Visual Basic 3.0 Common Questions & AnswersLast reviewed: October 21, 1997Article ID: Q92545 |
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3.00
WINDOWS
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SUMMARYThis single article answers the most-often asked questions about Visual Basic.
MORE INFORMATION1. Q. Where can I place an order or get upgrade and pricing information
about Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows?
A. For information regarding product updates, prices, and sales, please
call the Microsoft Sales Information Center (MSIC) at the following
number. Note that no technical support is provided on this line.
- In the United States, call 800-426-9400.
- In the United Kingdom, call 0734-270000.
2. Q. Where do I call for product support on Microsoft Visual Basic
version 3.0 for Windows?
A. In the United States, the two most common methods of contacting
Microsoft Technical Support for Visual Basic product support is
through our Standard two no-charge incidents support line or our
fee-based support lines.
Our Standard lines offer two no-charge incidents on current retail
versions of Microsoft Visual Basic for Windows. This line is
available from 6 A.M. to 6 P.M., Pacific time, Monday through
Friday,excluding holidays. The number is 425-646-5105.
Our Fee-Based support lines offer the same level of support as our
Standard lines, however they are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
and can be accessed Toll-Free via an 800 or a 900 number. There are
two different fee-based lines with different Pay-As-You-Go charges:
- Pay-As-You-Go (Credit Card) Calls: 800-936-5800 for $95 per call.
- Pay-As-You-Go (Charged to Phone) Calls: 900-555-2300 for $95 per
call.
There are a number of additional support options and packages that
individuals and companies can purchase that may better fit your
specific support needs. For more information please contact
Microsoft at 800-936-3500.
In the United Kingdom, the developer support line is available from
9 A.M. to 5 P.M., Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The
number is 0734-271414
3. Q. Where can I get information about support for Microsoft Visual
Basic for Windows available on the Internet?
A. Information is available through the Internet on the Microsoft World
Wide Web support site, located at http://www.microsoft.com/support/.
This site contains the most Frequently Asked Questions, the Knowledge
Base, the Software Library, password-protected areas for support
contract holders and support partners, various white papers, and
other Microsoft product and service information.
The Microsoft FTP site, located at ftp.microsoft.com, is a repository
for the Software Library, the Knowledge Base,resource kit utility
files, and other Microsoft product information files.
4. Q. Where can I get information about support for the Crystal Reports
Custom Control and associated features in Microsoft Visual Basic
version 3.0 for Windows?
A. In the United States, obtain support for the Crystal Reports Custom
Control from Crystal Services, a company separate from Microsoft.
There is a detailed listing of all support options available to you
from Crystal in the last 2 pages of the "Microsoft Visual Basic
version 3.0 Professional Features Book 2" manual.
In the United Kingdom, obtain support for Crystal Reports from
Contemporary Software, a company separate from Microsoft, at
0273-483979
5. Q. What is the Microsoft Download Service? how do I access it?
A. In the United States, Microsoft offers the Microsoft Download Service
(MSDL), a Bulletin Board system (BBS) that can anyone with a modem,
communication software, a telephone line, and a computer can use.
The MSDL contains the Microsoft Software Library (MSL), application
notes, drivers, Help files, and other support files from Microsoft.
MSDL supports 1200, 2400, and 9600 baud (V.32 and V.42) with 8 data
bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity. The supported protocols are Xmodem,
Xmodem-1K, Ymodem (batch), Kermit, Super Kermit (Sliding Windows),
and Zmodem. To connect to MSDL, use your modem to call 425-936-6735
and follow the instructions.
In the United Kingdom, Microsoft offers two services, Keyfax and
Keydata:
- Keyfax is a fax-based system. Users who call will be prompted to
leave their dial code and fax number. Then the system will
automatically send the user a fax containing articles that are
available 24 Hours a day, 7 days a week. Keyfax is available on
0734-270080.
