How to Name Objects in VB6 Programming ?

When an object is created, a default name based on its object typed will be given to the object. For example Form1 will be given to object/control with type Form, Text2, Text3,... will be given to Textbox object, Command1, Command2,.... will be given to command button object. You should immediately change the name property of the object to a name that describes the purpose of the control. Changing the Name property of your object with a name that describe the purpose with the object will make the code in your application easier to read and debug.

Visual Basic has several Standard Naming Convensions. Although you can assign any name you want to an object, but it is a better to adopt a naming convension and use it ocnsistently throughout your programms. Because it will make easier for others to understand your code.

Here it is a list of Standard Naming Convensions used in Visual Basic that assign to each type object:

Object type: Check box
The prefix you should use: chk
Example name: chkDrink

Object type: Combo box
The prefix you should use: cbo
Example name: cboStore

Object type: Command button
The prefix you should use: cmd
Example name: cmdSelect

Object type: Data
The prefix you should use: dat
Example name: datSales

Object type: Directory list box
The prefix you should use: dir
Example name: dirImage

Object type: Drive list box
The prefix you should use: drv
Example name: drvSource

Object type: File list box
The prefix you should use: fil
Example name: filSource

Object type: Form
The prefix you should use: frm
Example name: frmEntry

Object type: Frame
The prefix you should use: fra
Example name: fraOption

Object type: Grid
The prefix you should use: grd
Example name: grdItem

Object type: Horizontal croll bar
The prefix you should use: hsb
Example name: hsbTemperature

Object type: Image
The prefix you should use: img
Example name: imgEmployee

Object type: Label
The prefix you should use: lbl
Example name: lblName

Object type: Line
The prefix you should use: lin
Example name: linHorizontal

Object type: List box
The prefix you should use: lst
Example name: lstCustomer

Object type: Menu
The prefix you should use: mnu
Example name: mnuReport

Object type: OLE
The prefix you should use: ole
Example name: oleObject2

Object type: Option button
The prefix you should use: opt
Example name: optCountry

Object type: Picture box
The prefix you should use: pic
Example name: picFlower

Object type: Shape
The prefix you should use: shp
Example name: shpSquare

Object type: Text box
The prefix you should use: txt
Example name: txtName

Object type: Timer
The prefix you should use: tmr
Example name: tmrStep

Object type: Vertical scroll bar
The prefix you should use: vsb
Example name: vsbRate

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Project Types in Visual Basic

A Visual Basic project is made up of the forms, code modules, ActiveX controls, and environmental settings required by an application (you can identify a Visual Basic project from it's extention name ".vbp"). The project lists all the files you need in your application.

By default Visual Basic offers you several project templates designed to support the development of different kinds of applications and components. The project templates contain the basic project objects and environment settings you need to create the type of application or component you want to build. When you begin to develop an application, first you have to decide what project template you will use.

By default you can select the following templates that available in Visual Basic:

Standard EXE
By default Standard EXE projects contain a form, and you can use this project template to develop a stand-alone application.

Data Project
You can use this project template to develop an application that reads or manipulates data from data sources.

ActiveX EXE/ActiveX DLL
Use ActiveX EXE and ActiveX DLL project templates to develop COM components that expose functionality to other applications. You can use an ActiveX EXE project template if your component will both expose functionality programmatically and run as a stand-alone application. You can use an ActiveX DLL if your component will only be used programatically by another application.

ActiveX Control
You can use ActiveX Control project template if you want to create a component that designed to be a user interface element in a form or a dialog box.

ActiveX Document EXE/ActiveX Document DLL
You can use ActiveX Document EXE and ActiveX Document DLL if you want to create a component that designed for use in a document object container, such as Internet Explorer.

DHTML Application
You can use DHTML Application project template if you want to create a component that can be used on the client side of a Web application.

IIS Application
You can use IIS Aplication project template if you want to create a component that can be used on the server side of a Web application.

You can create a new Visual Basic project with below steps:

Start your Visual Basic application
The New Project dialog box appears.

Select the project template you want, then click Open button.

Or you can follow below steps if your Visual Basic application already open:

Click File menu.

Click New Project menu.
The New Project dialog box appears.

Select the project template you want, and then click OK button.

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Common Terminology in Visual Basic

Like another programming language, Visual Basic also has some common terminology that required to be understood by the developers (programmers). Here are some common terms in Visual Basic:

Design time
Design time is any time when an application being developed in Visual Basic Development Environment

Run time
Run time is any time when an application is running.

Forms
Forms are windows that can be customized by the developer (programmer)

Controls
Controls are graphic that representation of objects

Objects
Object is a general term that used to describe forms and controls that make up a program

Properties
Properties are the characteristics of objects such as size, width, height, etc

Methods
Methods are the actions that object can perform

Events
Events are the actions that recognized by forms or controls

Even-driven programming
.......

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8 Basic Steps to Create a Program in Visual Basic

Visual Basic is one of even-driven programming. Creating an even-driven programs like Visual Basic requires different approach from that used in procedural languages. The approach may seem unusual, if you are experienced with procedural programming.

Here are 8 basic steps in creating an application with Visual Basic:

1. Create a Design Plan

2. Create the user interface

3. Set the properties of interface objects

4. Write code for events

5. Save the project

6. Test and debug the application

7. Make an executable file (by compiling it)

8. Create a setup application

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How to Display Images in a Folder with VB6 Program ?

