VB vs.

C
Visual Basic (also known as VB) is an event driven programming language.
This is the third generation of such language and is also an integrated
development environment (or IDE). It comes from Microsoft and is used
specifically for its programming model –COM. It is lauded as a simple
language to learn because of its BASIC heritage and its graphical
development features. VB enables rapid application development (or RAD)
of GUI applications; access to databases using Data Access Objects, Remote
Data Objects, or ActiveX Data Objects; and the creation of ActiveX controls
and objects.
C is a programming language for general purpose computers. It was
specifically designed for use on the Unix operating system. It is used for
implementing system software; however, it has also been known to be used
for developing portable application software. As one of the most popular
programming languages, most operating systems have an architecture in
which a C compiler exists.
VB was conceived to come as naturally as a language for programming
beginners. Because of its ease of use, it is capable of both allowing
programmers to create basic GUI applications and develop complex
applications.
C is an imperative systems implementation language (meaning it is a
programming paradigm that describes the computation terms of statements
that are meant to change the state of a program and puts those terms into
effect). Its design is minimalistic in nature –it was created to be compiled
with a straightforward and comprehensive compiler in order to provide low
level access to memory, provide language constructs that efficiently map to
machine instructions, and to require as little runtime support as necessary.

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As it is was designed with simple constructs in mind, it is very valuable for
those applications that were previously coded in assembly language (a low
level language that put into effect symbolic representations of the numeric
machine codes needed to program CPU architecture).
Unlike the C language, in VB multiple assignment is not a possibility. Also,
the numeric value of the Boolean constant “True” is -1. In VB, logical and
bitwise operators are unified. Also, VB contains a variable array base and
strong integration with Windows.
C language characteristics are also implemented in order to make the
language more accessible to programmers. It allows lexical variable scope
and recursion; all executable code is contained within certain functions; and
because its structure is also comprised of heterogeneous aggregate data
types, it allows data elements that are related to be combined and
manipulated as a unit.
Summary:
1. C is a programming language for general purpose computers; VB is an
event driven programming language that was designed to make computer
programming easier for programming beginners.
2. C is an imperative systems implementation language; VB does not have
the possibility of multiple assignment, but does contain a variable array base
and strong integration with Windows.

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Visual Basic is initiated by using the Programs option > Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 >
Visual Basic 6.0. Clicking the Visual Basic icon, we can view a copyright screen
enlisting the details of the license holder of the copy of Visual Basic 6.0. Then it opens in
to a new screen as shown in figure 1 below, with the interface elements Such as
MenuBar, ToolBar, The New Project dialog box. These elements permit the user to buid
different types of Visual Basic applications.

The Integrated Development Environment

One of the most significant changes in Visual Basic 6.0 is the Integrated Development
Environment (IDE). IDE is a term commonly used in the programming world to describe
the interface and environment that we use to create our applications. It is called
integrated because we can access virtually all of the development tools that we need from
one screen called an interface. The IDE is also commonly referred to as the design
environment, or the program.

The Visual Basic IDE is made up of a number of components

• Menu Bar
• Tool Bar
• Project Explorer
• Properties window
• Form Layout Window
• Toolbox
• Form Designer
• Object Browser

In previous versions of Visual Basic, the IDE was designed as a Single Document
Interface (SDI). In a Single Document Interface, each window is a free-floating window
that is contained within a main window and can move anywhere on the screen as long as
Visual Basic is the current application. But, in Visual Basic 6.0, the IDE is in a Multiple
Document Interface (MDI) format. In this format, the windows associated with the

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project will stay within a single container known as the parent. Code and form-based
windows will stay within the main container form.

Figure 1 The Visual Basic startup dialog box

Menu Bar

This Menu Bar displays the commands that are required to build an application. The main
menu items have sub menu items that can be chosen when needed. The toolbars in the
menu bar provide quick access to the commonly used commands and a button in the
toolbar is clicked once to carry out the action represented by it.

Toolbox

The Toolbox contains a set of controls that are used to place on a Form at design time
thereby creating the user interface area. Additional controls can be included in the
toolbox by using the Components menu item on the Project menu. A Toolbox is
represented in figure 2 shown below.

Figure 2 Toolbox window with its controls available commonly.

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Control Description
Pointer Provides a way to move and resize the controls form
Displays icons/bitmaps and metafiles. It displays text or acts
PictureBox
as a visual container for other controls.
TextBox Used to display message and enter text.
Frame Serves as a visual and functional container for controls
Used to carry out the specified action when the user chooses
CommandButton
it.
CheckBox Displays a True/False or Yes/No option.
OptionButton control which is a part of an option group
OptionButton allows the user to select only one option even it displays
mulitiple choices.
ListBox Displays a list of items from which a user can select one.
Contains a TextBox and a ListBox. This allows the user to
ComboBox select an ietm from the dropdown ListBox, or to type in a
selection in the TextBox.
HScrollBar and These controls allow the user to select a value within the
VScrollBar specified range of values
Timer Executes the timer events at specified intervals of time

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 Displays the valid disk drives and allows the user to select
DriveListBox
one of them.
Allows the user to select the directories and paths, which are
DirListBox
displayed.
Displays a set of files from which a user can select the
FileListBox
desired one.
Shape Used to add shape (rectangle, square or circle) to a Form
Line Used to draw straight line to the Form
used to display images such as icons, bitmaps and metafiles.
Image
But less capability than the PictureBox
Enables the use to connect to an existing database and display
Data
information from it.
Used to link or embed an object, display and manipulate data
OLE
from other windows based applications.
Label Displays a text that the user cannot modify or interact with.

