Internet Newsgroups: comp.lang.basic.visual,comp.answers,news.answers Subject: comp.lang.basic.visual General Frequently Asked Questions X-Content-Currency: This FAQ changes regularly. When a saved or printed copy is over 6 months old, please obtain a new one. Expires: Sun, 8 May 1994 05:30:20 GMT Organization: Visual Basic FAQ Maintainers Date: Thu, 21 Apr 1994 05:30:26 GMT X-Posting-Frequency: Posted on the 5th and 20th of each month. Summary: General information and frequently asked questions concerning Microsoft's Visual Basic products. Keywords: FAQ VISUAL BASIC GENERAL INFORMATION GENERAL INFORMATION about Microsoft's Visual Basic the COMP.LANG.BASIC.VISUAL newsgroup ========================== PREFACE: This document is a compilation of frequently asked questions and their answers about Visual Basic in general which have been gathered from the comp.lang.basic.visual newsgroup. Although some efforts have been made to find obvious errors, there is no guarantee that the information in this document is error-free. The FAQ maintainer, or anyone else associated with this document, assume NO liability for the content or use of this document. If you find any errors, please report them to the address given below. Most FAQs (including this one) are available at the anonymous ftp archive site "rtfm.mit.edu". All four parts of the VB FAQ may be found in the directory "pub/usenet/comp.lang.basic.visual". You can also have the VB FAQs e-mailed to you by sending a message to "mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu" with ONLY the text "send usenet/comp.lang.basic.visual/*" in the body of the message. ========================================== I. The COMP.LANG.BASIC.VISUAL Charter: COMP.LANG.BASIC.VISUAL is an unmoderated forum to share information about Microsoft's Visual Basic for Windows and MS-DOS, as well as the new "Application Basic" embedded in MS applications such as Word for Windows, Excel, and Access. Microsoft provides no Internet support channel for Visual Basic, so this group will let Visual Basic users get together to help each other, without requiring them to filter through unrelated, broader Windows programming issues. II. What is Visual Basic and Where can I get it? Visual Basic (often abbreviated 'VB') is a programming language initially developed by Microsoft to provide programmers with a quick and easy method of developing Windows applications. Visual Basic provides the programmer with an integrated environment where s/he can use tools to create a point and shoot interface and use event driven programming techniques. A developer can quickly and easily create a user interface, then write the code to respond to specific events which occur as a result of user input. The integrated development environment (IDE) has sophisticated editing and debugging tools which allow you to attach code quick to the interface created for each event which is applicable for any type of object on the interface. Currently, there are two different "flavors" of Visual Basic. The original language was developed for Windows (often abbreviated 'VB/Win') and will only create apps for it. Visual Basic for DOS (often abbreviated 'VBDOS') came along later as the demand for point-and-shoot applications grew. The two flavors are similar in programming techniques (they both use event-driven subroutines), however they remain vastly different products. III. What's the difference between VB/Win & VBDOS? VB/Win gives you the capability of creating applications which run in Windows, while VBDOS gives you the ability to develop apps which do not need Windows to run and run in text mode using the extended character set to give the user the feeling of a graphical environment, while still remaining in a text mode. VB/Win applications are compiled into a pseudo-code (p-code) file with an "EXE" extension. When run, the p-code file accesses a run-time Dynamic Linked Library (DLL) (VBRUNx00.DLL) which interprets the p-code into Windows(tm) Aplication Programming Interface (API) instructions. VB/Win cannot create a stand- alone application (i.e. an executable which does not need the VBRUNx00.DLL.). Currently, applications developed using a particular version of VB/Win requires the same version of the run-time DLL. Therefore, a VB application developed in VB/Win version 3.0 will only work if the run-time DLL VBRUN300.DLL is installed in either the WINDOWS or SYSTEM directories. VBDOS can create both types of applications. Those that require a run-time module, or those that are a stand-alone .exe file. IV. What are the features of the Professional vs. the Standard editions of the VB products? A. VB/Win Both editions (version 3.0) include all of the basic graphic primitives (controls) that make Windows(tm) such a nice Graphical User Interface (GUI) to work with, such as: text boxes, message boxes, drop-down menus, combo boxes, Multiple Document Interface, File controls, etc. Version 3.0 added database capabilities by tying into the Microsoft Access database engine (a DLL that handles all the actual database file manipulation). The Professional Edition includes: more reference materials (manuals, Knowledge Base, Windows API information, etc.), more extensive database capabilities (ability to create databases), additional controls for serial port communications, masked text boxes, 3D "sculpted" controls, etc., Pen API support, and more! Serious programmers and developers would be best served by the professional edition. Most VB/Win users on the comp.lang.basic.visual newsgroup feel that the added features