Peter Norton's Guide to Visual Basic 6
(Publisher: Macmillan Computer Publishing)
Author(s): Peter Norton
ISBN: 0672310546
Publication Date: 09/09/98

Introduction

What's on the CD-ROM

About the Authors

Part I—Using Visual Basic 6

Chapter 1—Getting Started with Visual Basic 6

Visual Basic: The Fast Track to Windows Development

Improving Technology for Developers

Understanding the Advantages of Visual Basic

Getting Help

Visual Basic Development Overview

Designing and Building the User Interface

Writing Code That Responds to Events

Creating and Calling Other Procedures as Needed

Testing and Debugging

Converting to Runtime Version

Preparing a Distributable Set of Files

Creating Your First Visual Basic Program

A Simple Project

Creating the Project

Adding Controls to the Form

Setting Control Properties

Writing Event-Driven Code

Testing and Debugging the Sample Application

Converting Sample Application to Runtime

Summary

Chapter 2—Understanding Visual Basic Projects

Using Different Types of Projects

Choosing a Project

Understanding the Different Components of a Project

Understanding the Project Explorer Window

Working with Multiple Projects

Setting Project Options

Using the General Page

Using the Make Page

Using the Compile Page

Summary

Chapter 3—Visual Basic Code Basics

Understanding Visual Basic Procedures

Understanding Subroutines

Understanding Functions

Understanding Comments

Using the Visual Basic Editor

Opening the Code Window

Understanding Code Window Features

Using Keyboard and Mouse Shortcuts in the Editor Window

Understanding Editor Options

Controlling Program Flow

Using Conditional Branching

Loops

Using Compiler Directives

Summary

Chapter 4—Using Visual Basic Variables

Taking a Look at an Example

Understanding Visual Basic Data Types

Byte

Integer

Long

Single

Double

Currency

Boolean

Date

String

Object

Variant

Declaring Variables

Comparing Implicit and Explicit Variable Performance

Providing Names for Your Variables

Forcing Explicit Declaration

Using a Naming Convention

Understanding Variable Scope and Lifetime

Examining Scope

Determining a Variable’s Lifetime

Converting Between Data Types

Working with Arrays

Declaring Arrays

Array Limitations

Understanding the Variant Data Type

Variant Storage Requirements

Special Values of Variant Variables

Passing Variables to Procedures

Optional Arguments

Using Named Arguments

Using Constants

User-Defined Data Types

Summary

Chapter 5—Designing the User Interface

Understanding the Visual Basic Form

Getting the Look and Feel of Windows

Creating Your First Form

Adding New Forms

Understanding Form Properties

Form Appearance Properties

BorderStyle

Name

Caption

Icon

Picture

BackColor

Font Properties

Form Control Properties

ControlBox

MinButton and MaxButton

Form Size and Positioning Properties

StartupPosition

Left, Top, Height, and Width

Movable

WindowState

ShowInTaskbar

More Form Properties

Other Form Properties

Tag

ScaleMode, ScaleTop, ScaleLeft, ScaleWidth, ScaleHeight

Referencing Form Properties

Setting Properties in Code

Positioning the Form with Methods

Move

ZOrder

Using Form Drawing Methods

Circle

Line

PSet

Point

Cls

Refresh

TextWidth, TextHeight

SetFocus

Showing and Hiding Forms

Loading Forms

Unloading Forms

Understanding Form Events

