Introduction to VB.NET

Tonga Institute of Higher Education

Programming Basics Program / Application – A set of instructions that a

computer uses to do something. Programming / Developing – The act of creating or

changing a program Programmer / Developer – A person who makes a

program Run / Execute – The act of using a program Source Code – Code written in a programming language

by a developer.

Every program was created by someone Computers use special languages Programmers use special languages to create or change

a program

Introduction to Visual Basic .Net

Visual Basic .Net (VB.Net) is a programming language created by Microsoft.

http://msdn.microsoft.com Many programmers use VB.Net VB.Net is an object oriented language.

Impact on Visual Basic 6.0

Visual Basic 6 is old technology Visual Basic 6 will still be used for many

years to maintain existing programs The future of Visual Basic development is

Visual Basic .NET

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) IDEs are programs designed to make programming

easier. Graphical Interface is intuitive Program management is easier Source code is easier to read Errors are easier to fix Too many features to list!

You do not need an IDE to create a program. But they are very helpful.

There are a few different IDE’s for VB.Net. But most VB.Net developers use Visual Studio .Net. (VS.Net)

First Look at VS.NET

Allows youto customizeyour IDE

Options you can look at

Different windows youcan use

Setting Up Your Environment

You cannot save files to the C Drive You must save files to the P Drive We want to organize our files on the P Drive

Use good names Keep related files in the same location

To tell VS.Net to use your P Drive1. Start VS.Net2. Go to Tools -> Options3. Go to Environment -> Project and Solutions4. Change Visual Studio Projects Location to your folder on the P

drive. (You may create a new folder if you click the Browse button)

5. Click OK button

Demonstration

Setting up VS.Net

Class Exercise

Start VS.Net Setup VS.Net to save to a directory on

your P drive

How to Make and Run a Program

1. Create a new project1. Click on Projects tab2. Click on New Project button3. Enter “HelloWorld” as the name of the new

project.4. Make sure that the Windows Application

template is selected.5. Click the OK button

2. Start the application 1. Click on Debug -> Start menu item

Demonstration

How to Make and Run a Program HelloWorld

Class Exercise

Create a Windows Application The name of the Windows Application is

HelloWorld Run the program

Solutions and Projects Solution – An organizer

for projects. A solution can contain

many projects

Project – An organizer for a program. A project can include

many files.

Examples of how Solutions and Projects work together

Molisi Management Solution Customer Project Financial Project Manager Project

Homework 1 Solution Program 1 Program 2

Homework 8 Solution Big Program

Solutions and Projects To make a new solution,

go to File -> New -> Blank Solution A solution can contain

many projects

To make a new project, go to File -> New -> Project A project can include many

files.

The same window is used for creating Solutions and Projects

Make sure thecorrect itemIs selected

Projects

There are many different kinds of project we can make.

This class focuses on Windows Applications

Can choose to add to the current solution or create anew solution

Make sure yourproject is savedin the correct folder

Best Practices

Keep your Solution and Project names simple and descriptiveGood Examples: Assignment5, Bank,

CustomerBad Examples: ILoveYou, IMissYou,

INeedYou Don’t use spaces in your names

Demonstration

Creating Solutions and Projects

Adding Forms to a Project

A form is a window To add forms to a

project:1. Solution Explorer ->

Project Name -> Right Click -> Add -> Add Windows Form

2. Enter the name of the new form

Adding Projects to a Solution

To add projects to a solution:1. Solution Explorer ->

Right Click -> Add -> New Project

2. Select the project type

3. Enter the name of the new form

Demonstration

Adding Forms to a Project and

Adding Projects to a Solution

Setting Startup Projects

A solution may contain more than 1 project

To tell Visual Studio .NET which project should be started when the solution is run: Solution Explorer -> Project

Name -> Set as Startup Project

Setting Startup Objects Often, your project has more than 1 object that can be started To tell Visual Studio .NET which object should be started when the

program is run: Solution Explorer -> Project Name -> Right Click -> Common

Properties -> General -> Startup Object

Demonstration

Selecting a Startup Project and Selecting a Startup Object

Stumbling Blocks

You can’t change properties when a program is running

If you rename a file, make sure you keep the .vb extension

Make sure you’re saving to the P drive

Class Exercise

Create a solution called MyFirstSolution Create 2 projects inside MyFirstSolution Each project will have 2 forms All 4 forms will have different colors Practice Running each different form

Behind the Scenes - 1 All files are stored on the computer The location is determined by your

settings 2 Folders exist

Bin – Contains the files needed to run the program

To give the program to someone else, copy these files to their computer

The running the .exe file will begin the program

Obj – Contains the files needed to debug (fix) the program

These are useful when fixing errors in a program

When you start the application this way: Click on Debug -> Start menu item, files are automatically created for you in both folders

Demonstration

Creating, Deleting and Executing Files Behind the Scenes

Behind the Scenes - 2

All files are stored on the computer The location is determined by your settings Solutions and Projects use different files

Solutions <SolutionName>.sln <SolutionName>.suo

Projects AssemblyInfo.vb <ProjectName>.vbproj <ProjectName>.vbproj.user

The organization of the files is determined by the order that you create the solutions and projects in

Demonstration

Viewing Solution and Project Files

Behind the Scenes - 3 The organization of the files is

determined by the order you create solutions and projects:

From a clean start: If a solution is created first, a

folder is created The solution’s name is the name

of the folder The solution’s files are inside

this folder If a project is added to the

solution, a folder is created inside of the solution folder

The project’s name is the name of the folder

The project’s files are inside this folder

Demonstration

File Organization when Solution is Created First

Behind the Scenes - 4 The organization of the

files is determined by the order you create solutions and projects:

From a clean start: If a project is created first,

a folder is created The project’s name is the

name of the folder The project’s files are

inside this folder The solution’s files are

also inside this folder

Demonstration

File Organization when Project is Created First

Class Activity

What will happen for these different solution / project creation scenarios?

Continuing Work on a Program

Always open your Solution or Project file. Solution files: .sln Project files: .vbproj Some files depend on other files. If you only open

a .vb file, your references may not be correctly setup. Therefore, your application may not work.

If you open a project file without a solution file: The solution files are automatically created You will be asked to save the files when you exit

VS .Net

Demonstration

Show how Solution files are automatically created

VS.NET Windows - 1

How do we write programs? Write the code Fix any errors

Bug - An error in a program Debug – The act of removing errors from a program

Many windows are available to help you create code and debug your programs better

VS.NET Windows - 2 Solution Explorer

Shows all the projects in your solution Shows all the files in each project

ToolBox Allows you to add controls to your form

Properties Allows you to change object properties

Task List Shows all current syntax errors Tracks pending changes and additions to code

‘Todo Right Click on column header and go to Show Tasks

to change what is displayed

Demonstration

VS.Net Windows

Managing Your Windows

Windows can dock in different parts of your screen

Many windows docked in the same location are organized with tabs

The pin allows you to choose whether you want the windows to hide when you are not using them

Only show the windows you want to use!

Tabs

Docked Windows

Demonstration

Managing Windows

VS.NET Features

Outlining #Region “RegionName” #End Region

Intellisense Helps you choose the word you want to type Ctrl + Space

Autocode Creates code automatically for you Use ComboBoxes in code view

Lines to Separate Methods

Demonstration

Other VS.Net Features