Visual Basic 6.0 Introduction 1

Even after ten years of the release of the classic Visual Basic 6.0 it is still appealing many programmers and coder. Because of its easy and quick learning curve, Rapid Application Programming (RAD) features this Windows Programming Language from Microsoft is a huge success.

I started learning Microsoft Foxpro 2.5 (DOS Version) in the beginning of 2000s. Foxpro is a database engine with options for User Interface (UI) design. It has limited event driven capabilities. We can design Menus, textboxes and other some other input controls. We can design reports using Foxpro. The limitations are, Foxpro was a DOS based program which works on console text mode.

Still Foxpro is used in some legacy applications commercially available. Microsoft's Foxpro was a success, no doubt. With the success of Windows 95 and Windows 98, Microsoft Released Visual Studio 6.0, with Visual Basic 6.0, Visual Foxpro 6.0 and Visual c++ 6.0 and some other tools. Both Visual Basic and Visual C++ are huge success used widely across the globe.

Even a novice programmer can build a realtime windows application using visual Basic. It can connect to a wide variety of databases like Ms-Access, MS -SQL Server 2000, Oracle, Foxpro, MS-Excel and more.

VB supports a popular microsoft specification, Activex Controls, which are prebuilt object readily available for use in your applications. You can use third party controls or readymade controls shipped with VB 6.0.

You can use Win32 APIs (Application Programming Interface) to access various Windows System functions and features. These include Graphics functions, File and Disk management, Networking APIs, Keyboard and mouse APIs, Process management, Printer management, Windows clipboard, Memory Management and more.

For reporting you can use either Data Reports or Seagate Crystal Reports. The syntax of VB language is simple and easy to understand. Variables are not strongly typed. There is a basic error / exception handling function.