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Chapter 3
Programming
Fundamentals
Writing Code

By Carlotta Eaton

Exploring Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0

Copyright 1999 Prentice-Hall, Inc.

Objectives...
1. Use the Sub command to create event
procedures and general procedures
2. Use variables and differentiate data types
3. Differentiate between a variable and a
constant
4. Differentiate between Dim and Static
statements

5. Use help to find appropriate predefined

function, and then utilize the function

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Objectives
6. Convert an algebraic formula to a Visual
Basic statement; Write a program that
calculates
7. Use the If...Then or Select Case
statements to write code that makes
decisions
8. Write code that repeats using Do...Loop,
For...Next, or For Each ...Next looping
statements
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Modules and Procedures

Code - the man behind the curtain
Modules - large units of code that
comprise a Visual Basic application
Form Modules - contains a form and
code for the form
Standard Modules - contains code that
is typically used by other modules
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Modules and Procedures

Procedures - smaller units that comprise a
module
Event procedure - automatically invoked by
an event
General procedure - explicitly invoked by
another procedure
Private procedure - accessible from within a
module
Public procedure - accessible from anywhere
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The Code Editor Window

View and edit code
Views
Full

Module View
Procedure View

Features
Auto

List Members
Auto Quick Info
Auto Syntax Check
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The Code Editor Window

Object List Box

Procedure List Box

Full Module View

button

Auto List Members

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The Code Editor Window

Help
window
Syntax error in Red

Procedure view button

Error message box

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Syntax Boxes
Syntax for a Visual Basic statement is
shown in a syntax box
Reserved words are shown in bold
Programmer named words are shown in
italics
See next slide for an example

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The Sub Statement

Private Sub controlname_eventname( )
Statements
End Sub
Where
Private is the default procedure type
Sub indicates beginning of procedure
controlname is name of associated control
_ (underscore) required separator
eventname is name of corresponding event
( ) set of parentheses is required
End Sub indicates end of a procedure

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The Sub Statement

Example
Private Sub cmdCalcTriangle_Click
Dim Base As Single
Dim Height As Single
Dim Height As Single
Area = 1 / 2 * (Base * Height)
End Sub
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Declarations, Variables,
and Constants
Variable - a uniquely named storage
location that contains data that
changes during program execution
Constant - a uniquely named storage
locations that contains data that does
not change during program execution

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Declarations, Variables,
and Constants
Rules for Naming Variables

Must begin with an alphabetic character

Cant contain a period or type-declaration
characters such as
%, &, !, #, @ or $
Must be unique with same scope
Must be no longer than 255 characters
Should not reserved word (See Appendix A)

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Declaring Variables
Declaration statement - nonexecutable
code that sets aside storage locations
for future use
Local variables - declared within a
procedure or function
Global variables - declared in the
general section of the application
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Declaring Variables
Declare variables using the Dim or
Static statements
Dim statement - value of variable
preserved only until procedure ends
Static statement - value of variable
preserved the entire time the
application is running

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The Dim Statement

Dim variablename As datatype
Where

Dim is required
variablename should be a descriptive name
As is required
datatype is one of the following types:
Boolean, Byte, Date, Integer, Long, Single,
Double, Currency, String, Object or Variant

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Declaring Variables
Data Types

Boolean - True or false

Date - From Jan 1, 100 to Dec 31, 9999
Integer - Numbers without a decimal point
Long - Long integer
Single - Numbers with a decimal point
Double - Long Single
Currency - Dollar amounts
String - Character and alphanumeric data
Object - Any object reference such as Word document
Variant - default, can hold any data type

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Assigning Values to Variables

Variablename = value
Where
variablename is the descriptive name of the variable
= is the assignment operator
value is the value the variable will contain
Examples:
Number1 = 5
FirstName = Steve
LoanAmount = 67.38
Length = 17.8
Note: Order is important. Variable name always on the left, and value on the
right.

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Declaring Constants
Const constantname As datatype = value
Where
Const is required
constantname is the descriptive name of the constant
As is required
datatype is the type of data the constant will contain
= is the assignment operator
value is the value of the constant
Examples:
Const Pi As Single 3.14159265358979
Const MaxNumber As Integer = 100

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The Wind Chill Project

Write a program that calculates the
wind chill temperature
Find a formula UST Today Weather Web site www.
usatoday.com/weather/wchilform.htm

Inputs: Wind Speed and Temperature

Outputs: Wind Chill Temperature
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The Wind Chill Project

Orginal formula
WC

= 0.0817(3.71(V **0.5) + 5.81 0.25V)(T - 91.4) + 91.4

Visual Basic statement

WC

= 0.0817 * (3.71 * Sqr(V) + 5.81 (0.25 * V)) * (T - 91.4) + 91.4

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Functions
Function - unit of code that returns a
value
Build-in Functions
Sqr