of the Professional Edition make it well worth the extra cost. The Standard Edition is sufficient for small and fairly simple programs and "hobby" programmers. Since Microsoft offers an upgrade path from the Standard to the Professional Edition, those who aren't sure they need the Professional Edition can start with the Standard Edition and move up when they're ready. B. VBDOS Both version of VBDOS load and run all existing QBasic and QuickBasic programs. With little or no effort, your QBasic and QuickBasic programs can use the compiler in Visual Basic for MSDOS to take advantage of optimized code generation and greater string capacity. The professional edition has the capability of loading and running Basic PDS programs designed for MS-DOS. Both editions of VBDOS allow you to incrementally add forms, dialog boxes, and controls to existing applications The Professional editions of VBDOS includes 286 and 386/486 specific code generation in its native code compiler. Also included is a high-speed alternate floating- point math library. The MOVE Overlay technology found in MS C/C++ 7.0 allows compiled programs to be up to 16MB! Also included is the MS Source Profiler which allows you to fine tune your applications, stub files which allow you to remove run-time functionality your program does not use. The Professional edition also includes a powerful ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method) Database engine for developing database applications which can use database files up to 128MB. Here are the additional features you will find in the professional edition of Visual Basic for MS-DOS: Feature Notes ----------------------------------------------------- Help toolkit create on-line help Setup toolkit create distribution disks CodeView debugger version 4.02 Financial toolkit functions from Microsoft Excel Present. graphics kit make charts and graphs Matrix math toolkit matrix operations Create custom controls requires MS MASM Create custom rtms Put your modules into RTM. Microsoft mouse driver version 8.2a (NOTE: RTM = Runtime Module) V. What to do BEFORE you post. First, consult the manuals included with Visual Basic. The manuals *generally* do a good job explaining most of the basics of Visual Basic. Expect to be flamed if you post a question to the newsgroup that is plainly answered in the manual! Second, check the Knowledge Base (KB). The Knowledge Base is a file that documents many of the most common problems / bugs / questions that the VB technical support folks at Microsoft have encountered. The Knowledge Base comes standard with the Professional Edition, but Standard Edition users can get a copy of the Knowledge Base via ftp (see section VII), CompuServe, America On-line, or your local BBS. The file *should* be named something like "vbkb". Third, check the FAQ. Since you are reading this document, I don't think much needs to be said here. As a side note: PLEASE, encourage those who post frequently asked questions which are covered in this document to get and read the FAQ! If we don't, people will just keep posting those same questions over and over. Help us break this cycle of over-dependency on knowledgeable and kind-hearted newsgroup users. Forth, thoroughly test the problem you are encountering. You are more apt to get some useful help if you can speak intelligently about the problem you are having and what you have done to try and fix or get around the problem. Finally, post to the COMP.LANG.BASIC.VISUAL newsgroup. Helping each other with Visual Basic problems and questions is a lot about what this newsgroup is about. If you've done your homework, you will probably be met with helpful responses to your inquiry. Since both VB/Win and VBDOS users read this newsgroup, please prefix the subject line of your post with a note that indicates which type of VB you're using (i.e. "Subject: [VB/Win] Problem with DoEvents", "Subject: [VBDOS] Question on ISAM parameters"). VI. What are some good 3rd party books to learn vb? We (the editors) have compiled a list of various books which cover a wide range of VB/Win subjects. Many of the books are personal reccommendations from various people on the net. The remaining books came from a keyword search of 'VISUAL' at the internet site BOOKS.COM. This site can be used to purchase books via credit card or you can use their database of books to find information as I have done. A complete list can be found at the end of this document. VII. What are some other VB resources and where can I get them? The Knowledge Base (often abbreviated 'KB') is a file that documents many of the most common problems, bugs, questions, tips, fixes and work-arounds that the VB technical support folks at Microsoft have encountered. The KB comes standard with the Professional Edition, but Standard Edition users can get a copy of the Knowledge Base via ftp (see section VIII), CompuServe, America On-line, or perhaps even your local BBS. Many answers to common VB problems can be found in the KB. This file is a must-have! Visual Basic Tips and Tricks is a compilation of useful VB code examples, a listing of the latest VB file versions and dates, and other useful information that isn't in the Knowledge Base. VB Tips and Tricks is a Windows help file put together by Dave McCarter of DPM Computer Solutions. It can be found at many places (including ftp.cica.indiana.edu) as "VBTIPSxx.ZIP", where xx is the version number (larger numbers represent newer versions). It is updated on a monthly basis. VIII. Where can I get good Public domain, shareware, or freeware