- KeyData is a download service like MSDL. It contains drivers,
application notes, and software patches. Keydata supports 2400
and 9600 baud with 8 Data bits, 1 stop bit, and no parity. You
can access Keydata by using any standard communications package
such as Windows terminal, Procomm, Telix, Unicomm, Crosstalk, and
many others. To connect to KeyData, call 0734-270065 and follow
the instructions.
6. Q. What is the Microsoft Developer Network? How do I get it?
A. The Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN) is a newsletter and CD-ROM
available together or separately. The newsletter is published every
other month and the CD is published quarterly. Both the newsletter
and CD provide technical information for all developers who write
applications using Microsoft operating systems or development tools.
The CD contains code samples, technical articles, development tools,
and the Microsoft Knowledge Base.
In the United States, call 800-227-4679 for more information, or call
800-759-5474 to join.
In the United Kingdom, call 0800-960279 for more information or to
join.
7. Q. Where can I get information on available third-party custom controls
or third-party books for use with Microsoft Visual Basic?
A. Included with Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows is a
catalog called "Custom Controls and Other Companion Products and
Services for Visual Basic for Windows." This booklet has been updated
since the original release of the product. You can purchase the new
version of this booklet from Fawcette Technical Publications.
209 Hamilton Avenue
Palo Alto, CA 94301-2500
Tel: 415-833-7100 for intl
Tel: 800-848-5523 for Canada/USA
Fax: 415-853-0230
Internet: http:\\www.windx.com
MSN: Go WINDX
In addition, you can find much of this same information in the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q78962
TITLE : List of Visual Basic Companion Products and Services.
You can have the article faxed to you by calling Microsoft FastTips
at 800-936-4300. Request item 78962.
8. Q. Will Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows work with the new Microsoft
Access version 2.0 for Windows?
A. As it is currently shipped, Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows does
not have the ability to read or create a Microsoft Access version 2.0
database. However, Microsoft Access version 2.0 does have the ability
to read and create both Microsoft Access version 2.0 and 1.1
databases.
To read and create Microsoft Access version 2.0 databases in Visual
Basic version 3.0, you need to obtain the new Jet 2.0/Visual Basic
3.0 Compatibility Layer. In addition to the Compatibility Layer,
you must own Microsoft Access version 2.0 to get the Jet 2.0 database
engine. To obtain the Compatibility Layer, choose one of the
following methods:
- Download the Compatibility Layer by downloading COMLYR.EXE, a
self-extracting file, on these services:
- Microsoft's World Wide Web site on the Internet
On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon
Click Knowledge Base, and select the product
Enter kbfile COMLYR.EXE, and click GO!
Open the article, and click the button to download the file
- Internet (anonymous FTP)
ftp ftp.microsoft.com
Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder
Get COMLYR.EXE
- The Microsoft Network
On the Edit menu, click Go To, and then click Other Location
Type "mssupport" (without the quotation marks)
Double-click the MS Software Library icon
Find the appropriate product area
Locate and Download COMLYR.EXE
- Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
Download COMLYR.EXE
For additional information about downloading, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
TITLE : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
Services
- If you are unable to access the source(s) listed above, you
can have COMLYR.EXE mailed to you by calling Microsoft
Technical Support Monday through Friday, 6:00 a.m. to 6:00
p.m. Pacific time at (425) 646-5105. If you are outside the United
States, contact the Microsoft subsidiary for your area. To locate
your subsidiary, go to the Microsoft Web site
http://www.microsoft.com/worldwide/default.htm
- Purchase the Microsoft Access Developer's Toolkit (ADT) version
2.0 available through resellers or direct from Microsoft. The
price is $495 for new users. Until August 31, 1994, current
Microsoft Access Distribution Kit version 1.1 and Visual Basic
version 3.0 licensees will receive $100 off price via a rebate.
All the files you need are included.
- Purchase the Microsoft Office Developer's Kit (ODK) and Microsoft
Access version 2.0. Both products are available through resellers
or direct from Microsoft. The suggested retail price for the ODK
is $99.95. Visual Basic version 3.0 Professional users can
purchase the ODK direct from Microsoft for $49.95.