In this posting I will write a Sample of Simple VB6 program to display images in a directory of your computer. To display image in VB6 programming you can use LoadPicture statement. The format of statement is:
LoadPicture (Path\FileName)
For example:
LoadPicture ("Image01.jpg") -> display image named Image01.jpg in the current folder (the folder of image and the program is the same)
LoadPicture ("d:\MyPicture\Image02.bmp") -> display image named Image02.bmp that stored in folder MyPicture in drive d:

To make a VB6 program application like the above illustration you can follow below VB6 Programming tips.
In this case assumed that you have some images file (with extention .jpg or .bmp) that stored in directory D:\MyPicture.
Now you have to create a screen design like below image:














To create the screen design, please follow below steps:

Open your Visual Basic software

Select a standard exe project, let with default name (Project1 and Form1)

Add a label (Label1) control to your form, change its caption into "My Photo Collections", and change font size into 14

Add a DriveListBox (Drive1) control to your form

Add a Dir DirListBox (Dir1) control to your form

Add a FileListBox (File1) control to your form

Add an Image (Image1) control to your form

Arrange and resize the controls like the above screen design.

Ok, program interface already done. Now the time to write code statements to functionate the controls, so the program can work.

Double-click Drive1 to create a Sub Drive1_Change()

Write below Code Statements in the Sub Drive1_Change()

  Dir1.Path = Drive1.Drive
  File1.Path = Dir1.Path

Double-click Dir1 to create a Sub Dir1_Change()

Write below Code Statement in Sub Dir1_Change()

    File1.Path = Dir1.Path

Double-click File1 to create a Sub File1_Click()

Write the code statements below in the Sub File1_Click()

    On Error GoTo ErrHandle
   Image1.Picture = LoadPicture(File1.Path & "/" & File1.FileName)
   Exit Sub
  
ErrHandle:
    MsgBox "Invalid Image display"
    Resume Next

So your Program coding will look like below listing:

Private Sub Dir1_Change()
    File1.Path = Dir1.Path
End Sub

Private Sub Drive1_Change()
   Dir1.Path = Drive1.Drive
   File1.Path = Dir1.Path
End Sub

Private Sub File1_Click()
    On Error GoTo ErrHandle
    Image1.Picture = LoadPicture(File1.Path & "/" & File1.FileName)
    Exit Sub
  
ErrHandle:
    MsgBox "Invalid Image display"
    Resume Next
End Sub

Now the time to test your program, follow below tips:

Click Start button on your VB standard toolbar

Select Drive D: in the DriveListBox

Select folder D:\MyPicture in the DirListBox

Select file name you want in FileListBox

Your program should like the illustration on the top of this posting, however the image you display depend on the image you have and select.

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Visual Basic Standard Toolbar

The Standard Toolbar is one of Visual Basic Development Environment components. The Standard Toolbar contains buttons for many of the most commands used in Visual Basic.
The button such Open Project, Save Project, Start, Break, and End contain in this toolbar.

It also contains another button, such buttons to display Project Explorer, the Properties Window, the Toolbar, and other elements of Visual asic Development environment.

By default most Visual Basic Standard Toolbar are docked (attached) on the top of your screen. However you can undock it whenever you want. To undock it, click near the double bar along the left side of a toolbar, and drag away from its docked position. To dock a toolbar, drag it to another edge of the main window.

Many buttons exist in Visual Basic Standard Toolbar that make easier to edit your VB application:






Another buttons in Visual Basic Standard Toolbar:

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With..End With Statement to Set Properties of Object in VB6

In the earlier posting I have written that you can set object properties in two session, at design-time and at run-time, although some object properties can be set in both run-time and design-time, other can be set just in design-time, and onother can be set just in run time.

When you set object properties maybe you need to several properties at once, for example you want to set the properties of TextBox as following:

set font to Bold mode

set Font Size to 24

set the text with a value "Set Object Properties"

So you can do with the following coding:
Text1.Font.Bold = True
Text1.Font.Size = 24
Text1.Text = "Set Object Properties"

However to make it easier to read, and easier to understand, you can use With..End With statement to set several Object Properies.
You can use below code statement:

With Text1
   .Font.Bold = True
   .Font.Size = 24
   .Text = "Set Object Properties"
End With

Example:
Create a screen design like below image:

Note: Set property "Multiline" of Text1 and Text2 to "True".

Double-click command1 button.
Write below coding:

   Text1.Text = "One by one set object properties"
   Text1.Font.Bold = True
   Text1.Font.Size = 24
   Text1.FontUnderline = True

Double-click command2 button.
Write below code statements:

With Text2
   .Text = "Using With..End With to set object properties"
   .Font.Bold = True
   .Font.Size = 24
   .FontUnderline = True
End With

So your coding should like below listing:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
   Text1.Text = "One by one set object properties"
   Text1.Font.Bold = True
   Text1.Font.Size = 24
   Text1.FontUnderline = True
End Sub
Private Sub Command2_Click()
With Text2
   .Text = "Using With..End With to set object properties"
   .Font.Bold = True
   .Font.Size = 24
   .FontUnderline = True
End With
End Sub

Now run our program, click command1 button, and then also click command2 button.
Your program sholud like screenshot in top of this posting.

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Code Editor Window in Visual Basic

In the earlier posting I've told you that a VB Project maybe contains one or more files like form, module, and so on. One form usually contains one or more controls. However a form with it's control contained on it can't do anything without code statements (programming code) that associate with them. And a module also contains one or more statements.

A place in VB Development Environment where you can write your VB code statements (programming code) is called Visual Basic Code Editor Window. It's also known as the Code Window. A sparate Code Editor Window is displayed for each form or module in your project, making it easy to organize, view, and navigate.

There are two drop-down lists at the top of the Code Editor Window called Object List and Procedure List.The Object list contains a list of all the Contols that exist on the form. When you selectiong a control name from the list, the Procedure list shows all the events (actions) for the control.

