Visual Basic.

NET
Events

Objectives
this lecture will cover:
event-driven programming and the event loop different types of events accessing the Code Window and using its features implementing simple event handlers correcting simple syntax errors the program development cycle pseudo-code solutions for simple problems

Visual Basic

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Event-driven programming
program waits until an event occurs User controls the program An event can occur in 3 ways:
The user doing something (e.g. Click a button) Something happening within the computer (e.g. System shutdown) Something happening within the program (e.g. Program crash)

Determine which "things" respond to which events Write code to be executed when event occurs to perform an action e.g. Calculate the average of a series of numbers
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Events in VB
Events occur to objects on a form or the form
Activate events: user selects item on screen Changed events: control property modified Focus events: control gets or loses focus Key events: user interacts with keyboard Mouse events: user interacts using mouse

One user event can result in many program events

Visual Basic

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Event loop
continuously monitors events

if event handler exists, it is executed

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Event handlers
Event handlers have:
header identifies event handler body contains statements to be executed

Private Sub btnPress_Click( _ ByVal sender As System.Object, _ ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _ Handles btnPress.Click 'statements that form the body of event handler 'statement End Sub

header

body

Visual Basic

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Method header
Name of the event handler
defaults to control name, underscore and event can be modified but normally left unchanged

Control and event involved in brackets

sender: details of control affected
used if one handler is used for several events

e: details of event such as character typed or mouse location

Events that will be handled by the method

can add events to be handled

Visual Basic

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Accessing Code Window

Code is viewed using the Code Window
Project code block automatically generated All project code must be between Public Class and End Class

Code Window has 2 drop-down combo boxes:

Class Name: list of all objects in the Solution Method Name: list of all events associated with current object

Event Type
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Editor features
useful features:
standard clipboard operations automatic indentation of code spacing of statements capitalisation of keywords ensuring consistent capitalisation of names auto code completion collapsible methods colour coding

Visual Basic

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Running Applications
Program is run by either:
Clicking the Start Debugging icon Pressing F5 or

IDE:
Compiles or builds program
Traps any syntax errors Displays message box if errors occur

Creates an executable file in the bin | Debug folder

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Visual Basic

Run-time vs. Design-time

At design time, the programmer can:
Add controls Set control properties Add code to controls Edit code

In run-time mode the form is locked

can only respond to user input

Visual Basic

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Coding Event Handlers

Code in event handler executed each time the event occurs Programmer:
Adds required code to handlers Runs program to check that correct actions are taken when the events occur

Visual Basic

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Adding Comments to Code

Comments improve readability of code To add a comment use the (single quote) character or the keyword REM Can also use the toolbar to comment statements
Comment / Uncomment Toolbar Icons

Private Sub btnPress_Click(...) Handles ... 'comment 'statements to be executed End Sub

Visual Basic

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Types of properties
Appearance Behaviour Size & position

properties can be displayed alphabetically or categorized

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Changing properties at runtime

Code can modify properties at runtime Assignment ( = ) statement specifies:
control name followed by a dot property to be modified new value
Private Sub btnPress_Click(...) Handles ... 'disable btnPress btnPress.Enabled = False End Sub

Visual Basic

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Changing Color Properties

Color class contains approximately 140 predefined colors Accessed by specifying:
class name Color followed by a dot
E.g. Color.Red

required colour

Private Sub btnPink_Click(...) Handles ... 'change background colour lblPink.BackColor = Color.HotPink End Sub

Visual Basic

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Changing Text property

Strings are enclosed in double quotes Any number of strings can be concatenated using the & operator vbNewline moves to start of next line
Private Sub btnConcatenate_Click (...) Handles ... 'display Visual Basic on separate lines in label lblConc.Text = "Visual" & vbNewline & "Basic" End Sub

Visual Basic

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Changing Form properties

Form properties are modified using the keyword Me The keyword Me refers to the current form

Private Sub btnFormColour_ Click (...) Handles ... 'change form background Me.BackColor = Color.BlanchedAlmond End Sub