The ODK will also be available as a standard component in all new
packages of Visual Basic version 3.0 Professional Edition. The ODK
comes on CD-ROM only.
The ODK includes all files in the Compatibility Layer except the
main Microsoft Access version 2.0 database engine file, which is
available in Microsoft Access version 2.0. Therefore to use the
ODK edition of the Compatibility Layer, you need to purchase
Microsoft Access version 2.0. The license in the ODK permits
distribution of this file with Visual Basic version 3.0-based
applications. Suggested retail price for Microsoft Access version
2.0 is $495. Until August 31, 1994, current Microsoft Access
version 1.x users can upgrade for $99. And those users upgrading
from competing products and from Microsoft Office Standard can
purchase Microsoft Access version 2.0 for $129.
In the United Kingdom, you can get the Compatibility Layer by calling
the Microsoft Upgrade centre on 081-614-8000.
9. Q. What is the Office Developer's Kit?
A. The Office Developer's Kit is designed to help developers take
advantage of the hundreds of reusable components already on users
desktops and to make it easier to integrate those tools with each
other and enterprise data. The Office Developer's Kit contains more
than 8,500 pages of documentation for Microsoft Office application,
including the following:
- Microsoft Excel Developer's Kit
- Microsoft Word Developer's Kit
- Microsoft Workgroup Templates
- Microsoft Access Advantage Topics
- OLE Object Reference Charts (online and wall chart available)
It also includes more than 25 megabytes of new software files:
- Object Browser
- Electronic Forms Designer (a $395 value)
- Ten sample applications that illustrate integrated solution
programming techniques
- Microsoft Jet 2.0/Visual Basic 3.0 Compatibility Layer
The Office Developer's Kit will be included on CD-ROM at no
additional charge with Visual Basic, Professional Edition, which is
available for a suggested retail price (SRP) of $495. For developers
currently using Visual Basic, Professional Edition, the Office
Developer's Kit will be available for an SRP of $49.95. Users of
Visual Basic, Standard Edition can receive the Office Developer's Kit
for an SRP of $99.95 or can obtain a full upgrade to the Professional
Edition of Visual Basic with the Office Development Kit for an SRP of
$149.95.
10. Q. I successfully installed Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for
Windows with no error messages, but all the help file icons in the
Visual Basic group in Program Manager are gray MS-DOS icons. When I
choose these icons, why do I get a the following error message?
Cannot Run Program. There is no application associated with
this file. Choose Associate from the File menu to create an
association.
A. This is a known problem with The Setup program in the Professional
edition of Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows. The Setup program
adds the following problem line to the extensions section of the
WIN.INI file if no association for .HLP files currently exists:
HLP=D:\WINDOWS\SETUPWIZ.INI ^.HLP
To fix the problem replace the line with this line:
HLP=WINHELP.EXE ^.HLP
For additional information, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q100191
TITLE : BUG: VB Pro Setup Fails to Correctly Associate .HLP File
11. Q. When using the Setup Wizard tool that comes with Microsoft Visual
Basic version 3.0 for Windows, why do I get the following error
message during the compression process?
Sharing violation on drive C:
A. There is a known limitation of using the SHARE.EXE utility in
Microsoft Windows version 3.1. To avoid this problem, copy the files
SETUPKIT.DLL and VBRUN300.DLL from the \WINDOWS\SYSTEM directory to
the directory where the SETUPWIZ.EXE file is located. This way
SETUPWIZ.EXE and COMPRESS.EXE will not try to use the same files at
the same time.
People using Windows for Workgroups do not encounter this problem
because Windows for Workgroups uses VSHARE.386 (an alternative file
sharing utility) instead of SHARE.EXE. If you use Windows version
3.1, you too can install and use VSHARE.386. You can get VSHARE.386
by downloading SETUPK.EXE or WW1000.EXE from the Microsoft Software
Library (MSL). For details, please see the answer to question 12.