Form Maintenance Events

Initialize

Load

Activate, Deactivate

QueryUnload, Unload

Terminate

Form Operation Events

GotFocus, LostFocus

Paint

Resize

Form Mouse Events

Click, DblClick

MouseDown, MouseUp

MouseMove

Form Keyboard Events

KeyDown, KeyUp

KeyPress

Making the Most of Built-In Dialog Boxes

The Message Box

Using the InputBox Function

Understanding MDI Applications

Creating an MDI Parent Form

Turning Forms Into MDI Child Forms

Behavior of MDI Child Forms

Making the MDI Parent the Startup Form

Creating Multiple Instances of Forms

Wrapping Up Forms

Summary

Chapter 6—Putting Your Forms to Work with Controls

Getting to Know the Toolbox

Getting to Know the Visual Basic Tools

Customizing the Toolbox

Adding Controls to Forms

Using the Alignment Grid

Multiselecting Controls

Form Layout Functions

Control Properties

Displaying Simple Text

Displaying a Button

Displaying a List

Displaying a Drop-Down Selection List

Displaying a Check Box

Providing Mutually Exclusive Options

Using the Frame Control

Entering Text

Drawing Shapes and Displaying Pictures

Selecting Files, Colors, Fonts, Printers, and Help

Generating Timed Events

OLE Container Control

Grid and Spreadsheet Controls

Creating Tabbed Displays

Other Controls

Naming Controls

Copying Controls

Control Arrays

Referencing Controls

Passing a Control as an Argument

Determining the Type of Control

Using the Controls Collection

Control Focus

Setting Tab Order

Binding Controls

Dragging and Dropping

Handling Keyboard Events

Handling Mouse Events

Summary

Chapter 7—Mastering Menus and Toolbars

Understanding Menus

Using the Menu Editor

Menu Arrays

Applying Menu Conventions

Using Ellipses

Allowing Keyboard Navigation

Using Shortcut Keys

Using Pop-Up Menus

Configuring Menus at Runtime

Understanding Toolbars

Finding the Perfect Icons

Adding Toolbars to Your Application

Customizing the Toolbar

Removing a Button

Changing a ToolTip

Changing an Icon

Adding a Button

Moving a Button

Creating Toggle-Style Buttons

Creating Option-Style Buttons

Adding Captions to Buttons

Configuring the Toolbar at Runtime

Handling Toolbar Events

Running the Menu and Toolbar Demo Program

Summary

Chapter 8—Using the Visual Basic Debugging Tools

Finding Errors

Identifying Syntax Errors

Identifying Logical Errors

Dealing with Runtime Errors

Avoiding Errors

Using the Module Options

Traditional Debugging Techniques

Using MsgBox

Using Debug.Print

Using the Visual Basic Debugging Tools

Using the Debug Toolbar

Suspending Execution with Breakpoints

Stepping Through Code

Controlling Program Flow

Getting to Know the Debugging Windows

Using the Call Stack

Summary

Chapter 9—Handling Runtime Errors

Recognizing Runtime Errors

Trapping Errors in Visual Basic Applications

Trapping the Error

Handling the Error

Redirecting the Program Flow

Using the Err Object

Using the Err.Description Property

Using the Err.Number Property

Displaying More Helpful Information

Knowing Which Errors to Trap

Using the Resume Statement

Resume Label

Resume Next

Resume

Using On Error GoTo 0

Handling Errors Locally

Logging Errors

Summary

Part II—Object-Oriented Programming

Chapter 10—Creating Objects and Classes

Understanding the Benefits of Object-Oriented Development

Understanding the Component Object Model (COM)

