Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 Step by Step eBook

121

Part II

Programming Fundamentals

In this part:

Chapter 5: Visual Basic Variables and Formulas, and the .NET Framework.... 123

Chapter 6: Using Decision Structures.................................... 159

Chapter 7: Using Loops and Timers..................................... 181

Chapter 8: Debugging Visual Basic Programs............................ 209

Chapter 9: Trapping Errors by Using Structured Error Handling............. 227

Chapter 10: Creating Modules and Procedures........................... 247

Chapter 11: Using Arrays to Manage Numeric and String Data............. 273

Chapter 12: Working with Collections................................... 297

Chapter 13: Exploring Text Files and String Processing.................... 313

In Part I, “Getting Started with Visual Basic 2010,” you learned how to create the user

interface of a Microsoft Visual Basic 2010 program and how to build and run a program

in the Microsoft Visual Studio 2010 development environment. In the nine chapters in Part II,

“Programming Fundamentals,” you’ll learn more about Visual Basic program code—the

statements and keywords that form the core of a Visual Basic program. You’ll learn how to

manage information within programs and control how your code is executed, and you’ll

learn how to use decision structures, loops, timers, arrays, collections, and text files. You’ll

also learn how to debug your programs and handle run-time errors if they occur. After you

complete Part II, you’ll be ready for more advanced topics, such as customizing the user

interface, database programming, and Web programming.

Table of Contents

Programming Fundamentals

Visual Basic Variables and Formulas, and the .NET Framework... 123

The Anatomy of a Visual Basic Program Statement...................... 123

Using Variables to Store Information.................................. 124

Setting Aside Space for Variables: The Dim Statement........ 124

Implicit Variable Declaration.................................... 126

Using Variables in a Program......................................... 127

Using a Variable to Store Input....................................... 130

Using a Variable for Output.......................................... 133

Working with Specific Data Types..................................... 135

Constants: Variables That Don’t Change.......................... 142

Working with Visual Basic Operators.................................. 143

Basic Math: The +, –, *, and / Operators.......................... 144

Using Advanced Operators: \, Mod, ^, and &.................... 147

Working with Math Methods in the .NET Framework.................... 152

One Step Further: Establishing Order of Precedence.................... 155

Using Parentheses in a Formula................................. 156

Chapter 5 Quick Reference........................................... 156