5. Using String Functions Left(str, nchars) - extract left nchars Right(str, nchars) - extract right nchars Mid(str,start,[nchars]) - get middle chars str is any string, nchars is integer, and start is integer number of starting position. Len(str) returns # chars in string

6. String Functions Example Suppose a text box named txtName contains the following: Left(txtName.Text, 3) is “Wha” (without the quotation marks) Right(txtName.Text, 3) is “ob?” (without the quotation marks) Mid(txtName.Text, 6, 5) is “about” (without the quotation marks) Mid (txtname.Text, 6) is “about Bob?” (without the quotation marks) What about Bob? Text property of textbox called txtName

8. Using String Functions (2) String functions and looping facilitate the “zooming” feature of many Microsoft list boxes and combo boxes. “Zooming” causes a search of the list, refining the search with each additional keystroke the user enters.

10. Sending Info. to the Printer Visual Basic’s Print method applies to a Form, a printer object, the Debug window, or a picture box Printer.Print — sends output to printer Print is a method of the Printer object Printing is somewhat difficult, because VB is designed to use with forms, not printers

11. Formatting Lines Printer.print x, y, z prints in three "zones" Printer.print x;y;z ignores zones Trailing comma or semicolon causes next print method to continue the line Each.print starts on a new line Printer.print (alone) prints blank line

12. Formatting Lines Tab(20) advances to 20th position: Printer.Print Tab(20); "Name:" Spc(17) inserts spaces (17) in line Numbers print with one space for sign of # Printer.NewPage sends page to printer & goes to new page Printer.EndDoc sends page to printer & halts print job

13. Printing to Picture Box You can use Print method with a picture box to avoid actually printing a result: picMyPictureBox.Print "howdy" prints to a picture box

14. List Boxes & Combo Boxes List/Combo boxes allow a list of items Types include –simple combo boxes –dropdown combo boxes –dropdown lists Combo box has style property; list does not Combo box has design-time text property; list box has only run-time text property. Combo box does not have a MaxLength property; a list box does.

15. If the list is empty, then the ListCount is zero You can deselect all items in a list by setting the ListIndex property to -1 Set the ListIndex property to 0 to select (highlight) the first item in the list--remember that indexes run from 0 to n-1 ListCount holds the number of items in a list. Remember that ListCount is always one higher than the highest ListIndex. Display one of the items in a list by selecting the list object and referring to the ListIndex value as an index: –lstBookTypes(iValue) Add items to the list in code with: –lstSchools.AddItem “Purdue” –lstSchools.AddItem “University of San Diego” The Sorted property of the list keeps items in alphabetic order. Copy selected list item to a text box: –txtSelection.text = cboFruit.List(3) –txtSelection.text = cboFruit.List(cboFruit.ListIndex) Setting a list index to a value selects—highlights—the list item: –lstCoffeeTypes.ListIndex = 3 ‘Highlight the 4th item in list –lstCoffeeTypes.ListIndex = -1 'Deselect all in list

16. list boxes simple combo box (style 1) dropdown combo box (style 1) dropdown list (style 2)

17. List property design-time contents of list Filling the List You can fill the list at design- or run-time Fill at design time if list rarely changes –Click List property, type entry, press Ctrl+Enter –Make Sorted property true to keep list in order Fill at run time if list is volatile –Use AddItem method to add items –Form: object.AddItem value [,Index] –Example: lstFruits.AddItem "Apple"

18. List/Combo Box Methods AddItem - Add item to list cboFruits.AddItem "Kiwi" cboFruits.AddItem cboFruits.Text Clear - Delete all items from the list cboFruits.Clear

19. List/Combo Box Properties Sorted maintains list in order (if true) ListIndex holds user-selected item index number (begins at zero, -1 if none selected) ListCount is number of items in list List object.List(index) extracts string value of list item Setting the ListIndex property highlights a selection in the list

20. List/Combo box Events Change Occurs when user types text into combo box (list box does not have this) GotFocus Occurs when control receives control LostFocus Occurs when control loses control