Visual Basic

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Handling multiple events

same method can be executed when a number of events occur all events to be handled are listed after Handles keyword
Private Sub btnEither_Click( _ ByVal sender As System.Object, _ ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _ Handles btnOne.Click, btnTwo.Click 'report button pressed lblPressed.Text = "Button pressed" End Sub

Visual Basic

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Determining object
Object that triggered event is held in sender This can determine which object was used

Private Sub btnEither_Click( _ ByVal sender As System.Object, _ ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _ Handles btnOne.Click, btnTwo.Click 'report button pressed lblPressed.Text = sender.Name & " pressed" End Sub

Visual Basic

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Errors in code
Some errors are recognized by the IDE i.e. Syntax error Some may not become apparent until the program is executed i.e. Logic error and Compiler error Correcting errors can be difficult:
explanation of error may be difficult to understand due to the technical terminologies used Location of error may not be exactly as indicated by the compiler
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Syntax errors
Misspelled words and missing punctuation Normally trapped by IDE as they are typed
explanation shown when cursor held over error should be corrected before running program

Compiler traps uncorrected syntax errors

message box prompts user to continue should select 'No' Error List window displays compilation errors

Visual Basic

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Run-time errors
Program can not run as required
invalid calculation attempt to open a non-existent file

Only apparent when program runs IDE displays a message box:

nature of error Approximate location of error (line number)

Visual Basic

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Logic (Semantic) Errors

Errors program logic Not trapped as IDE only checks structure Can cause the program to:
crash hang continue but produce unexpected results

Only discovered during program execution when input data is entered Testing can show that code has errors Debugging is finding and correcting errors
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Using the debugger

Facilities to:
Set breakpoints in code Halt execution at statement before breakpoints Examine values in the code Step through and execute individual lines

Visual Basic

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Program development
Stage 1: Design screens
ensure screens are logical and easy to follow

Stage 2: Design pseudo-code

decide what happens when

Stage 3: Implement screens

place controls on form change initial appearance attach code to events

Stage 4: Test and debug program

Visual Basic

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Worked example - Greetings

Display or clear a "Hello" message in a label when the relevant command is clicked User should not be able to:
use "Display" command when message is visible use "Clear" command when no message displayed

"Exit method is required to terminate the program

Visual Basic

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Design screens
Single screen with 3 buttons and 1 label

lblGreetings Display Clear

Hello
Exit

btnDisplay

btnClear

btnExit

Visual Basic

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Design pseudo-code
When btnDisplay button is clicked:
Set Text of lblGreetings to "Hello" Enable btnClear button Disable btnDisplay button

When btnClear button is clicked:

Set Text of lblGreetings to "" Enable btnDisplay button Disable btnClear button

When btnExit button is clicked:

End the program

Visual Basic

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Implement screens and code

Invoke Visual Basic Click New Project button on Start Page Enter details of new project Create interface Set properties Attach program code

Visual Basic

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Private Sub btnDisplay_Click(...) Handles btnDisplay.Click display greeting lblGreetings.Text = "Hello" btnClear.Enabled = True btnDisplay.Enabled = False End Sub Private Sub btnClear_Click() Handles btnClear.Click clear greeting lblGreetings.Clear() btnDisplay.Enabled = True btnClear.Enabled = False End Sub Private Sub btnExit_Click()Handles btnExit.Click end program End End Sub
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Test program
Run program and ensure:
Clear button initially disabled Greetings label initially blank

Click Display button and ensure:

Hello displayed in Greetings label Display button becomes disabled Clear button becomes enabled

Click Clear button and ensure:

Hello cleared from Greetings label Display button becomes enabled Clear button becomes disabled

Click Exit button and ensure:

program ends

Visual Basic

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Summary
This lecture has covered:
the principles of event-driven programming writing code to handle events that occur within a program finding and correcting syntax errors the stages involved in developing a program

Visual Basic

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