1. An Introduction to Computers and Visual Basic
Chapter 1
An Introduction to Computers and Visual Basic
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2. Outline and Objectives
Introduction to Computers
Using Windows
Files and Folders
An Introduction to Visual Basic
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3. Parts of a Computer System:
Hardware: Electronic Devices
Software: Instructions and Computer Programs
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4. Main components of Hardware:
Input : Keyboard, Mouse
System unit:
Random Access Memory (RAM)
Central Processing Unit (CPU)
Output: Monitor, Printer
Secondary Storage: Disk Drive
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5. Random Access Memory (RAM)
Stores program instructions and data needed for processing.
Stores intermediate and final results of processing.
Contents are erased when computer is turned off or reset (volatile).
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6. Programming Languages:
Machine Language
High level Language
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7. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
Machine Language
The fundamental language of the computer’s processor, also called Low Level Language.
All programs are converted into machine language before they can be executed.
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8. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
High Level Language
Computer (programming) languages that are easier to learn.
Uses English like statements.
Examples are C++, Visual Basic, and Java
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9. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
Software:
Instructions for the hardware.
A collection of instructions is called a program.
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10. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
Using Windows
Basic techniques to use the mouse:
Pointing: moving mouse until the pointer is above desired object on the screen
Clicking: press and release the left mouse button once
Dragging (drag and drop): hold object, move it , then release
Double-Clicking: clicking the left mouse button twice in quick succession.
Hovering: lingering mouse at particular place and waiting for a message or menu to appear
Notepad is used extensively in this course to create data files
most of the concept discussed here will be used in Visual Basic and other Window,s applications
Title Bar: Untitled
Menu Bar: File Edit Search Help
Work Area
Vertical Scroll Bar
Horizontal Scrollbar
Notepad is called text editor
Enter key: To start a new line
Backspace Key: erase a character
Home Key to move the cursor to the beginning of the line
End Key: to move to the end of the line
How to save a file
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11. Key Terms in using Windows
Title Bar
Active window
Dragging a window
Work Area
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12. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
Using Windows
Reviewing Notepad to learn more about Windows applications
Notepad is an item in the Accessories menu
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13. Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider
Files & Folders:
A disk can store thousands of files.
To organize your files you have to store them in different folders (directories).
The default extension for a File created with Notepad is TXT .
The default extension for a file created with Notepad is TXT.
Esc key used in Notepad to remove a dialog box
Clicking on the Maximize button of a window makes the window fill the entire screen
Clicking on the Minimize button of a window changes the window into an icon
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14. Key Terms in using Folders
Root folder : A drive letter
Example: A: , D: , E:
Path: A nested sequence of folders
Example: A:\Temp\MyProjects\
File Specification: A drive letter, path, and filename
Example: A:\Temp\MyProjects\Example.vbp
Think of a disk as a large folder, called the root folder, that contains several smaller folders each with its own name.
The naming of folders follow the same rule as naming files
Each folder is identified by listing its name preceded by a backslash
A filespec typically includes the drive, path and the filename.
File is identified by a small
directory or folder is identified by a folder icon
executable file: is identified by a rectangle with a thin bar across top
Go over: How to create a folder
to rename a folder
to delete a folder or file
to Copy a folder or file
To move a folder or file
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15. History of Visual Basic:
BASIC stands for Beginner’s All-purpose Symbolic Instruction Code.
BASIC was developed by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz in mid-1960s.
Visual Basic was released in 1991 by the Microsoft Corporation.
VB 1.0 was developed in It was followed by ver 2.0 in 1992, ver 3.) in 1993, ver 4.0 in 1995, ver5.0 in 1997.
VB comes in four edition :
1. Learning
2. Professional
3. Enterprise
4.Control Creation
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16. Introduction to Visual Basic:
A language used to create windows applications.
Programs are developed with a Graphical User Interface or GUI.
The instructions executed in the program are controlled by events.
Visual Basic %5.0 requires the Microsoft Windows 95 operating system.
One of the key elements of planning VB application is deciding what the user
sees., in other words designing the screen.
In VB , the responsive objects a program designer places o windows are called controls.
Programs in conventional programming languages run from top down. A VB program works differently, the user is in control by activating an event that is recognized.
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17. Terminology used in Visual Basic:
Form
Control
Object
Properties
Event
First you draw the form(s) Forms are the window that your application will use.
Next you will place on the Form any Controls you might need.Controls are the graphical objects in the window.
Example: Command Button that the user can click on
Label Box for displaying messages on the form
Text Boxes: for the user to enter text such as name or numbers
Picture Boxes: which can contain drawing
Each of the controls has many properties that can be customized. Example is to make the caption of the command button to be Exit Program
Finally you write appropriate code for each event
Here is how VB works
An action is recognized by an event by some form or control. The action can be caused by user or by the system
If there is code for the event, that code is executed; otherwise the event is ignored The system waits for the next event.
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18. Steps to Design a Visual Basic Application
Design the appearance of the window that the user sees.
Determine the events that the controls on the window should recognize.
Write the event procedures for those events.
Step1: You draw forms you want. Forms are the windows that your application will use. If your application requires more than one form, you will have to create the rest of the forms. VB will create the first form of every application for you. Because every application must have at least one form.
Step 2: You will place on the form any controls you might need. Controls are the graphical objects in the window.
Step3: Each of the controls has many properties that can be customized.
Step4: Finally you write the code for appropriate events , such as when a user clicks a button.
Chapter 1- Visual Basic Schneider