Using the Object and Procedure list together, can make you easy to located and edit the code you want in your VB application. The image above (on the top of posting)illustrates the Code Editor Window.

To open the Visual Basic Code Editor Window you can follow the following steps:

In the Project Explorer window, click the form which code you want to open

Then Click View Code button


Tips:
For example: You have a control called txtAmount on your form. You want to write code statements on Sub txtAmount_LostFocus(). How can you do that?
Ok, you can follow the tips below:

Click the Form in the Project Explorer window

Click View Code button

In the Code Editor window, click txtAmount from the Object list

Then click LostFocus from the Procedure list


So, Sub txtAmount_LostFocus() appears on your screen (in the Code Editor window) and you can write your code statements you want.

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Select Case...End Select - VB6 Sample Program Part 2

This posting is continuation of previous posting "Select Case...End Select - VB6 Sample Program Part 1". In the previous posting you have designed a program interface like below image, and you have saved it.


Now, let's writing the program coding for the above program design.

Double click cmdCalBonus button to create sub cmdCalBonus_Click()

Write down below program coding in the cmdCalBonus_Click() area

    Select Case Val(txtSalQty.Text)
        Case 1 To 2
            txtBonus.Text = "2%"
        Case 3, 4
            txtBonus.Text = "3%"
        Case 5 To 6
            txtBonus.Text = "4.5%"
        Case 7 To 8
            txtBonus.Text = "6.5%"
        Case 9
            txtBonus.Text = "10%"
        Case Else
            txtBonus.Text = "15%"
    End Select
    txtBonusAmt.Text = Val(txtSalQty.Text) * Val(txtPriceUnit.Text) * _
                       Val(Left(txtBonus.Text, Len(txtBonus.Text) _
                       - 1)) / 100

At the end, your program will look like below listing:

Private Sub cmdCalBonus_Click()
    Select Case Val(txtSalQty.Text)
        Case 1 To 2
            txtBonus.Text = "2%"
        Case 3, 4
            txtBonus.Text = "3%"
        Case 5 To 6
            txtBonus.Text = "4.5%"
        Case 7 To 8
            txtBonus.Text = "6.5%"
        Case 9
            txtBonus.Text = "10%"
        Case Else
            txtBonus.Text = "15%"
    End Select
    txtBonusAmt.Text = Val(txtSalQty.Text) * Val(txtPriceUnit.Text) * _
                       Val(Left(txtBonus.Text, Len(txtBonus.Text) _
                       - 1)) / 100
End Sub

Let's test your program to check whether it's correct or not.

Click Start button on your VB toolbar

Type a number (for example 5) on your textbox with label Your Sales Quantity

Type a number (for example 100) on your textbox with label Price Unit (USD)

And finally click Calculate Bonus button

Notice what happen on your program, what's the result?

According to the Bonus Table if Sales Quantity = 5, so the Bonus Percentage should equal to 4.5%. So the Bonus Amount = 5 X 100 X 4.5 / 100. And the result is 22.5. So your program should like below screenshot.


Now I'll explain how the program works.

When you type 5 in the Your Purchase Quantity, then type 100 in the Price Unit (USD), and click Calculate Bonus button, so the cmdCalBonus_Click() executed.

Then this statement "Val(txtSalQty.Text)" will convert text "5" into number 5

Then in Select Case.. defined that txtBonus.Text is "4.5%" according to the Sales Quantity => 5

Then program executes below statement:

    txtBonusAmt.Text = Val(txtSalQty.Text) * Val(txtPriceUnit.Text) * _
                       Val(Left(txtBonus.Text, Len(txtBonus.Text) _
                       - 1)) / 100

Mybe you think that this is a complex statement. But in fact it's just a simple statement.
Val(txtSalQty.Text) convert text "5" into number 5
Val(txtPriceUnit.Text) convert text "100" into number 100

Because txtBonus.Text = "4.5%" (this is a text) so:
Len(txtBonus.Text) will return 4, and Len(txtBonus.Text) - 1 will return 3
Left(txtBonus.Text, Len(txtBonus.Text) - 1) equals to Left("4.5%",4-1) will return "4.5"
Then Val(Left(txtBonus.Text, Len(txtBonus.Text) - 1)) equal to Val("4.5") will return number 4.5

So the above formula will equal to:
txtBonusAmt.Text = Val("5")*Val("100")*Val(Left("4.5%",Len("4.5%")-1))/100
<=> txtBonusAmt.Text = 5 * 100 * 4.5 / 100
<=> txtBonusAmt.Text = 22.5

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Select Case End Select - VB6 Sample Program Part 1

In this posting I'll write a sample of simple VB6 program that using Select Case..End Select control structure. However this program also using several VB6 functions like Val() (to convert text into number so can be calculated), Len() (to get the length of a text) and Left() (to pick up a part from the left side of a text).

The scenario of the program is as the following:

This program is Bonus Calculation (Sales System).

Here it is the bonus percentage table:

  Sales Quantity = 1 - 2 -> Bonus = 2%
  Sales Quantity = 3 - 4 -> Bonus = 3%
  Sales Quantity = 5 - 6 -> Bonus = 4.5%
  Sales Quantity = 7 - 8 -> Bonus = 6.5%
  Sales Quantity = 9     -> Bonus = 10%
  Sales Quantity = 10 or more -> Bonus = 15%

Bonus Amount = Sales Quantity X Price Unit X Bonus

The screen design of the program is like below screenshot.


Now, let's design the program first (create screen interface).

