Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 Step by Step eBook

1

Part I

Getting Started with Microsoft

Visual Basic 2010

In this part:

Chapter 1: Exploring the Visual Studio Integrated

Development Environment............................................ 3

Chapter 2: Writing Your First Program................................... 37

Chapter 3: Working with Toolbox Controls............................... 67

Chapter 4: Working with Menus, Toolbars, and Dialog Boxes................ 97

In Part I, you’ll receive an overview of essential Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 programming

techniques and an introduction to the tools and features that you will work with during most

Visual Basic programming sessions. You’ll learn to use the Visual Studio 2010 Integrated

Development Environment (IDE), with its fulsome collection of programming tools, windows,

and menu commands, and you’ll receive step-by-step instruction on how to build and run

several interesting programs from scratch. This is the place to start if you’re new to Visual

Basic programming or upgrading from an earlier version.

Chapter 2 introduces how controls, forms, properties, and program code can be used in

combination to create an entertaining Lucky Seven slot machine game. Chapter 3 provides

an overview of the most useful Toolbox controls, which help you present information

or program choices to the user, gather input, work with dates and times, and connect

to the Web. Chapter 4 focuses on adding menus, toolbars, and dialog boxes to Visual Basic

programs that will give your program the flair of a commercial Windows application.

Table of Contents

Getting Started with Microsoft Visual Basic 2010

Exploring the Visual Studio Integrated Development Environment.. 3

The Visual Studio Development Environment............................. 4

The Visual Studio Tools................................................ 7

The Designer................................................... 10

Running a Visual Basic Program.................................. 11

The Properties Window............................................... 13

Moving and Resizing the Programming Tools........................... 17

Moving and Resizing Tool Windows............................... 18

Docking Tool Windows.......................................... 19

Hiding Tool Windows........................................... 21

Switching Among Open Files and Tools

by Using the IDE Navigator........................................... 22

Opening a Web Browser Within Visual Studio........................... 23

Getting Help........................................................ 24

Managing Help Settings......................................... 25

Using F1 Help.................................................. 26

Customizing IDE Settings to Match

Step-by-Step Exercises............................................... 29

Setting the IDE for Visual Basic Development...................... 29

Checking Project and Compiler Settings........................... 31

One Step Further: Exiting Visual Studio................................. 33

Chapter 1 Quick Reference............................................ 34