Learn the Visual Basic Language (How Do I in Visual Basic Express)
This page provides links to help on widely used Visual Basic programming tasks. 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, 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 includes tools for learning programming and makes it easy.
What's New in Visual Basic Express
Describes the new features that are available in Visual Basic Express Edition. This includes Windows Presentation Foundation (WPF), Language-Integrated Query (LINQ), and WCF services.Creating Your First Visual Basic Program
Leads you through the process of creating a program for viewing Web pages.Introduction to the Visual Basic Programming Language
Introduces the programming concepts that you'll have to know to create your first program.Communicating with Your Program's User: The User Interface
Explains the first steps in creating a typical Windows-based application.Using the File System: Writing to and Reading from Files
Describes how to write to and read from text files.Programming with Objects: Using Classes
Introduces using object-oriented programming techniques in your code.Drawing Pictures: Using Graphics
Describes how to add your own custom graphics.Including XML Directly in Your Code: Using XML Literals
Demonstrates how to use XML literals.
MSDN Library for Microsoft Visual Studio 2008 Express Editions
The following are some of the more in-depth topics that the Library offers to help you explore the Visual Basic language. To use these links, you have to have Microsoft MSDN Express Library 2008 installed or have access to MSDN Online library.
Language Changes for Visual Basic 6.0 Users
Provides a list of changes, with links to details, about how the Visual Basic language has changed since Visual Basic 6.0.Program Structure and Code Conventions
Contains documentation about the basic structure and code conventions of Visual Basic, such as naming conventions, comments in code, and the limitations of Visual Basic.Visual Basic Language Features
Provides an overview of the major components of Visual Basic.Object-Oriented Programming in Visual Basic
Describes object-oriented programming. This includes classes and interfaces, object creation, events and delegates, inheritance, and groups of objects.Declared Elements in Visual Basic
Explains what a declared element is and provides links to further information.Procedures in Visual Basic
Describes Sub, Function, Property, and Operator procedures, in addition to advanced topics such as recursive and overloaded procedures.Control Flow in Visual Basic
Shows how to control the flow of your program's execution.Development with My
Discusses a feature named My, which provides access to information and default object instances that are related to an application and its run-time environment.LINQ in Visual Basic
Describes how to write queries in Visual Basic by using LINQ.Local Type Inference
Shows how to declare variables without explicitly stating a type.How to: Declare an Instance of an Anonymous Type
Shows how to declare an instance of an anonymous type by using an initializer list to specify its properties.How to: Declare an Object by Using an Object Initializer
Demonstrates how to create an object of a named class by using an object initializer.How to: Write an Extension Method
Describes how to add a method to an existing class.How to: Call an Extension Method
Demonstrates how to call an extension method like an instance method of the type that it extends.How to: Create a Lambda Expression
Shows how to create a function without a name that evaluates a single expression and returns its value.How to: Create XML Literals (Visual Basic)
Describes how to create an XML element in code by using an XML literal.
Basics
Structure of a Visual Basic Program
Provides an overview of the elements that make up a Visual Basic program.Visual Basic Version of Hello, World
Provides a step-by-step re-creation of the classic program "Hello World," redone in Visual Basic.Main Procedure in Visual Basic
Discusses the procedure that serves as the starting point and overall control for your application.Visual Basic Coding Conventions
Reviews the guidelines used in developing the samples in this documentation.Visual Basic and the .NET Framework
Describes the role of Visual Basic in the .NET Framework.Introduction to Objects in Visual Basic
Provides an introduction to the terms and concepts used in object-oriented programming.Inheritance Basics
Covers inheritance modifiers, overriding methods and properties, MyClass, and MyBase.How to: Create a Procedure
Explains how to declare a procedure to perform a task that is needed in several locations in your code.How to: Break Large Pieces of Code into Smaller Pieces
Explains how to use procedures to achieve structured programming in your codeHow to: Run Statements Depending on One or More Conditions
Demonstrates using If...Then...Else constructions to run different blocks of statements depending on various conditions.How to: Run Several Statements Repeatedly
Shows how to run a block of statements either a set number of times or until a condition is met.Managing Your Objects with Collections
Discusses criteria to consider when you select the type of collection for grouping related objects.How to: Create an Array of Objects
Explains arrays as an alternative way to group related objects together.How to: Control the Scope of a Variable
Discusses the levels of scope and how to use them to control which code can refer to a variable.How to: Convert an Object to Another Type in Visual Basic
Describes type conversions from the Object data type to a more specific data type.How to: Call an Event Handler in Visual Basic
Demonstrates how to define an event and an event handler and use the AddHandler statement to associate them.How to: Retain Control When an Error Occurs
Shows how to run a particular block of statements if a specified exception occurs when your code is running.
Other Resources
The following Web sites are excellent resources for finding more information, seeing what other Express users are doing, and staying a part of the Visual Basic Express community as it grows.
Visual Basic Developer Center
Central location for information about Visual Basic. Includes case studies, new tools, and other downloads.Beginner Developer Learning Center
Central location for learning materials for the beginner developer. Includes video tutorials, articles, the How-To Reference Library, and Kid's Corner.Coding4Fun
Includes lots of articles and coding tips for the Visual Basic Express developer.Visual Basic 6.0 Resource Center
Provides help for developers who want to upgrade Visual Basic 6.0 applications.