Open your Visual Basic 6 software

Select a standard type project

Create 5 Labels

Create 4 Textboxes

Create a Command button

Arrange the controls on your Form like the picture above

Click first Label (Label1)

Rename the caption of Label1 into Bonus calculation

Change the font size into 24

Change the caption of Label2, Label3, Label4 and Label5 into Your Sales Quantity, Price Unit (USD), Percentage of Bonus, and Amount of Bonus (USD)

Click first Textbox (Text1), clear it's Text, and rename into txtSalQty

Click second Textbox (Text2), clear it's Text, and rename into txtPriceUnit

Click third Textbox (Text3), clear it's Text, and rename into txtBonus

Click fourth Textbox (Text4), clear it's Text, and rename into txtBonusAmt

Click Command1 button, change the caption into Calculate Bonus, and rename into cmdCalBonus

Click anywhere in Form1 area, and rename into frmCalBonus (look at properties window)

Click Project1 file (in Project explorer window)

Click cell next to (Name) in Properties Window, and change the Name into prjCalBonus

Look at image above, your screen design should like that.
Ok, now the time to save your work (your program) in order you can edit it next time (this program will be used in the next posting). Here it is tips to save your VB6 program:

Click File menu on your menu bar

Click Save Project As... menu

On Save File As window, type frmCalBonus on the cell with label File name:

Select the folder you want to save in, then click Save button

Then on Save Project As window, Type prjBonus on the cell with label File name:

Then click Save button

Note: The extention .vbp and .frm will automatically given by the system.
Ok, now your program has been saved. You have 2 files in your project: prjBonus.vbp and frmCalBonus.frm and you can close your VB program. I'll continue to write the program coding in the next posting.

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How to Add Controls to Form in VB6 Programming

In the previous posting I've told you that one of Visual Basic Development Environment's element is Toolbox, that contains controls. And another element is Form Design window (Form). You can place controls into your Form to build your VB application.

Now, how to place controls from Toolbox into your Form? Ok, it's just a simple way to do that. You just click, drag and drop the control you want. Or also you can double-click the icon Toolbox of the control you want.

There are two manners to place (add) controls to a form. The first manner is double-click the Toolbox icon of the control you want to add. In instance it will place the control with default size in the centre of active form.












When you adding more than one controls with this way, they will be placed on the top of each other in the center of the form. Then you can reposition/rearrange them into new place you want in the form.

The second manner, you can follow below steps:

First, click on the Toolbox icon of the control you want (for example TextBox control)

Place your mouse pointer on the Form (the pointer change to crosshair / + sign)

Position the pointer in the place where you want the upper left corner of the control

Click your mouse, hold, and drag (so your pointer draws a rectangle that indicate the size of your control)

When your control is correctly sized, release your mouse, so the control now appears on your Form


After you add controls to your form, you can reposition them to new location in the form, and also you can resize them according to your need. That are the way how to add / place control to your Visual Basic form.

Ok, I think you get it. And I'll write another Visual Basic tips in the next posting.

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If...Then...Else...End If Statement in VB6 - Sample Program 1

Visual Basic program application usually use If..Then..Else..End If statement. In this posting I would like to write a sample of simple program in VB6 which use If..Then..Else..End If statement with 2 conditions or more.
The syntax of the statement is the following:

With 2 conditions:

If Condition-1 Then
    Statement-1
Else
    Statement-2
End If

With more than 2 conditions:

If Condition-1 Then
    Statement-1
Else
    If Condition-2 Then    
        Statement-2
    Else
        If Condition-3 Then
            Statement-3
        Else
            Statement-4
        End If
    End If     
End If

Note: If the conditions are too much it is not effective if using If..Then..Else..End If statement, however it is better using Select Case..End Select statement.
The scenario of the program is as below:

This is a part of Registration Form that accept the Name and Gender information

The first data should be filled in is a Name

The next data is a gender code

The value that can be filled are just M and F (M for Male, and F for Female)

If user input another M and F a message appears on screen

When user input M for the Gender cell program will automatically display "Male", and when user input F for the Gender a word "Female" will be displayed automatically

After both Name and Gender cell filled with valid data, command button "Register" will Enable

When user click command button "Register" a greeting will appear on the screen
Your program coding will look like the folling list:

Private Sub cmdRegister_Click()
    'recheck data validity
    If txtName.Text = "" Then
        MsgBox "You must fill in the Name first"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    If txtGender.Text = "" Then
        MsgBox "You must fill in the Gender code"
        Exit Sub
    End If
    If txtGender.Text <> "M" And txtGender.Text <> "F" Then
        MsgBox "Just 'M' or 'F' for the Gender code "
        Exit Sub
    End If
    'display greeting
    lblGreeting.Caption = "Welcome " & IIf(txtGender.Text = "M", "Mr. ", "Mrs. ") & _
    Trim(txtName.Text) & ". Thank you for joining our club."
End Sub

Private Sub Form_Load()
   lblGender.Caption = ""
   lblGreeting.Caption = ""
End Sub

Private Sub txtGender_Change()
    If txtGender.Text <> "M" And txtGender.Text <> "F" Then
        MsgBox "Invalid value, you should fill in 'M' or 'F'"
    Else
        If txtGender.Text = "M" Then
            lblGender.Caption = "Male"
        Else
            lblGender.Caption = "Female"
        End If
    End If
    
    If txtName.Text <> "" Then
       cmdRegister.Enabled = True
    Else
       cmdRegister.Enabled = False
    End If
End Sub

Private Sub txtName_Change()
    If txtName.Text = "" Then
        cmdRegister.Enabled = False
    Else
        If txtGender.Text = "" Then
            cmdRegister.Enabled = False
        Else
            cmdRegister.Enabled = True
        End If
    End If
End Sub

Please look at below screen shot as your illustration:

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If...Then...Else...End If Statement in VB

If..Then..Else..End If statement is one of conditional statements in Visual Basic 6 Programming. The statement format is as the following:

For 2 conditions

If Condition1 Then
    Statement1
Else
    Statement2
End If

Statement1 will be executed if Condition1 met (the condition1 result is true value), otherwise the Statement2 will be executed.