12. Q. I am having trouble with the Setup Wizard & Setup Kit that comes
with Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 for Windows. At various
times, it reports trouble copying files as well as other errors. Is
there a known problem with the Setup Wizard?
A. Yes, there are a number of known problems with the Setup Wizard and
the Setup Kit files that it uses. There are updates available for
these Setup Wizard and Setup Kit files: SETUPWIZ.EXE, SETUP.EXE,
and the SETUP1 project files. To obtain the updated files, download
SETUPK.EXE, a self-extracting file, from the Microsoft Software
Library (MSL) on these services:
- Microsoft's World Wide Web site on the Internet
On the www.microsoft.com home page, click the Support icon
Click Knowledge Base, and select the product
Enter kbfile SETUPK.EXE, and click GO!
Open the article, and click the button to download the file
- Internet (anonymous FTP)
ftp ftp.microsoft.com
Change to the Softlib/Mslfiles folder
Get SETUPK.EXE
- The Microsoft Network
On the Edit menu, click Go To, and then click Other Location
Type "mssupport" (without the quotation marks)
Double-click the MS Software Library icon
Find the appropriate product area
Locate and Download SETUPK.EXE
- Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
Dial (425) 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
Download SETUPK.EXE
- KeyData (in the United Kingdom)
Dial 0734-270060
Download SETUPK.EXE
For additional information about downloading, please see the
following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
TITLE : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from Online
Services
For more information on the problems these updates fix, please see
the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q100003
TITLE : New Setup Toolkit & Setup Wizard Available for VB 3.0
To obtain this article by Fax, please call 800-936-4300 and
request item number 100003.
13. Q. What updates are available for Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0
for Windows?
A. There are several files, including dynamic link library files, that
were updated after Visual Basic for Windows shipped. For a complete
list of these files, please see the following article in the
Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q104863
TITLE : UPD: List of Updated Files for Visual Basic
To obtain this article by Fax, please call 800-936-4300 and
request item number 104863.
14. Q. I wrote an application that connects to a Microsoft Access database.
I can run the application from the Visual Basic environment with no
problem, but when I make an .EXE file and try to run it, why do I
receive the following error message?
Could not find Installable ISAM
A. When using any of the database features with any of the installable
ISAMs, you must have an "Installable ISAM" section within an .INI
file that has the same name as your .EXE file. For more information
on the contents and purpose of this .INI file, please see page 148
in the "Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 Professional Features
Book 2" manual.
15. Q. I am having difficulty with the ODBC Setup and Installation. Is
there any information on how this should be done for various
databases?
A. There are several help files and text files that deal specifically
with ODBC setup and connections issues. You can find a list of these
and other information files by following three steps:
1. Open the Visual Basic help file.
2. Choose the Contents button.
3. Select "Other Information sources."
16. Q. I use the picture control to group other controls. However when I
select the picture control, the other controls do not remain on top
of the picture control. How can I correct this problem?
A. This problem occurs if you place the controls on the form in the
same place as the picture control but not in the picture control
itself. To group the controls in a picture control, you must first
select the Picture control, and then draw the desired control within
the Picture control. For more information, please see Chapter 3 of
the "Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 Programmer's Guide."
17. Q. How can I make calls from Visual Basic to the functions in the
Windows Application Programming Interface (API) or other dynamic
link libraries (DLLs)?
A. To call a subroutine or function from the Windows API or any
other DLL, you need to first provide a Declare statement for that
subroutine or function in your Visual Basic application. The exact
syntax for the declaration for each Windows API function can be
found in the WIN31API.HLP help file included with the Professional
Edition of Visual Basic. For more information, please see Chapter 24
of the "Microsoft Visual Basic version 3.0 Programmer's Guide."
18. Q. Is there a reference available that lists the correct Visual Basic
declarations for the Multimedia API functions?
A. Yes, the file is called WINMMSYS.TXT, and it comes with the
Professional edition of Visual Basic. You can find it in the
\VB\WINAPI directory.
19. Q. Is there a reference available that lists the correct Visual Basic
declarations for the Windows for Workgroups API functions?
