Objects
Characteristics
Building blocks of Visual Basic
Object types already created - we make new instances
Object types 'borrowed' from Windows environment
Individual entities that are somewhat self-contianed
Can interact with other objects
Some behavior of objects is 'built - in'
(command buttons being pushed down)
An object has:
Properties
the individual characteristics of the object
Events
Stimuli from the user, environment, or other objects
that the object can respond to
Methods
Specialized commands that the object can do
Selected controls:
Form:
Main Property: Varies
Main Event: Load (activated whenever form shows up on screen)
Main Uses:
Serves as container for all other controls
Background for program
Load event used to contain code for early in the program run
Picture box
Main Property: Picture
Main Event: Click
Main Uses:
Display a graphic image on the screen
Label
Main Property: Caption
Main Event:Click
Main Uses:
Display text on screen
Show text that user cannot directly change
Often works like PRINT command in other languages
Text Box
Main Property: Text
Main Event: Change
Main Uses:
Display CHANGEABLE text on screen
Allow user to directly input text on screen
Often works like INPUT command in other languages
Command button
Main Property: Caption
Main Event: Click
Main Uses:
Indicates user's desire to do something.
Frequently house significant amounts of program code
Graphically shows being depressed
Easily recognized as something to click on
Scroll Bar
Main Property: Value
Main Event: Change
Main Uses:
Allows the user to input a numeric value graphically
Range can be determined at design time
Allows little opportunity for error
Option Button
Main Property: Value (True or False)
Main Event:Click
Main Uses:
Allows user to check ONLY ONE of a series of options
Grouped in a form or frame
When one in a group is true, all others are false
Like a car radio
Check Box
Main Property: Value (Checked, Unchecked, or Greyed)
Main Event: Click
Main Uses:
Allows user to check one OR MORE of a series of options
Can also be grouped
More than one can be checked at a time
Purpose:
This program should show that you have a working knowledge of a number of simple VB
controls. You will also practice creating a program, placing controls on the form, changing a
few properties, and writing simple code.
Description:
The program will show the user a sample form, and each time they click on a control, they will
see what kind of an object it is.
The form:
Open VB and change the default form's name to SAMPLER
Change the form's CAPTION to "{your name}'s VB Sampler"
Add various controls to make your form look something like this:
Make an output window:
Label1 is where we will print stuff for the user to see.
We will be referring to this label aa lot in our code, so we need
to give it a meaningful name
Click on the label, then go to the properties box
Change the Name property to LblOutput
Note the Lbl prefix denotes this object a label
Also notice use of upper case
Change the typeface characteristics of the label:
Change the FontName property to Arial
Change the FontSize to 15
Change the Alignment to Centered
Change the Caption to {nothing}
Adding some code:
Picture box:
Double - Click on the picture box to get to its code window.
Note that we are dealing with the click event
This is the default event for most objects.
Write a line of code that sets the caption of the output label
to "Picture box"
Hint==> LblOutput.Caption = "Picture Box"
Save as sampler.frm and VB2.MAK and test
Label2, Command1, Option buttons, and Check boxes:
Repeat the procedure you used to make the picture box code work
(except of course you on't always say "Picture box")
Text1:
Text boxes don't default to the click event
Double click on the text box to get the code window
Notice that we are in the CHANGE event.
Use the PROC list box at the top of the code window to change
to the Click event
Write the same type of code you used for the other events
Form:
Double - click on the form (outside the controls) to get to the
form's code window
Notice that the form's default event is load
Use the PROC list box at the top of the code window to change to
the Click event
Again write the same type of code you have been doing
Scroll Bar:
This control doesn't have a click event
Go ahead and use the Change event as it is the default
Write the following code:
LblOutput.Caption = "Scroll Bar: " & HScroll1.Value
This prints out the phrase "Scroll Bar:" and adds the current value
of the scroll bar
Quit Button:
Change the caption of Command2 to "Quit"
Double click to get to the code window
type End
Save and test
Return to syllabus.