For 3 conditions or more

If Condition1 Then
    Statement1
Else
    If Condition2 Then
        Statement2
    Else
        If Condition3 Then
            Statement3
        Else
            Statement4
        End If
    End If
End If

If Condition1 met, the Statement1 will be executed, if Condition2 met, the Statement2 will be executed, and so on.
Note: that Statement1, Statement2 and so on may be a single statement or a block of statements (one or more statements).

Example implementation on your program as follow:

For 2 conditions
In an examination if the student get mark more than or equal to 6 he/she pass the exam, however if his/her mark is less than 6 he/she fail.
So the program coding will be like this:

If Val(txtMark.Text) >= 6 Then
    lblResult.Caption = "PASS"
Else
    lblResult.Caption = "FAIL"
End If

Look at below image for your illustration:

For 3 conditions or more
In an examination the mark will be categorized as below conditions:
Mark = 10 is Excellent
Mark >= 9 and <10 is Very Good
Mark >= 8 and < 9 is Good
Mark < 8 is Poor
So the program coding will look like below list:

   If Val(txtMark.Text) < 8 Then
       lblCategory.Caption = "POOR"
   Else
       If Val(txtMark.Text) >= 8 And Val(txtMark.Text) < 9 Then
           lblCategory.Caption = "GOOD"
       Else
           If Val(txtMark.Text) >= 9 And Val(txtMark.Text) < 10 Then
               lblCategory.Caption = "VERY GOOD"
           Else
               lblCategory.Caption = "EXCELLENT"
           End If
       End If
   End If

Look at below image for your illustration:

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Project Explorer Window in Visual Basic

Project Explorer Window is one of element of Visual Basic Development Environment, that contains list of all files that build a VB application. The collection of files in a VB application called VB Project (with extention .vbp abbrefiation of Visual Basic Project). Several file types may exists in VB project, for example Form (with extention .frm), Module (with extention .bas), Designer (with extention .dsr), and so on. The sum of files in your Project depend on the size of your application, maybe some applications have many files, but others maybe have just several files.

You can switch between Object and Code window by clicking Object View button and Code View button on the Project Explorer window's Toolbar. Before clicking View Object button or View Code button you must select the file first by clicking on it.

Look at below image for your illustration.










You can switch to Object window by clicking View Object button on the Project Explorer Window's toolbar. Look at below image for illustration.










You can switch to Code window by clicking View Code button on the Project Explorer Window's toolbar. Look at below image for your illustration.










Also you can switch between Object and Code window with below VB programming tips:

Right-click on a file you want to view
A drop down menu will appear on your screen.

Click View Code menu or View Object menu on the drop down menu

Look at below screen shot.

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Visual Basic Properties Window

In previous posting I have written some of VB Development Environment element. One of another Visual Basic Development Environment element is Properties Window. With Visual Basic Properties window you can set the properties own to objects in your program. You can set the value of properties of object at design time (the time when the program being designed). You may find many properties of an object in Properties Window.

Properties of an object reflect the characteristic of the object (for example Width, Height, and so on). Each object in VB6 program has its own properties. Different object has different properties. For example properties of text box are Name, Alignment, Appearance, Locked, Text, etc. Properties of label are Name, Alignment, Appearance, Locked, Caption, etc. Some of Text box properties are the same as Label properties, but some are different. For example Text box has a property called Text that not owned by Label property. In opposite, Label has a property called Caption that not owned by Text box.

Each property of object has a default value, however you can change the value of property thru properties window at design time. However some of properties can be changed at run time (when the program running). Some of properties of the objects just can be changed at design time, however some just at run time, and others can be changed both at design time and run time.

Look at below screenshot for your illustration.

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Stop Dreaming Start Action

Stop Dreaming Start Action is a phrase that be a key-word in a SEO contest that held by Jokosusilo.com website. Stop Dreaming Start Action is also a slogan of Jokosusilo's website, an Indonesian internet marketer. When the SEO contest starts so many Indonesian bloggers (estimated more than one thousand Indonesian bloggers) take place on the contest. The contest started on 20th June, 2009 and would finish on 15th September, 2009 at 09.00 Jakarta time. And the winners would be announced on the day. The registration would finish on 14th September, 2009 one day before the contest closed.

Stop Dreaming Start Action itself means that we don't just dream, we must stop dream, however we have to take action as soon as to reach all of our will, to reach all of our dreams, to reach our success. Because nothing will happend without action. Success won't come itself without hard working. To reach our success we have stop dream, and take action with hard working.

Everyone who health his/her body and mental must have goals, have desire. Also you and me with no exception must have desire, have dreams too. A goal would not come true by itself, unless with a real action, with hard working. You have to Stop Dreaming Start Action to achieve your goals.

You have to Stop Dreaming Start Action. For example you want to be a rich man, it is imposible you suddenly will be the rich man. It is imposible just say "bim salabim abra kadabra" and suddenly a hill of money falling down in front of you, imposible man! To be a rich man you must learn more and more, you have to work hard, and save your money, so you will be rich.

That is the mean of Stop Dreaming Start Action for me, stop your dreaming and start to take action in order all of your dreams come true. Every thing you want to achieve, you have to Stop Dreaming and Start Action as soon as. Ok, how about you... what is the meaning of Stop Dreaming Start Action? Have you done it? I hope it can be an inspiration for me, you, and all of us. Keep on Stop Dreaming Start Action.


