VB Programmer Tools

Basic Steps for Building a VB Project

Analyzing and Documenting the Purpose of the Application

Building the Interface

Building the Logic and Functionality of the Application

Saving the Program as a Project

Compiling and Distributing the Program

Summary

Project 1 The Time Tracking System

Project Overview

Chapter 3 What is the Time Tracking System?

System Requirements of the Time Tracking System

Goals of the Time Tracking System

Working with Forms

Using Controls Correctly

Using Variables and Constants

Using Message Boxes and Input Boxes for User Input

Conditional Logic and Controlling the Flow of Your Application

Using Simple Print Operations

Testing Your Application

Saving and Distributing the Project

Programming Windows Applications

Summary

Chapter 4 Gathering for the Time Tracking System

What Type of Information Do You Plan to Track?

Designing the User Interface

Determining Required Input

Reviewing Business Rules and Requirements

Organizing the User Input

Determining the Number of Forms for Your Application

Defining the Fields for User Input

Summary

Chapter 5 Designing the Time Tracking System

Your First Form

Examining Built-In Form Functionality

What are Objects?

Setting Form Properties at Design Time

Using the Form Layout Window

Setting Up the First Form for the Time Tracking System

Placing Controls on Forms

Saving the Project

Moving Controls

Resizing Controls

Setting Control Properties

Setting Properties for Labels

Working with Text Box Properties

Naming the List Box

Setting Combo Box Properties

Setting Frame Captions

Working with the Option Button Properties

Setting Command Button Properties

Saving the Form

Adding Controls to the Toolbox

Using the Masked Edit Control

Adding Forms to the Application

Creating the Timer Form

Adding a Splash Screen

Creating the Invoice Form

Final Design Phase Checklist

Summary

Chapter 6 Building the Time Tracking System

The Code Window

Using Help

Form Management

Setting Project Properties

Loading and Unloading Forms

Showing and Hiding Forms

Using Message Boxes and Input Boxes To Receive User Input

Using the MsgBox Function

Using the InputBox Statement

Automatically Populating a Form

Setting Properties at Runtime

Setting Properties and Using Methods with the With Statement

Using Date and Time Functions

Adding the Timer Function

Conditional Logic

Using the If Statement To Validate User Input

Using Select Case and If Statements To Populate a Form

Animating a Control Using the For...Next Statement

Summary

Chapter 7 Testing the Time Tracking System

Printing the Invoice Form

Using the PrintForm Method

Hiding Unwanted Objects

Using the For Each...Next Statement

Ending an Application

Testing Your Application

Debugging Your Application

Pausing Program Execution

Stepping Through Your Code

Using the Immediate Window

Using Watches

Correcting the Error

Error Handling

Setting an Error Trap

Creating a Centralized Error Handler

Saving Your Project

Making Your Project an EXE File

Summary

Project 1 Summary

Project 2 The Invoice System

Project Overview

Chapter 8 What is the Invoice System?

Invoice System Requirements

Invoice System Goals

Reusing Forms from Another Application

Using MDI

Using Menus and Toolbars

Controlling Another Application from Your Application

Using DLLs and API Calls To Extend VB

Using the Application Wizard

Using the Setup Wizard

Summary

Chapter 9 Gathering for the Invoice System

What Type of Information Do You Plan To Track?

Organizing the User Input

Determining the Number of Forms for Your Application

Determining Additional Needed Objects

Extending Visual Basic by Using Other Applications

Selecting Your Tools: Word and Excel

Summary

Chapter 10 Designing the Invoice System

What is Automation?

Creating the Past-Due Reminder Document in Word

Setting Up the Invoice and Criteria Sheets in Excel

Setting up the Invoice Worksheet

Creating the Criteria Worksheet

Preparing for the Upgrade

Adding Files to the Project

Adjusting Properties

Using Multiple Document Interface (MDI)

Creating an MDI Parent Form

Maximizing the MDI Form Using the WindowState Property

Creating Child Forms

Creating Multiple Instances of a Child Form

Working with the Caption Property of Child Forms

Summary

Chapter 11 Building the Invoice System

Enhancing Your Application's Interface

Adding a Status Bar to Your Application

Menus

Toolbars

Controlling Another Application from Your VB Application

Adding a Reference to an Object Library

Viewing an Object Library's Contents

Writing Code To Automate Excel

Automating Word and Excel To Create Reminder Letters

Summary

Chapter 12 Testing the Invoice System

Testing the Application

Creating a Testing Checklist

Completing the Testing Process

Setting the Tab Order and Keyboard Access

Correcting the File, Save Menu Command Using the ActiveForm Property

Writing the File, Print Procedure

Using the Application Setup Wizard

Summary

Project 2 Summary

Project 3 The Client Management System

Project Overview

Chapter 13 What is the Client Management System?

System Requirements for the Client Management Application

Goals of the Client Management Application

Planning a Database Front End

Determining the Database Product

Building Your Database

Using the Data Control

Using the Data Access Object Model

Using Crystal Reports

Adding Error Handling

Compiling Your Application

Summary

Chapter 14 Gathering for the Client Management System

User Input: What Type of Information Do You Plan To Track?

Name Information

Company Information

Mailing Information

Electronic Contact Information

Family Information

Legal Statistics

Contact History

Organizing the User Input

Determining What Forms are Needed

What Type of Data is Being Stored?

Summary

Chapter 15 Designing the Client Management System

Selecting a Database for Your Application

How Much Data Will be Stored?

How Many Users Will Use the System?

What Type of Support is Available?

What Existing Systems are in Place?

The Choice for the Client Management Application

Building the Databases

Creating Your Data Source

Adding Data with Visual Data Manager

Querying Your Data

Access Methods

Summary

Chapter 16 Building the Client Management System

Using the Data Control

Creating a Link to the Data

Viewing the Data with Bound Controls

Displaying Related Tables

Using the Data Form Wizard

Using Data Access Objects

Enhancing the Data Control's Performance

Accessing Data Directly

Querying the Database

Tying It All Together

Summary

Chapter 17 Testing the Client Management System

Using Crystal Reports

Creating a Report

Creating a Services Report

Creating Mailing Labels

Creating the Incorporated Report

Accessing the Report from the Client Management Application

Adding Error Handling

Error Handling with the Data Control

Opening the Database

Validating User Entries

Protecting the Access to the Database

Protecting Against Data Errors

Compiling Your Application

Compiling versus Making

Compiling the Client Management Application

Summary

Project 3 Summary

Chapter 18 Connecting to the Internet

Overview of VB's Internet Capabilities

Working with ActiveX Documents

Creating an ActiveX Document

Using the Application Wizard To Create an Internet-Enabled Application

Adding a Web Browser to Your Application

Accessing Internet Explorer from Your Application

Summary

Chapter 19 Creating a Help System

Designing a Help System

Setting the HelpContextID Property

Installing Help Workshop

Creating the Help Project File

Assigning the Help File to Your Project

Testing Help

Summary

Chapter 20 ActiveX Control

Using the ActiveX Control Interface Wizard

Creating the User Interface

Adding the Application Control Interface Wizard to VB

Creating the ActiveX Control's Public Interface

Creating a Test Program for the User Control

Summary

Appendix A Recommended Naming and Programming Conventions

Environment Options

Naming Prefixes

Constant Names

Commenting Code

Appendix B Visual Basic 5 Quick Reference

Appendix C What's on the CD?

Running the CD

Windows 3.x

Windows 95

The Prima User Interface

Category/Title Buttons

Option Buttons

Appendix D Glossary

Index