Introduction

Welcome! Basic Program with MsgBox & Labels

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In this lesson, we will provide an introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic programming, discuss what Visual Basic is, and walk through creating a basic program. We will cover basic Visual Basic commands like MsgBox, introduce controls such as command buttons, text boxes, and labels, and discuss decision making with If...And statements. We will also talk about compiling your program into an executable file and review prerequisites for the course, including familiarity with Windows and programs like Word or Excel. This lesson uses Visual Basic and Windows XP, but the material applies to most Windows versions.

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Keywords

, Visual Basic 6, Visual Basic programming, VB6, MsgBox, Visual Basic controls, command button, text box, label, If And statement, standalone executable, Windows XP, Windows 98, basic programming, beginner programming, Richard Rost

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Intro

Transcript

Welcome to Visual Basic 101, Introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic Programming, brought to you by myonlinelearningpartner.com and 599CD.com.

I am your instructor, Richard Rost, and you can reach me at Richard at nyolp.com.

What are we going to learn today? Well, we are going to learn about Visual Basic and what it is. We are going to create a basic program.

We are going to learn Visual Basic commands such as MsgBox to display a message on the screen.

We are going to learn about some of Visual Basic's controls like command buttons, text boxes, and labels.

We are going to learn about decision making in your programs using an If...And statement.

We are going to show you how to compile your program into a standalone executable file.

Our goal for today is to get you up and running quickly. We are going to cover a lot more details in future classes.

Our goal today is to get you writing programs. I would like to do this with a lot of my 101 level classes.

We are going to skip a lot of the theory in today's class because there is a lot of theory behind programming that you do not really need to know right now.

My goal is to get you up and start writing programs in about an hour.

There are some prerequisites for today's class.

You should at least know our Windows 101 Introduction to Computers and either Windows 102 Introduction to Windows 98 or Windows 110 Introduction to Windows XP course material.

These are pretty basic courses that cover all the Windows basics, how to use your mouse, how to use your keyboard, editing text, and so on.

We also strongly recommend that you become familiar with Windows programs like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint.

Familiarity with any of those Windows programs will help you become a better programmer.

It is not necessary to be an expert with these programs, but if you are proficient with a word processor and a spreadsheet, you will have a much easier time when it comes to writing your own programs.

What version of Visual Basic are we using? In today's class, we are using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0.

If you are using VB5, you should notice very little difference between what we are covering today and what you are seeing on your screen.

You will also notice that we are using Windows XP as our operating system, but this makes little difference.

You should be able to follow along with today's course regardless of whatever Windows version you are using.

Quiz

Q1. What is the main goal of this Introduction to Visual Basic course?
A. To get students writing programs quickly
B. To cover programming theory in detail
C. To teach advanced database concepts
D. To review internet security topics

Q2. What Microsoft product is being taught in this class?
A. Excel
B. Word
C. Visual Basic
D. PowerPoint

Q3. Which of the following is NOT specifically mentioned as a Visual Basic control introduced in this course?
A. Command buttons
B. Text boxes
C. Labels
D. List boxes

Q4. What Visual Basic command is mentioned for displaying a message on the screen?
A. ShowDialog
B. Print
C. MsgBox
D. InputBox

Q5. What aspect of programming is being introduced for decision making in this class?
A. Do...Loop statements
B. Select Case statements
C. If...And statements
D. For...Next statements

Q6. What is being demonstrated in this class regarding completed programs?
A. How to connect to a database
B. How to compile a standalone executable
C. How to import data from Excel
D. How to create an ActiveX control

Q7. According to the instructor, what is NOT necessary for this course?
A. Expertise in word processors and spreadsheets
B. Basic knowledge of using a mouse and keyboard
C. Familiarity with Windows
D. Knowledge of Visual Basic theory

Q8. Which Windows operating system is explicitly mentioned as being used for demonstration in this course?
A. Windows 95
B. Windows XP
C. Windows Vista
D. Windows 11

Q9. Which of the following is strongly recommended to help you become a better programmer, according to the course?
A. Using Linux
B. Familiarity with Word, Excel, or PowerPoint
C. Experience with HTML
D. Knowing C++

Answers: 1-A; 2-C; 3-D; 4-C; 5-C; 6-B; 7-A; 8-B; 9-B

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from Visual Basic Learning Zone is an introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic programming. My name is Richard Rost, and if you have any questions, you can reach out to me directly at Richard at nyolp.com.

In this lesson, I'll be introducing you to the basics of Visual Basic. We'll talk about what Visual Basic actually is, and we'll go through the steps of creating your first simple program together.

We'll be learning about some fundamental Visual Basic commands, such as how to display a message box on the screen using the MsgBox command. I'll introduce you to some of the core controls available in Visual Basic, like command buttons, text boxes, and labels, which allow users to interact with your programs.

