Mastering Visual Basic

The late 1980s were a time when the personal computer was just starting to make it into a limited number of homes, and some businesses were also starting to discover the benefits as well. This was also the era when computer programming languages like C and C++ were at the height of their popularity. In 1987 the software giant, Microsoft decided to release their own version of Object Oriented Programming for the software programmer, known as Visual Basic. This software is very user friendly and offers some distinct advantages over some of the older programming languages on the market.  Visual Basic utilizes a graphic user interface, or GUI, that allows the placement of an object on the screen. The code for those objects is already written, so it saves a great deal of time. This revolutionary programming software appeals to experienced programmers and novices, alike. 

The functions of the Visual Basic software are responsible for its appeal because they offer ease of use and allow users to create programs rather quickly. One nice feature of the program that new users notice immediately is the fact that many screen features are ready made and this greatly reduces the amount of coding and time that it takes to conclude a program. When an event occurs in Visual Basic, the system visually announces that something has happened. An application within the software is an interface located in the programming environment that gives the user the opportunity to do something. Visual Basic supports a wide range of data types, which are as follows:

  • Byte
  • Integer
  • Long-integer
  • Single-precision float
  • Double-precision float
  • Currency
  • User-define type
  • Fixed-length string
  • Dynamic string 
  • Variant

Visual Basic allows the declaration of a variable that involves telling the program both the name and type of variable that is desired. Assigning the variable determines the value that it will hold. A simple and frequently used command in coding is the IF statement. This states that if something happens or is present, a resulting action will happen. It also states that if something does not happen, then a different end result or outcome will be reached. Another common command is the loop which tells the system to carry out a set of commands until the desired criterion is fulfilled. For example, this could be adding a fixed numerical amount to an unknown variable until a specific amount is reached. List boxes are also available in the programming language and they can show displays that show the user a predefined list of alphanumeric data or text depending on what the desired intention is. Active X controls determine and specify how various applications should communicate to each other within the environment of the program. The preceding information was shared to demonstrate a small representative sample of controls and capabilities of the Visual Basic software. 

Microsoft’s goal of creating useful, GUI programming software that is compatible with the Windows environment was accomplished with the creation of the Visual Basic line of programs. For the newcomer to the world of programing and for the “old dog” who wants to learn new tricks, this is a fantastic and highly rated platform to work with. Mastering Visual Basic starts with learning the fundamentals and exploring the program. A combination of training, research, and hands on experience makes up the simple formula to success for expertise with this programming language.