Indonesian language:
Stop Dreaming Start Action merupakan sebuah frasa yang menjadi kata kunci dari kontes SEO yang diadakan oleh situs Jokosusilo.com. Stop Dreaming Start Action juga merupakan slogan dari situs Jokosusilo tersebut, salah satu internet marketer dari Indonesia. Ketika kontes SEO tersebut dibuka begitu banyak bloger dari Indonesia (diperkirakan lebih dari satu ribu blogger dari Indonesia) yang ikut ambil bagian dalam kontes tersebut. Kontes SEO tersebut dimulai pada tanggal 20 Juni 2009 dan akan berakhir pada tanggal 15 September 2009, pada jam 09.00 waktu Jakarta (WIB). Dan para pemenangnya akan diumumkan pada hari itu juga. Pendaftaran akan berakhir pada tanggal 14 September 2009, satu hari sebelum kontes ditutup.

Stop Dreaming Start Action itu sendiri memiliki arti kita jangan hanya menjadi orang yang suka bermimpi, kita harus berhenti dari bermimpi, namun sebaliknya kita harus segera melakukan suatu tindakan untuk meraih semua keinginan kita, untuk mencapai semua impian kita, untuk mencapai kesuksesan kita. Karena tiada hal akan terjadi tanpa suatu tindakan. Kesuksesan tidak akan datang dengan sendirinya tanpa dibarengi dengan kerja keras. Untuk mencapai kesuksesan kita harus berhenti dari menjadi seorang yang hanya bermimpi, dan harus melakukan suatu tindakan dengan bekerja keras sekuat tenaga.

Setiap orang yang memiliki kesehatan jasmani dan kesehatan rohani sudah pasti mempunyai cita - cita, mempunyai keinginan - keinginan. Begitu juga anda dan saya tanpa kecuali pasti mempunyai keinginan - keinginan, mempunyai impian - impian. Suatu cita - cita tidak akan tercapai dengan sendirinya, kecuali dengan suatu usaha yang sungguh - sungguh, dengan bekerja keras. Anda harus Stop Dreaming Start Action untuk mencapai cita - cita anda.

Anda harus Stop Dreaming Start Action. Misalnya anda ingin menjadi seorang yang kaya raya, maka tidak mungkin dengan serta merta anda menjadi kaya raya. Tidak mungkin hanya dengan mengatakan "bim salabim abra kadabra" dan kemudian segunung uang tiba - tiba "GEDUBRAK" jatuh di hadapan anda, itu tidak mungkin dong! Untuk menjadi kaya - raya anda harus belajar dengan sungguh - sungguh dan bekerja keras dan harus rajin menabung, maka lama - lama anda akan bisa menjadi kaya.

Begitulah dari sudut pandang saya bahwa Stop Dreaming Start Action memiliki arti Berhentilah dari menjadi seorang yang suka bermimpi dan mulailah berusaha agar mimpi - mimpi kita dapat menjadi kenyataan dengan cara bekerja keras. Terhadap segala sesuatu yang ingin anda capai, anda harus sesegera mungkin Stop Dreaming dan Mulai Melakukan Action. Ok, bagaimana menurut anda... apa arti dari Stop Dreaming Start Action? Apakah anda telah melakukannya? Saya berharap hal ini dapat menjadi inspirasi bagi saya, anda, dan kita semua. Tetaplah melakukan Stop Dreaming Start Action untuk menggapai cita-cita anda.

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Form Designer Window in Visual Basic

In the earlier posting I have written about Visual Basic Development Environment wich has several elements. One of its element is Toolbox that contains object and controls, and I also already written in the next posting. Now I'll write another component, it is Visual Basic Form Designer Window. Ok, let's go on.

Likes another visual programming software, Visual Basic also has Form Designer Window. When you open your Visual Basic software, and select a type of project type, it will create a Form. By default a new Visual Basic Form contains minimum parts of it. It contains Form area where you can place controls you want, Title Bar where you can place title of your Form, Minimize button, Maximize button, and close button.

Look at below picture for your illustration.


















Now what's the Form Designer Window used for ?
Applications that develop with Visual Basic Programming Language usually contain one Form or more. You can design your form in a Form Designer Window by adding controls you need, arrange and set them up to make your program interface. So you can make your user friendly program. You can setup your controls at design time in this form.

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Temperature Conversion with Multiple Base in VB6

In the earlier posting you have learnt several simple VB programming tips how to convert temperature with basis Celcius, Fahrenheit, Rheamur and Kelvin. In this posting you will learn how to make a simple application to convert temperature with multiple basis with VB6 programming. You can select the temperature basis when the program's running.

The scenario of this simple application is as follow:

You can select the temperature basis when the program's running

Once you select a temperature basis the conversion process will occur when a value of temperature is not empty (contains a number)

Also when you typing a temperature on the temperature text box conversion process will automatically occurs

When you typing a number in temperature box, if the basis is empty, it will be automatically set to "Celcius" as default

Now, how to built your simple application? Let's go on to the simple VB programming tips.
First, you have to create a screen design likes below image:



How to create the screen design? Follow step by step of below instructions:

Open your VB program, create a project (Project1) and a standard form (Form1)

Create 7 label controls

Change the label captions into Temperature Conversion, Temperature, Celcius, Fahrenheit, Rheamur, Kelvin, and Basis

Create 5 text box controls

Clear the text of each text box

Rename the text box 1,2,3,4 and 5 into TxtTem, TxtCel, TxtFah, TxtRhe, and TxtKel

Create a combo box

Clear the combo box text

Rename the combo box into cboBasis
Ok, the screen design already finished. Now, what's the program coding like?