Project Explorer

Docked on the right side of the screen, just under the tollbar, is the Project Explorer
window. The Project Explorer as shown in in figure servres as a quick reference to the
various elements of a project namely form, classes and modules. All of the object that
make up the application are packed in a project. A simple project will typically contain
one form, which is a window that is designed as part of a program's interface. It is
possible to develop any number of forms for use in a program, although a program may
consist of a single form. In addition to forms, the Project Explorer window also lists code
modules and classes.

Figure 3 Project Explorer

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Properties Window

The Properties Window is docked under the Project Explorer window. The Properties
Window exposes the various characteristics of selected objects. Each and every form in
an application is considered an object. Now, each object in Visual Basic has
characteristics such as color and size. Other characteristics affect not just the appearance
of the object but the way it behaves too. All these characteristics of an object are called
its properties. Thus, a form has properties and any controls placed on it will have
propeties too. All of these properties are displayed in the Properties Window.

Object Browser

The Object Browser allows us to browse through the various properties, events and
methods that are made available to us. It is accessed by selecting Object Browser from
the View menu or pressing the key F2. The left column of the Object Browser lists the
objects and classes that are available in the projects that are opened and the controls that
have been referenced in them. It is possible for us to scroll through the list and select the
object or class that we wish to inspect. After an object is picked up from the Classes list,
we can see its members (properties, methods and events) in the right column.

A property is represented by a small icon that has a hand holding a piece of paper.
Methods are denoted by little green blocks, while events are denoted by yellow lightning
bolt icon.

Object naming conversions of controls (prefix)

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Form -frm
Label-lbl
TextBox-txt
CommandButton-cmd
CheckBox -chk
OptionButton -opt
ComboBox -cbo
ListBox-lst
Frame-fme
PictureBox -pic
Image-img
Shape-shp
Line -lin
HScrollBar -hsb
VScrollBar –vsb

Properties, Methods and Events

All the controls in the ToolBox except the Pointer are objects in Visual Basic. These
objects have associated properties, methods and events.

Real world objects are loaded with properties. For example, a flower is loaded certain
color, shape and fragrance. Similarly programming objects are loaded with properties. A
property is a named attribute of a programming object. Properties define the
characteristics of an object such as Size, Color etc. or sometimes the way in which it
behaves. For example, a TextBox accepts properties such as Enabled, Font, MultiLine,
Text, Visible, Width, etc.

• Enables property allows the TextBox to be enabled or disabled at run time

depending on the condition set to True or False.
• Font property sets a particular font in the TextBox.
• MultiLine property allows the TextBox to accept and display multiple lines at run
time.

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 • Text property of the TextBox control sets a particular text in the control.
• Visible property is used to hide the object at run time.
• Width property sets the TextBox to the desired width at design time.

The properties that are discussed above are design-time properties that can be set at the
design tme by selecting the Properties Window. But certain properties cannot be set at
desgn time. For example, the CurrentX and CurrentY properties of a Form cannot be set
at the design time.

A method is an action that can be performed on objects. For example, a cat is an object.
Its properties might include long white hair, blue eyes, 3 pounds weight etc. A complete
definition of cat must only encompass on its looks, but should also include a complete
itemization of its activities. Therefore, a cat's methods might be move, jump, play, breath
etc.

Siimilarly in object-orinted programming, a method is a connected or built-in procedure,

a block of code that can be invoked to impart some action on a particular object. A
method requires an object to provide them with a context. For example, the word Move
has no meaning in Visual Basic, but the statement,

Text1.Move 700, 400

performs a very precise action. The TextBox control has other associated methods such
as Refresh, SetFocus, etc.

• The Refresh method enforces a complete repaint of the control or a Form. For
example, Text1.Refresh refreshes the TextBox.
• The Setfocus method moves the focus on the control. For Example
Text1.SetFocus sets the focus to TextBox control Text1.

Event Driven Programming

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Visual Basic programs are built around events. Events are various things that can happen
in a program. this will become clearer when studied in contrast to procedural
programming. In procedural languages, an application is written is executed by checking
for the program logically through the program statements, one after another. For a
temporary phase, the control may be transferred to some other point in a program. While
in an event driven application, the program statements are executed only when a
particular event calls a specific part of the code that is assigned to the event.

Let us consider a TextBox control and a few of its associated events to understand the
concept of event driven programming. The TextBox control supports various events such
as Change, Click, MouseMove and many more that will be listed in the Properties
dropdown list in the code window for the TextBox control. We will look into a few of
them as given below.

• The code entered in the Change event fires when there is a change in the contents
of the TextBox
• The Click event fires when the TextBox control is clicked.
• The MouseMove event fires when the mouse is moved over the TextBox

As explained above, several events are associated with different controls and forms, some
of the events being common to most of them and few being specific to each control.

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