VISUAL BASIC FOR DOS FAQ
 
*** How do I break lines of long text into multiple lines of text in the msgbox?
Use the append a chr$(13) to the end of the string to break lines into multiple lines. EG:
msg$ = "This is line 1" + chr$(13)
msg$ = msg$ + "This is line 2"
MSGBOX msg$
 
 
*** What's the difference between MODAL and MODELESS forms?
Modal forms are forms which require user input before any other actions can be taken place. In other words, a modal form has exclusive focus until it is dismissed. When showing a modal form, the program pauses at the SHOW command until the modal form is either hidden or unloaded. The internal MSGBOX and INPUTBOX$ forms are examples of modal forms. To show a form modally, use the syntax: MyForm.SHOW 1
 
Modeless forms are those which are shown but do not require immediate user input. Most child forms (in a MDI application) are typically modeless. To show a form modeless, use the syntax: MyForm.SHOW
 
 
*** When/Why should I use Option Explicit?
8.1. Opinions vary greatly on this subject. The main reason to use the OPTION EXPLICIT statement at the top of all modules is to minimize the amount of bugs introduced into your code by misspelling a variable name. Most variants of BASIC (including VB) have the capability to create variables 'on the fly' (without any declarations). This capability can be a double edged sword.
 
At the minimum, it is suggested to use the DEFINT A-Z statement in leu of OPTION EXPLICIT. This statement will cause any variables which are created on the fly to be created as integers as opposed to single precisions. (Integers take up less memory).
 
The OPTION EXPLICIT statement causes VB to 'disable' it's ability to create variables on the fly. Thus, all variables must be declared using a DIM or REDIM statement. All variables not declared will cause an error when the OPTION EXPLICIT statement is used. This will eliminate any bugs when a variable is misspelled.
 
 
*** Why doesn't PRINT or CLS from a frm module work?
To print information to the screen bypassing the desktop, the commands must be issued from a .BAS module. All PRINT/CLS output from a form module is directed to the nul: device.
 
 
*** How do I invoke FKey traps which won't be triggered by other keys which share the same KeyCode?
To trap the only FKeys in events you need to use a combination of the KeyDown, KeyPress, and KeyUp events.
The basic concept for this is that _all_ keys trap the UP & DOWN events, while only 'printable' characters trigger the KeyPress event. Thus, when a character key is pressed, it will trigger the KeyDown, the KeyPress, then the KeyUp events (in that order). While a FKey (or arrow, or tab, etc...) will trigger the KeyDown, then the KeyUp events (in that order).
 
The following code uses a textbox tag property to decide whether a printable character is pressed or not.
 
SUB Text1_KeyDown()
Text1.tag = "key"
END SUB
'
SUB Text1_KeyPress()
Text1.tag = ""
END SUB
'
SUB Text1_KeyUp()
IF Text1.tag = "key" then
'--PUT F-KEY HANDLER HERE----
ELSE
'--PUT OTHER KEY HANDLERS HERE----
END IF
END SUB
 
 
*** How do I boost memory available to VBDOS.EXE (the IDE)?
1. Try to have as much EMM available as possible. VBDOS.EXE allocates subroutines & functions which are < 16K into EMM.
 
2. To make more conventional mem availble, use the /S:n switch. This will make VBDOS.EXE use a specific amount of conventional memory. A good compromise between speed & memory is /S:340. The lower the n value, the slower the environment runs.
 
3. Running out of DGROUP usually causes most 'out of memory' errors. Possible causes are:

Getting Started with Microsoft Visual Basic for DOS
 
This tutorial page will teach you some of the Basics of Microsoft Visual Basic for Dos. Notice: this tutorial may not contain everything you may need to know for more information refer to the tutorials in Visual Basic.

*** Believe it or not
Believe it or not Visual Basic is really similar to Qbasic all the commands are the same exept for one thing the visuals in this program you get to combine forms or windows with Qbasic programming language.
 
*** Creating a new form
Go to "File | new form", save the file and then it will come up with the form editor in which you can edit your window the way you'd like.
In Visual Basic, there is a Properties Bar in which you can change the properties for the Captation -> it changes the title of the window or form.