software for VB? A. FTP VB/windows ftp sites: --------------------- ftp.cica.indiana.edu:/pub/pc/win3/programr/vbasic Best/largest source for Visual Basic files, utilities, example programs, VBXs, etc. ftp.microsoft.com: Microsoft's anonymous ftp site. There is a lot on this site so look around. Here are some of the more useful directories: /Softlib/MSLFILES Get the Knowledge Base for VB here! VBKB.EXE (929K) is the regular KB in windows help format. VBKB_FT.EXE (2,563K)is the same as VBKB.EXE but with text searching added. Lot's of other good files in this directory. /MSDN Contains LOTS of Windows programming files and examples! Get the index file MSDN-IDX.ZIP for a description of the files in this directory. Suggestion: search the index file for the text "Visual Basic". /MSDN/VBTECH VB specific files. /DEVTOOLS/LANG/VB/PUBLIC Misc. VB files and updates. B. BBS The Centre Programmers Unit a public BBS in Bellefonte, PA, which caters to programmers and UNIX users. This board has a fairly large-sized BASIC file section, with some Visual BASIC files uploaded from users, and culled from various FTP sites. VB users are welcome. The phone number is 814-353-0566. The system is up 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and has a USR Dual Standard (14.4HST/V.32bis) online. There is no charge for access, but a file upload/download ratio is enforced. C. Compuserve Compuserve does have a fairly active basic forum. To acces this forum, type GO MSBASIC. Microsoft employees have been known to frequent this forum. May be useful for those last ditch pleas for some useful tidbit of information. Some Useful files in the MSBASIC forum: - VBBK05.ZIP: List of books/mags dealing with VB. - MLIST4.ZIP: Multi-column listbox. No 64K limit. D. America On-Line America On-Line has a good selection of VB files and an active message area for discussing Visual Basic. IX. Specific Question and Answer sections A. VB/Win - refer to the post titled: "comp.lang.basic.visual VB/Win Frequently Asked Questions". B. VBDOS - refer to the post titled: "comp.lang.basic.visual VB/DOS Frequently Asked Questions". X. Appendix for FAQ POST #1 ======================== BOOK LIST for VB/Win ======================== ---From: ian@monty.demon.co.uk (Ian Piper) Here, in descending order of usefulness (in my own personal opinion) are the VB books I use the most: c Programmers guide to the Windows API, by Daniel Appleman. ISBN1-56276-073-4. If you only want to get one book on VB, this is the one. It covers the ground from simple to advanced programming very well. 2. The Waite Group's VB How-To, several authors, ISBN 1-878739-09-3. This is the ISBN number for version 1 - I think it's been updated by now. Lots of examples to demonstrate each point. This is a close second. 3. Visual Basic Utilities, by Paul Bonner, ISBN 1-56276-106-4. This has some excellent learning stuff in it and also some advanced stuff, including how to write your own DLLs (!) using GFA-BASIC. 4. Fun programming with VB, several authors, ISBN 1-56529-106-9. This uses a half-dozen or so projects to illustrate how various programmers designed and built apps using VB. 5. Windows 3.1 programming for mere mortals, by Woody Leonhard, ISBN 0-201-60832-4. This covers VB and WordBasic. Some very neat examples. ---From: tivadar@interaccess.com (John Quarto-vonTivadar) I found the following VERY useful, to the point that I don't even use the manuals anymore: 6. The Visual Guide to Visual Basic for Windows, by Richard Mansfield, published by Ventura Press. This is a encyclopedia of the language itself. It supposes that you DO know how to program so basically (if you pardon the pun) it's a guide to VB's slang. I use this for referencing the grammar when i get a bug. ---From: idavidson@csu.edu.au (Ian Davidson) 7. Visual Basic How-To, Robert Arnson, Daniel Rosen, Mitch Waite & Jonathon Zuck: The Waite Group, 1992. ISBN 1-878739-09-3. Includes disk. Many practical examples & some sample custom controls.Introduces & expands on the use of API's. An excellent book suitable for Beginners thru Advanced - one of my most-often-used references. 8. Learn Programming and Visual Basic with John Socha, John Socha: Sybex, 1992. ISBN 0-7821-1057-6. Includes disk. A useful introduction for absolute beginner programmers thru intermediate. ---From EDITOR: The following books were those I found using a keyword search of 'VISUAL' at the internet site BOOKS.COM. This site can be used to purchase books via credit card or you can use their database of books to find information as I have done. Author : Nelson, Ross Title : The Microsoft VB for Windows Primer ISBN : 1556154771 Dewey # : 005.10 Publisher: Microsoft Pr Date Pub : 11/92 Author : Orvis, William Title : Do It Yourself Visual Basic for Windows ISBN : 0672302594 Dewey # : 005.10 Publisher: Sams Date Pub : 11/92 Author : Cornell, Gary Title : Visual Basic for Windows Inside and Out ISBN : 0078819318 Dewey # : 005.10 Publisher: Osborne McGraw Hill Date Pub : 01/93 Author : Craig, John Clark Title : Microsoft VB Workshop/Book and Disk ISBN : 1556153864 Dewey # : 5.26 Publisher: Microsoft Pr Date Pub : 09/91 Author : Murray, William H./Pappas, Chris H. Title : Using VB : Writing Windows Apps ISBN : 0201581450 Dewey # : 5.43 Publisher: Addison Wesley Pub. Co. Date Pub : 01/92 ======================== BOOK LIST for VBDOS ======================== Author : Hergert, Douglas A. Title : Visual Basic Programming With DOS Applications / Book and Disk ISBN : 0553370995 Dewey # : 005.00 Publisher: Bantam Doubleday Dell Pub Date Pub : 07/92