We'll also take a look at how you can make decisions within your program using If...And statements, so your software can respond differently based on user input.

By the end of the lesson, I will show you how to turn your finished program into a standalone executable file, so you can share it or run it outside of the Visual Basic environment.

The main goal for today's class is to get you started as quickly as possible. There is a lot of theory behind programming, but I want you to begin writing your own programs without getting bogged down by too many technical details right away. We'll cover all the in-depth material in future sessions, but for today, I want to help you see results fast. My style with these 101 level classes is to emphasize practical, hands-on learning.

There are a few prerequisites you should have completed before this course. You should know the basics of using Windows, specifically what's covered in my Windows 101 (Introduction to Computers) course and either Windows 102 (Introduction to Windows 98) or Windows 110 (Introduction to Windows XP). These classes teach the essentials, such as using the keyboard and mouse and editing text.

I also recommend that you are comfortable with standard Windows programs like Microsoft Word, Excel, or PowerPoint. While you do not need to be an expert, being proficient with a word processor or spreadsheet makes it much easier to learn how to create programs.

For this class, we will be using Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0. If you are using Visual Basic 5, you should not notice any major differences compared to what I am demonstrating. The operating system in use is Windows XP, but the material is relevant no matter what version of Windows you have.

You can find a complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here on my website at the link below. Live long and prosper, my friends.

Topic List

Introduction to Visual Basic programming
Creating a basic Visual Basic program
Using the MsgBox command to display messages
Working with Visual Basic controls
Using command buttons
Using text boxes
Using labels
Making decisions with If...And statements
Compiling a program into an executable file
Recommended prerequisites for learning Visual Basic

Article

Welcome to this introduction to Microsoft Visual Basic programming. In this lesson, we will walk through the basics of what Visual Basic is and how you can get started creating your own simple programs. The main goal today is to get you writing actual code quickly, and to help you build a solid foundation you can grow from as you continue learning.

Visual Basic is a programming language and environment created by Microsoft. It allows you to create Windows-based programs using a combination of simple commands and graphical controls. With Visual Basic, even someone without prior programming experience can develop useful and interactive Windows applications.

Today, I will show you how to build a very basic program. Along the way, you will learn how to use important Visual Basic commands. For example, the MsgBox command is used to display a pop-up message to the user. Writing code like

MsgBox "Hello, world!"

will display a small message box with your text. This is often the first step in learning any new programming language.

Visual Basic uses what are known as controls, which are objects you see and use in your programs. Some of the most common controls include command buttons, text boxes, and labels. A command button can make something happen when you click it. A text box lets the user enter some information. A label is simply for displaying text on your form. You will work with these controls as you build your first program.

Making decisions in your program is also an important skill. Visual Basic uses the If statement to allow your program to react to different situations. For example, you might want to display one message if the user types in a certain word and a different message if they type something else. Here is an example of how you might use an If statement in Visual Basic:

If TextBox1.Text = "password" Then
MsgBox "Access granted"
Else
MsgBox "Access denied"
End If

This code checks if the text in a text box is equal to "password" and shows a different message based on the result. The If statement allows your program to make simple decisions based on user input.

After you have created your program, Visual Basic also gives you the ability to compile it into a standalone executable file. This means your program can run independently on any Windows computer, even if Visual Basic itself is not installed.

The goal today is to get you comfortable with building and running your own Visual Basic programs as quickly as possible. While there is a lot of theory and background involved in learning any programming language, you do not need to worry about all of that right now. Focus on getting hands-on experience writing and running code. As you become more familiar with Visual Basic, you will learn more about how and why things work.

Before starting, there are a few prerequisites. You should have a basic understanding of how to use Windows, including using the mouse and keyboard, working with files, and editing text. Experience with other Windows programs like Word or Excel will make it easier for you, but it is not strictly required. If you are comfortable using these types of applications, you will have an easier time learning to program because many concepts and elements are similar.

The version of Visual Basic you use does not make a big difference for this introduction. The basic principles and commands we use are mostly the same, so you should be able to follow along even if your screen looks a little different in places, or if you are using a newer or older version of Windows as your operating system.

Now that you know what to expect, you are ready to start writing your own Visual Basic programs. Open your Visual Basic environment and begin by creating a new project. Place a command button, a text box, and a label on your form. Double-click the button to open the code window, then try entering a simple command such as:

MsgBox "Welcome to Visual Basic!"

Press F5 or click the Run button to see your program in action. Experiment with changing the message or linking the MsgBox to input from your text box, just like in the If statement example earlier. By practicing these basic steps, you will quickly gain confidence and familiarity with Visual Basic programming.

As you continue learning, you will discover many more features and techniques. For now, focus on experimenting with the tools and commands covered here. Once you are comfortable creating simple programs, you will be well prepared to move on to more advanced topics in programming.