Visual Basic Concepts

Managing Projects

To create an application with Visual Basic, you work with projects. A project is the collection of files you use to build an application. This chapter describes how to build and manage projects.

When you create an application, you will usually create new forms; you might also reuse or modify forms that were created for previous projects. The same is true for other modules or files that you might include in your project. ActiveX controls and objects from other applications can also be shared between projects.

After all of the components in a project have been assembled and the code written, you compile your project to create an executable file.

Topics

Working with Projects

An introduction to projects, the Project Explorer, and project files.

The Structure of a Visual Basic Project

A discussion of the components that make up a project.

Creating, Opening, and Saving Projects

The basics of working with projects.

Adding, Removing, and Saving Files

The basics of working with the files within a project.

Adding Controls to a Project

The basics of working with ActiveX controls and insertable objects.

Making and Running an Executable File

The basics of compiling a project.

Setting Project Options

A discussion of some of the options that can be set on a project by project basis.

Using Wizards and Add-Ins

A discussion of additional tools for working with projects and extending Visual Basic.