<< Back to Index
The Integrated Development Environment (IDE )
VB is not just a language, it's an IDE in which you can develop, run, test, and debug your applications. Start Visual Basic and you will see the window shown below. This is where you prompted to select the the type of project you want to create.
With Visual Basic, you can create the following types of applications.
Standard EXE : its a typical application, most of the applications are standard EXE projects.
ActiveX EXE, ActiveX DLL : These type of projects are available with the profssional edition. ActiveX components are OLE automation servers. ActiveX components are special basic code building components that don't have a visible interface and that can add special functionality to your applications.
ActiveX Control : This type of project is also a feature of the Professional edition. ActiveX controls such as TextBox or Command button control, is a basic element of the user interface( that appear in the Toolbox by deafault). you can also build your own custom control.
ActiveX Document EXE, ActiveX Document DLL: This type of applications can run in the environment of a container that supports hyperlinking(such as Internet Explorer).
VB Application Wizard, VB Wizard Manager
Data Project, DHTML Application, IIS application, AddIn, VB Enterprise Edition Controls
IDE Elements
The Visual Basic Integrated Development Environment (IDE) consists of the following elements.
1. Menu Bar
Displays the commands you use to work with VB.Besides the standard File, Edit, View, Window and Help menus, menus are provided to access functions specific to programming such as project, Format, or Debug.
2. Context Menus
Contain shortcuts to frequently performed actions, when you right click mouse on the Toolbox lets you display the components dialog box, hide the Toolbox, dock or undock the Toolbox or add a custom rab to the Toolbox.
3. Toolbars
Provides quick access to commonly used commands in the programming environment. Bydefault the standard toolbaris displayed when you start VB. additional toolbars for editing, form design and debugging can be toggled on or off from the Toolbars command on the View menu.
4. Toolbox
Provides a set of tools that you use at design time to place controls on a form. In addition to the default toolbox layout, you can create your own custom layouts by selecting Add Tab from the context menu and adding controls to the resulting tab.
5. Project Explorer Window
Lists the forms and modules in your current project. A project is the collection of files you use to build an application.
6. Properties Window
Lists the property settings for the selected form or control. A property is a characteristic of an object, such as size, caption or color.
7. Object Browser
Lists objects available for use in your project and gives you a quick way to navigate through your code. You can use the Object Browser to explore objects in VB and other applications, see what methods and properties are available for those objects, and paste code procedures in to your application.
8. Form Designer
Serves as a window that you customize to design the interface of your application. You add controls, graphics and pictures to a form to create the look you want. Each form in your application has its own form designer window.
9. Code Editor Window
Serves as an editor for entering application code. a separate code editor window is created
10. Form Layout Window
The Form Layout window allows you to position the forms in your application using a small graphical representation of the screen.
The Form Layout window
These additional windows are provided for use in debugging your application. They are only available when you are running your application within the IDE.
The Integrated Development Environment (IDE )
VB is not just a language, it's an IDE in which you can develop, run, test, and debug your applications. Start Visual Basic and you will see the window shown below. This is where you prompted to select the the type of project you want to create.
Standard EXE : its a typical application, most of the applications are standard EXE projects.
ActiveX EXE, ActiveX DLL : These type of projects are available with the profssional edition. ActiveX components are OLE automation servers. ActiveX components are special basic code building components that don't have a visible interface and that can add special functionality to your applications.
ActiveX Control : This type of project is also a feature of the Professional edition. ActiveX controls such as TextBox or Command button control, is a basic element of the user interface( that appear in the Toolbox by deafault). you can also build your own custom control.
ActiveX Document EXE, ActiveX Document DLL: This type of applications can run in the environment of a container that supports hyperlinking(such as Internet Explorer).
VB Application Wizard, VB Wizard Manager
Data Project, DHTML Application, IIS application, AddIn, VB Enterprise Edition Controls
IDE Elements
The Visual Basic Integrated Development Environment (IDE) consists of the following elements.
1. Menu Bar
Displays the commands you use to work with VB.Besides the standard File, Edit, View, Window and Help menus, menus are provided to access functions specific to programming such as project, Format, or Debug.
2. Context Menus
Contain shortcuts to frequently performed actions, when you right click mouse on the Toolbox lets you display the components dialog box, hide the Toolbox, dock or undock the Toolbox or add a custom rab to the Toolbox.
3. Toolbars
Provides quick access to commonly used commands in the programming environment. Bydefault the standard toolbaris displayed when you start VB. additional toolbars for editing, form design and debugging can be toggled on or off from the Toolbars command on the View menu.
4. Toolbox
Provides a set of tools that you use at design time to place controls on a form. In addition to the default toolbox layout, you can create your own custom layouts by selecting Add Tab from the context menu and adding controls to the resulting tab.
5. Project Explorer Window
Lists the forms and modules in your current project. A project is the collection of files you use to build an application.
6. Properties Window
Lists the property settings for the selected form or control. A property is a characteristic of an object, such as size, caption or color.
7. Object Browser
Lists objects available for use in your project and gives you a quick way to navigate through your code. You can use the Object Browser to explore objects in VB and other applications, see what methods and properties are available for those objects, and paste code procedures in to your application.
8. Form Designer
Serves as a window that you customize to design the interface of your application. You add controls, graphics and pictures to a form to create the look you want. Each form in your application has its own form designer window.
9. Code Editor Window
Serves as an editor for entering application code. a separate code editor window is created
10. Form Layout Window
The Form Layout window allows you to position the forms in your application using a small graphical representation of the screen.
The Form Layout window
11. Immediate, Locals and Watch Windows
These additional windows are provided for use in debugging your application. They are only available when you are running your application within the IDE.