Here it is the program coding. Follow the next simple VB programming tips.

Double-click anywhere in form1 area to create Sub Procedure Form_Load()

Write down below program coding in Sub Procedure Form_Load() area

    'to add items in combo box
    cboBasis.AddItem "Celcius"
    cboBasis.AddItem "Fahrenheit"
    cboBasis.AddItem "Rheamur"
    cboBasis.AddItem "Kelvin"

Double-click TxtTemp text box to create a Sub TxtTemp_Change()

Write down below program coding in the Sub TxtTemp_Change() area

    'call procedure ConvPro
    ConvPro

Double-click cboBasis object

In the program editor window select "Click" event from drop-down list to create Sub cboBasis_Click()

Write down below program code in the Sub cboBasis_Click() area

    'call procedure ConvPro
    ConvPro

In the program editor window click General from drop-down list

Write down below program code in (General) - (Declarations) area to create a Sub ConvPro()

   Private Sub ConvPro()
     If TxtTemp.Text = "" Then
        'clear the text of text boxes
        TxtCel.Text = ""
        TxtFah.Text = ""
        TxtRhe.Text = ""
        TxtKel.Text = ""
        Exit Sub
     End If

     'if Basis is blank then fill in with "Celcius" as default
     If cboBasis.Text = "" Then
        cboBasis.Text = "Celcius"
     End If
     Select Case cboBasis.Text
       Case "Celcius"
          GoTo ConvCel
       Case "Fahrenheit"
          GoTo ConvFah
       Case "Rheamur"
          GoTo ConvRhe
       Case Else
          GoTo ConvKel
     End Select

   'conversion for celcius basis
   ConvCel:
      TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
      TxtFah.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) * 1.8 + 32
      TxtRhe.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) * 0.8
      TxtKel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) + 273.15
      Exit Sub

   'conversion for fahrenheit basis
   ConvFah:
      TxtFah.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
      TxtCel.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8
      TxtRhe.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8) * 0.8
      TxtKel.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8) + 273.15
      Exit Sub

   'conversion for rheamur basis
   ConvRhe:
      TxtRhe.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
      TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8
      TxtFah.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8) * 1.8) + 32
      TxtKel.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8) + 273.15
      Exit Sub

   'conversion for kelvin basis
   ConvKel:
      TxtKel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
      TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15
      TxtRhe.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15) * 0.8
      TxtFah.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15) * 1.8) + 32
   End Sub

So your program will look like below listing:

   Private Sub ConvPro()
      If TxtTemp.Text = "" Then
         'clear text of text boxex
         TxtCel.Text = ""
         TxtFah.Text = ""
         TxtRhe.Text = ""
         TxtKel.Text = ""
         Exit Sub
      End If
      'if Basis is blank then fill in with "Celcius"
      If cboBasis.Text = "" Then
         cboBasis.Text = "Celcius"
      End If
      Select Case cboBasis.Text
         Case "Celcius"
            GoTo ConvCel
         Case "Fahrenheit"
            GoTo ConvFah
         Case "Rheamur"
            GoTo ConvRhe
         Case Else
            GoTo ConvKel
      End Select

   'conversion for celcius basis
   ConvCel:
         TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
         TxtFah.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) * 1.8 + 32
         TxtRhe.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) * 0.8
         TxtKel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) + 273.15
         Exit Sub

   'conversion for fahrenheit basis
   ConvFah:
         TxtFah.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
         TxtCel.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8
         TxtRhe.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8) * 0.8
         TxtKel.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 32) / 1.8) + 273.15
         Exit Sub

   'conversion for rheamur basis
   ConvRhe:
         TxtRhe.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
         TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8
         TxtFah.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8) * 1.8) + 32
         TxtKel.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) / 0.8) + 273.15
         Exit Sub

   'conversion for kelvin basis
   ConvKel:
         TxtKel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text)
         TxtCel.Text = Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15
         TxtRhe.Text = (Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15) * 0.8
         TxtFah.Text = ((Val(TxtTemp.Text) - 273.15) * 1.8) + 32

   End Sub



   Private Sub cboBasis_Click()
      'call procedure ConvPro
      ConvPro
   End Sub


   Private Sub Form_Load()
      'to add items in combo box
      cboBasis.AddItem "Celcius"
      cboBasis.AddItem "Fahrenheit"
      cboBasis.AddItem "Rheamur"
      cboBasis.AddItem "Kelvin"
   End Sub


   Private Sub TxtTemp_Change()
      'call procedure ConvPro
      ConvPro
   End Sub

Run your program by clicking Start button on your VB Toolbar

Type a number in the text box with label Temperature

Select and click different Base from the list on the combo box
What happen? The conversion should automatically occurs, so the results appear on the each text box. Look at below image for your illustration. Your program should look like it.

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Visual Basic Toolbox

The Visual Baisc Toolbox contains the objects and controls that you can add to forms to create the user interface of your VB applications. In the next time I'll explain how to place the controls from toolbox into Visual Basic Screen Design area in Screen Design Window. This toolbox is the General Toolbox. There is also a Datareport Toolbox that contains objects and controls that you can use for your Datareport design.

You can add additional controls to the Toolbox by using Components command on the Project menu. Also you can right-click anywhere in the Toolbox and select Component from the pop up menu.
Look at below screen shot for your illustration.











Below is a simple VB programming tips how to add controls to the Toolbox. Keep on reading the tips.

Click Project menu on your Visual Basic Toolbar

Click Components menu



A Components window will appear on your screen.

Click check box of the components you want to add (in the left of component's description)

Click OK to close the components windows

It is a very easy thing to do!