Getting Started with Objects

Examining Objects

Using Objects in Applications

Understanding Classes

Creating a Simple Class

Beginning the Class Module

Adding Properties to the Class

Creating Methods for the Class

Using the Class Module

Using Property Procedures

Understanding Property Procedure Types

Bulletproofing Property Procedures

Summary

Chapter 11—Advanced Class Concepts

Understanding Initialize and Terminate

Looking at Class_Initialize

Using Class_Terminate

Testing for Existing Class Objects

Creating Special Types of Properties

Creating a Read-Only Property

Setting Up Write-Only Properties

Setting Up a Default Property or Method

Enhancing the Simple Class

Looking at the Class_Initialize Procedure

Adding Simple Property Procedures

Adding the Color Property Procedures

Adding the Year Property Procedures

Adding Simple Methods to clsCar2

Enhancing the Decelerate Method

Enhancing the Accelerate Method

Using the Enhanced Object Class

Filling the Form with Data

Creating and Destroying the Car Object

Setting the Car’s Color

Making the Clean Check Box Read-Only

Using the Object Browser

Understanding Collections

Summary

Chapter 12—Working with Objects and Collections

Using Collections

Examining Built-In Visual Basic Collections

Looking at the Forms Collection

Understanding the Controls Collection

Surveying Other Built-In Collections

Using the Collection Object

Creating a Collection

Adding Objects to the Collection

Counting the Number of Items in the Collection

Retrieving Objects from the Collection

Removing Items from the Collection

Destroying the Collection

Optimizing Object References

Building the Case for Custom Collections

Understanding Wayward Objects

Encapsulating Functionality

Creating Custom Collections

Beginning the Collection Class

Adding the Item Method

Programming the Add Method

Implementing the Remove Method

Implementing the Paint Method

Programming the BlueCount Property

Wrapping Up the Collection Class

Summary

Part III—Creating Printed Output

Chapter 13—Using the Printer Object

Printing Information

Following a Simple Print Routine

Using the Printer Object’s Methods

Controlling the Printer

Using the Printer Collection

Summary

Chapter 14—Using Crystal Reports

Explaining Crystal Reports

Taking a Quick Tour

Using the Design Window

Using the Preview Window

Working with the Crystal Reports Wizards

Adding Custom Formulas to a Report

Selecting the Required Records

Creating a Report

Starting the Design Process

Selecting the Fields for the Report

Using the Crystal Reports Custom Control

Selecting the Report to Run

Modifying the Optional Properties

Activating the Custom Control

Changing the Properties at Runtime

Creating a Report Selection Interface

Summary

Part IV—Accessing Data

Chapter 15—Reading and Writing Text Files

Understanding Text Files

Downloading the Data

Reviewing Database Terminology

Looking at Text File Formats

Understanding Data Access Methods

Sequential File Access

Random File Access

Binary File Access

Opening Text Files

Reading Fixed-Width Text Files

Reading Delimited Text Files

Looking at More Complex Examples

Reading Complex Fixed-Width Files

Reading Complex Delimited Files

Taking a Closer Look at File Commands

Open

Line Input

Input

Creating Text Files

Outputting Fixed-Width Data to a File

Creating Delimited Text Files

Understanding Visual Basic’s String Functions

Looking at Other File Operations

Deleting Files

Listing the Contents of a Folder

Detecting the End of a File

Copying a File

Determining a File’s TimeStamp

Determining the Size of a Closed File

Determining the Size of an Open File

Getting a File’s Attributes

Setting a File’s Attributes

Summary

Chapter 16—Mastering the Visual Basic Data Control

Introducing the Data Control

Using the Data Control

Understanding the Data Control Properties

Knowing the Current Record

Using Data-Bound Controls

Manipulating the Data Control at Runtime

Programmed Access Using Events

Navigating the Data Control in Code

Summary

Chapter 17—Creating Queries in Visual Basic

Defining SQL

Using the SELECT Statement

Accessing Multiple Tables

Adding Calculated Fields

Specifying the Filter Criteria

Aggregating the Data

Grouping the Data

Using SQL Statements with the Data Control

Testing the SQL

Summary

Chapter 18—Mastering Jet DAO

Understanding How Jet Began

What Jet Does

Jet Tables

Jet Storage

Jet Indexes

Jet Relations

Jet Queries

Using Jet in the World of Database Applications

Understanding Relational Databases

Understanding Normalization

Understanding DDL and DML

Understanding DAO Collections, Classes, and Objects

Getting Started with Jet and DAO

Changing the Data Structure

Creating an Application

Starting the Application

Adding a Record

Saving the Record

Working with SQL

Working with the Data Bound Control

Displaying Related Records with a Data Grid

Summary

Chapter 19—Using Advanced Data Access Methods

Understanding OLE DB

Independently Created Objects

Different Cursor Types

Using the ADO Library

Looking into the ADO Object Model

Establishing ADO Connections

Using BeginTrans, CommitTrans, and RollbackTrans

Using the Error Object