- square root
Rnd - random number generator
Int - returns integer portion of a number
Val - converts a string to a value
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Functions
Locating built-in functions
Open

the Functions online reference

book or search for a function by name

Programmer-written functions
Write

your own functions using the

Function statement

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The Function Statement

Private Function function-name (argument1, argument2....)
statements
End Function
Where
Private or Public is required
Function indicates the beginning of a function
function-name is the name that will be used to call the function
( ) parentheses are required around the argument list
argument1, argument2 are optional variables needed to perform
the calculation or actions needed for the function
End Function indicates the end of the function

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WindChill Function
Private Function WindChill( )
Purpose: Calculate the Wind Chill
Reference: National Weather Service
Dim V As Integer Wind Speed Velocity
Dim T AS Integer Temperature
V = hsbSpeed.Value
T = hsbTemperature.Value
WindChill = 0.0817 * (3.71 * Sqr(V) _
+5.81 - (0.25*V)) * (T-91.4)+91.4
End Function

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WindChill Function
When the cmdCalculate button is clicked,
the WindChill function is executed

Private Sub cmdCalculate_Click()

WC = WindChill()
txtWindChill.Text = Cint(WC)
End Sub

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The Wind Chill Project using

Functions and Procedures
Hands-On Exercise 1

Create a New Project

Create the Controls for Temperature Input
Create the Controls for Wind Speed Input
Create the Controls for Wind Chill Output
Create the Image Control
Add Banner Comments
Add the Wind Chill Function
Add Temperature and Speed Procedures
Save, Run, Test your Project

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Controlling your Application

Sequence

Functions and Procedures

Selection

If...Then...Else statement
Select Case statement

Repetition

For...Next Loop statement

For Each...Next statement
Do Loops

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Learning to Add Project

Specification for the Game

purpose of the game is to practice addition

skills
use numbers between 0 and 9
user is a pre-school age child, in kindergarten,
or in first grade
user may not yet know how to read
game should give visual feedback indicating
correct or incorrect answer

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Learning to Add Game

Reward for
correct
answer

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Learning to Add Game

Image for
incorrect
answer

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Design the User Interface

Prototype - a partially completed
version of an application that
demonstrates the look and feel of
the finished product
Usability Testing - end user or client
tests design of user interface using a
prototype
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Making Decisions with the

Learning to Add Game
Hands-On Exercise 2
Create

the Learning to Add Project

Add Controls to Display the Problem
Set Common Properties
Set Individual Control Properties
Add More Images and Set Properties
Add Picture Box Controls for Icon
Buttons
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Making Decisions with the

Learning to Add Game
Hands-On Exercise 2 (continued)
Add

Banner Comments
Add the Load Form Procedure
Add the Checkmark Picture Procedure
Add the Arrow Picture Procedure
Run and Save your Project
Test and Debug your Project
Print your Project Code and Exit
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For...Next Loop Structure

For counter = start To end Step increment
statements
Next counter
Where
Counter is tested to see if less than end.
If so, repeat loop again. If not, go to
statement after Next.

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Do While...Loop Structure
Do While condition
statements
Loop
Where
The condition is tested, and if true the loop is
repeated. When the condition is false, the loop
statements are skipped the statement after Loop
is executed.

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Do Until...Loop Structure
Do Until condition
statements
Loop
Where
The condition is tested, and if false the loop is
repeated. When the condition is true, the loop
statements are skipped the statement after Loop
is executed.

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Do Until...Loop Structure
Calculate the factorial of a number
given by user
Dim Factorial As Double
Dim I As Integer
User gives
number
I = 1
Factorial = 1
Do While I <= Val (txtAnswer.text)
Factorial = Factorial + 1
I = I + 1
Loop

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Loops with the Marching Band Project

Hands-On Exercise 3

Create the Marching Band Project

Add Command Buttons and a Timer
Add Controls to Display the Band
Add Banner Comments
Add Code for Buttons and the Form
Add Code to Add Animation
Run, Save, Test and Debug Your Project
Create a Copy of the Project
Change Animation Code
Update, Run, Save, Test and Debug
Exit Visual Basic

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Summary ...
Fundamental programming demonstrated
Variables vs. Constants
Data types
Local vs Global variables
Functions and Procedures
Control structures: sequence, selection and
repetition

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Summary
Statements
Dim,

Static, Const
Public, Private
Sub, Function
Do...Loop, Do While...Loop, Do Until...Loop
For Each...Next, For...Next
If...Then...Else
Select Case
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Practice with Visual Basic

1. Learning to Subtract Game
2. Wind Chill in Celsius
3. Heat Index
4. Rock, Paper, Scissors Game
5. Creating Variables
6. Event-driven Programming
7. For...Next Loop
8. Digital Clock
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Case Studies
Calculate a Formula
Weather Calculations
More Fun and Games
More Web Resources for Visual Basic

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