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What's Visual Basic Development Environment ?

When you start your Visual Basic and select a project type, a graphical development environment appears on your screen. In this Visual Basic Development Environment you can develop your Visual Basic applications. You can design your Visual Basic program interface and write your program code. And also you can run your Visual Basic Program for testing and compile them.

Development Environment in Visual Basic has several elements, such as:

Visual Basic Project

Visual Basic Standard Toolbar

Visual Basic Toolbox

Visual Basic Form Designer

Visual Basic Project Explorer Window

Visual Basic Properties Window

Visual Basic Code Editor Window

Visual Basic Immediate Window

Each elements has specific funcions, however they all make easy to develop your VB applications.
Look at below image for your illustration.



In the next posting I will explain each above component, what they used for, and how to use them.

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How to Save Your VB Program?

In the pervious posting I have written a tips how to start using VB6 programming software. When you open your VB program software a project (Project1) and a form (Form1) automatically created. These are your VB programs. However at the moment they just saved in the memory of your computer, so if suddenly your computer is off the programm will loose from your computer memory. You can't use your programm you have created next time before you save them into your harddisk. In order you can use your programm next time you must save your programm into your harddisk. After you save your programs into your harddisk you can reopen, reuse and edit your programs whenever you want.

Now, how to save your VB program into your harddisk? Keep on reading below simple VB programming tips.
It's just a simple way to do. It's a good thing before you save your programs, you have to define first "what your VB project name", "what your VB form name", and "where your program will be saved in(which folder)".

For example you will save your program in a folder called D:\MyVBPrg, and your project name is MyFirstProj, and your form is MyFirstForm. Now, lets do the following instructions to save your VB program:

Open your windows Explorer, then create a folder called MyVBPrg in drive D:

Click menu File on your VB design screen

Click menu Save Project As...
Look at below screen shot.



Then a Save File As window will appear on your screen.

Type MyFirstForm in the cell with label File Name:

Click the cell with label Save in:

Choose the folder D:\MyVBPrg

Click Save



Then a Save Project As window will appears on your screen

Type MyFirstProj in the cell with label File Name

Click Save


Now your program's been saved already in folder D:\MyVBPrg with file name MyFirstProj.vbp (a VB Project file) and MyFirstForm.frm (a VB Form file). The extention .vbp and .frm are automatically given by Visual Basic software. Look at below image for your illustration.


Have you any comment? Please write down your commant in below comment box.

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How to Start Using VB 6 Programming ?

You can find out the right order of the postings in a posting with title. "Contents". This posting for you who using VB6 programming software for the first time.

Before you start using VB6 programming software, you must have a VB6 software installed in your computer with Operating System Windows family. To start using it you can follow below instructions.

Click Windows Start

Point to Program menu

Point to Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 menu

Click Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 program
Please look at below image for your illustration:

Click Open


A VB project (Project1) and a Form (Form1) are automatically created. Now you are ready to design and create your VB6 program. Look at below picture for illustration.


What do you think? Please write down in below comment box.

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How to Convert Degree from Kelvin to Another in VB 6 Programming?

In this posting I will write a simple VB programming tips "How to convert degree from Kelvin into Celcius, Fahrenheit and Rheamur" using VB6 programming. Let's go on to the simple tips.
We have three previous conversion formulas (Celcius base) as follow in the erlier postings:
Fahrenheit = ( Celcius X 1.8 ) + 32
Rheamur = Celcius X 0.8
Kelvin = Celcius + 273.15

From previous formulas we got another three formulas with Kelvin degree basis as the following:
Celcius = Kelvin - 273.15
Fahrenheit = ( ( Kelvin - 273.15 ) X 1.8 ) + 32
Rheamur = ( Kelvin - 273.15 ) X 0.8

Let's implement these formulas in a simple VB6 programming.
First you should create a screen design like below image (just a simple screen design):

How to create this screen design? Follow below instructions for the tips.

Open your Visual Basic6 program software

Create a project for example Project1

Create a standard form for example Form1

Create 5 labels for example Label1, Label2, Label3, Label4, Label5

Create 4 text boxes for example Text1, Text2, Text3, Text4

Click Label1 object so properties of Label1 appears

Change its Caption into "Degree Conversion", and change its Font Size into 14

Click Label2, and change its Caption into "Kelvin"

Like Label2 do with the same way for Label3, Label4, Label5 and change their Captions into "Celius", "Fahrenheit" and "Rheamur"

Click Command1, change its Caption into "Convert", and change its Name into "cmdConvert"

Click Text1, delete its Text, and change its Name into "txtKelvin"

Do with the same way for Text2, Text3, Text4 and change their Names into "txtCelcius", "txtFahrenheit", and "txtRheamur"

Double click cmdConvert (the command button with Caption "Convert") to create a Sub cmdConvert_Click()

Write down the following program coding in the Sub cmdConvert_Click() area
'conversion process
txtCelcius.Text = Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15
txtRheamur.Text = (Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15) * 0.8
txtFahrenheit.Text = ((Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15) * 1.8) + 32

Your program will look like below coding:
Private Sub cmdConvert_Click()
'conversion process
txtCelcius.Text = Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15
txtRheamur.Text = (Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15) * 0.8
txtFahrenheit.Text = ((Val(txtKelvin.Text) - 273.15) * 1.8) + 32
End Sub

Now the time to test your program.

Run your program by clicking Start button on your VB Toolbar

Type a number for example 373.15 in "Kelvin" text box

Click command Convert

Look at the results on Celcius, Fahrenheit and Rheamur text box, they should be 100, 212 and 80

Look at below image, and your result should look like it.


What about your idea? Any comment?

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