Understanding the Basics of the ADO Recordset Object

Creating a Recordset

Adding a New Record

Creating Temporary Tables

Accessing Parameter Queries and Stored Procedures

Using the Parameter Object

Executing Parameter-Driven Stored Procedures

Multiple Resultset Stored Procedures

Summary

Part V—Integrating with Other Applications

Chapter 20—Integrating with Microsoft Office 97

Understanding ActiveX

Understanding Automation Concepts

Looking at a Short Example

Referencing the Automation Server

Understanding Object Models

Integrating with Word 97

Opening a Document in Word 97

Learning the Word Commands to Use

Displaying a Word Document in Print Preview

Creating a New Word Document

Saving a Word Document

Using Automation in Visual Basic Projects

Summary

Chapter 21—Integrating with Microsoft Outlook 97

Understanding the Outlook Object Model

Controlling Outlook

Understanding Outlook Folders

Creating an Outlook Instance

Making Outlook Visible

Creating a Mail Message in Outlook

Attaching an Object to a Mail Message

Sending the Message

Closing Outlook

Creating Outlook Items

Looking at Common Properties

Creating Outlook Contact Items

Adding Appointment Items

Creating Outlook Note Items

Creating a Journal Entry

Creating Outlook Task Items

Summary

Part VI—Developing for the Internet

Chapter 22—Integrating with Internet Explorer

Using Automation with Internet Explorer

Referencing the Internet Explorer Automation Server

Referencing an Internet Explorer Automation Object

Hiding and Showing Internet Explorer

Shutting Down Internet Explorer

Browsing a Specific Page or Document Using the Navigate Method

Navigating the History List

Displaying the User’s Home Page or Search Page

Using the Properties of the Internet Explorer Object

Using the WebBrowser Control

Understanding the WebBrowser Events

The BeforeNavigate2 Event

The CommandStateChange Event

The DownloadBegin Event

The DownloadComplete Event

The NavigateComplete2 Event

The NewWindow2 Event

The ProgressChange Event

The TitleChange Event

Summary

Chapter 23—Web Development with Visual Basic 6

Understanding Scripting Versus Components

Understanding the Difference Between ActiveX Controls and Visual Basic Documents

Creating an ActiveX Control for the Web

Creating the New Control

Adding the Code Behind the Form

Adding Properties and Methods to Your Web Control

Changing the Code Functionality

Deploying Your Web Control

Compiling Your Control

Creating the Setup for Your Control

Testing Your Control in a Web Page

Enabling a Control Through Script

Interacting with Your Control in a Web Page

Summary

Chapter 24—Creating Intranet Applications

Comparing Client-Side and Server-Side Scripting

Understanding Client-Side Scripting

Using ASP with Microsoft Web Servers

Creating an ASP Page

Glimpsing at Database Access with ADO

Creating the Default Application Screens

Listing the Records

Adding a Record

Editing an Existing Record

Deleting an Existing Record

Summary

Part VII—Advanced Topics

Chapter 25—Mastering the Windows API

Defining the Windows API

Understanding Dynamic Linking

Why Use the Windows API?

Accessing a Common Code Base

Using Tested and Proven Code

Gaining Cross-Platform Compatibility

Achieving a Smaller Application Footprint

Using DLL Documentation

Finding Documentation

Deciphering the Documentation

Understanding API Data Types

Moving from Windows 3.1 to Win32

Taking Advantage of Architectural Differences

Finding New Homes for API Functions

Learning New API Function Names

Accounting for Changes to API Calls

Using the Windows API

Understanding the Declare Statement

Understanding Windows Handles

Taking a Look at WinAPI.vbp

Getting Application Information

GetWindowTextA

SetWindowTextA

GetParent

GetCommandLineA

GetClassNameA

Getting Windows Information

GetWindowsDirectoryA

GetSystemDirectoryA

GetTempPath

GetVersionExA

GetUserNameA

Getting Hardware Information

GetComputerNameA

GetDriveTypeA

GetDiskFreeSpaceA

Getting Disk Volume Information with GetVolumeInformationA

Summary

Chapter 26—INI Files and the System Registry

Understanding the Registry

Using Regedit

Editing Registry Values

Adding New Registry Values

Programming the Registry

Using VBA Calls to Program the Registry

Using the Windows API to Program the Registry

Manipulating INI Files

WriteProfileString

GetProfileString

GetProfileInt

WritePrivateProfileString

GetPrivateProfileString

GetPrivateProfileInt

Summary

Chapter 27—Using the Package and Deployment Wizard

Using the Distribution Wizard

Working with the Wizard

Starting the Wizard

Deploying the Package

Floppy Disks

Folders

WebPost

Managing Scripts

Testing the Installation

Summary

Chapter 28—Professional Visual Basic Development

Understanding What Makes a Professional Application

Application Types

Picking the Right Application

Following the Project Life Cycle

Application Performance

Creating the Right Impression

Letting Windows Work

Distracting the User

Understanding an Application’s Components

Designing Good Forms

Using an About Box

Using the System Registry

Supporting the Users

Owning Your Program

Protecting Your Application Name

Copyrighting Your Work

Making the Final Decision

Summary