Windows-based Applications (How Do I in Visual Basic Express)
This page links to help on widely used Visual Basic tasks for creating Windows-based applications. To view other categories of popular tasks covered in Help, see How Do I in Visual Basic Express.
Note
If you are using Visual Basic Express Edition, some of the Help links on this page may be unavailable, depending on the options that you chose during installation. For more information, see Troubleshooting Visual Basic Express.
In Visual Basic Express
Visual Basic Express Edition includes tools for easily creating your program.
- Creating the Visual Look of Your Program: Introduction to Windows Forms
Demonstrates setting up a simple Visual Basic program.
- Displaying and Receiving Text: Using Labels and Text Boxes
Explains how to use the Label and TextBox controls to display text and accept text input from the user.
- Picture This: Displaying Images
Explains how to use a PictureBox control to display images, and also how to display a picture as a background image on a form.
- Getting User Choices: Using Check Boxes and Radio Buttons
Explains what to add to a Windows-based application when you want to get information from your user.
- Giving Users Choices: Creating Menus at Design Time
Shows how your application can respond to user input.
Samples
- Visual Basic Express Sample Applications
These samples demonstrate Visual Basic and Windows Forms concepts.
MSDN Express Library for Visual Basic Express
These are some of the more in-depth topics the Library offers to help you create standard Windows-based applications. You need to have the MSDN Express Library installed or have access to MSDN Online library.
- Structure of a Visual Basic Program
Shows the general outline of a simple Visual Basic program.
- Walkthrough: Creating a Simple Windows Form
Demonstrates how to make a simple "Hello, World" application.
- Getting Started with Windows Forms
Describes in-depth how to harness the power of Windows Forms to display data, handle user input, and deploy your applications easily and with strong security.
- Enhancing Windows Forms Applications
Describes enhanced features that enable you to build world-class Windows-based applications.
- Windows Applications (How Do I in Visual Basic)
This page links to Help on widely used Visual Basic tasks for creating Windows-based applications.
- Controls to Use on Windows Forms
An alphabetic list of controls and components that can be used on Windows Forms.
- Windows Forms Controls by Function
Lists the Windows Forms controls and components according to general function.
Use Windows Forms and Controls
- What's New in Windows Forms and Windows Forms Controls
Lists the new and enhanced features available with this release of Visual Studio.
- What's New in Windows Forms for Visual Basic 6.0 Users
Highlights key changes for Visual Basic 6.0 users.
- How to: Add Background Images to Windows Forms
Shows how to have a bitmap serve as the background for your form.
- How to: Enable Windows XP Visual Styles
Shows how to give your application the style of Windows XP.
- How to: Keep a Windows Form on Top
Demonstrates ways to make sure your form stays on top.
- How to: Display Message Boxes
Explains how to add message boxes and change their appearance.
Other Resources
These Web sites are excellent resources for finding more information, seeing what other Express users are doing, and stay in touch as the Visual Basic Express Edition community grows.
- Visual Basic Developer Center
Central location for information about Visual Basic. Includes case studies, new tools, and other downloads.
- Coding4Fun
Includes lots of articles and coding tips geared to the Express user.
- Visual Basic 6.0 Resource Center
Here's extra help for Visual Basic 6.0 developers looking to upgrade or make Visual Basic 6.0 and Visual Basic 2005 play together.