A. No, at this time such a file is not available from Microsoft.
20. Q. I want to sort the records referenced by the Data Control in my
application. I tried to use the Index Property as described in the
example in the manual and in the help file. Why do I receive the
following error message?
Property 'Index' not found
A. The examples provided in the Index Property are incorrect. The Index
property does not apply to the Data Control. To sort the records
referenced by the Data Control, use the ORDER BY Clause within an
SQL Statement in the RecordSource property of the Data Control.
21. Q. Is there a better way than the Print Form method to print Forms
and Controls in a program?
A. Yes, it is possible to print forms and/or controls and specify the
printed size by using various Windows API function calls. For
information on how to do this, please see the following article
in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
ARTICLE-ID: Q85978
TITLE : Print Form or Client Area to Size on PostScript or PCL
Printer
You can also find this article in the top 10 Microsoft Knowledge
Base articles that are in the Visual Basic help file. To view these
articles, select "Technical Support" from the Contents screen in the
Visual Basic help file. Then select "Knowledge Base Articles on
Visual Basic."
22. Q. How can I use a variable in a SQL string? I tried the following,
but it will not work:
X$ = "Smith"
"Select * From Biblio Where Author = X$"
A. The problem with your statement is that the variable X$ is within
the quotation marks ("), so it is seen as the item you are equating
with the field author. Take the variable X$ out of the literal
string. In addition, place single quotation marks around the
string within the SQL statement so that your statement now would
look like the following if it was hard coded:
"Select * From Biblio Where Author = 'Smith'"
With the variable, the code would look like this:
X$ = "Smith"
"Select * Form Biblio Where Author = '" & X$ & "'"
See how the hard coded SQL string is being broken apart and
concatenated together with the string variable?
Note that with a numeric variable, you don't need the single
quotation marks:
Y% = 10
"Select * From Biblio Where Au_Id = " & Y%
23. Q. What is the quickest way to search my database for a particular
record?
A. Use the 'opentable' method for Access and the ISAMs databases and
use the Index property. Note, that there is a sample similar to this
on page 75 in the Professional Features Book 2.
Sample: Dim db as DataBase
Dim tbl as Table
Set db = opendatabase("biblio.MDB")
Set tbl = db.opentable("Publishers")
tbl.Index = "Name"
tbl.Seek ">=", "M"
If tbl.NoMatch then
Msgbox "No records found"
Else
List1.Additem tbl("Name")
End If
tbl.Close
db.Close
If you connect to a database trough ODBC, the quickest way to
search the database is to first attach the table or tables
you wish to search to an access database, and then follow
the instructions above.
24. Q. How do I set up a Multiuser scenario of accessing my database
program?
A. You will need to trap for certain multiuser related errors and have
code that checks for when a table is locked at a certain point in
time in your program. The following articles will help you in this
process:
ARTICLE-ID: Q107751
TITLE : LONG: PERFORM.TXT - Performance Tuning Tips for VB and
Access
ARTICLE-ID: Q109218
TITLE : Using Table Objects Versus Dynaset/Snapshot Objects in
VB
ARTICLE-ID: Q113953
TITLE : How to Use the Three Levels of Database Locking in VB
3.0
To obtain these articles by Fax, please call 800-936-4300 and
request item numbers 100003, 109218, and 113953.
25. Q. What is a way to minimize the amount of network traffic in my
Visual Basic client/server program?
A. Set up your program to bring back only the records needed to work on
at one specific point in time. Looking at the articles listed in
question 24 may help. Also, read Chapter 11 in your Programmer's
Guide and Chapters 1-4 in the Professional Features Book 2.
26. Q. What would be a good way to design my database?
A. To start, look at the following article:
ARTICLE-ID: Q100139
TITLE : INF: Database Normalization Basics
To obtain this article by Fax, please call 800-936-4300 and
request item number 100139
Look for books on database design. For example, the Microsoft
Access User's Guide discusses good database design techniques. There
are also many books describing good database design techniques
that are available in bookstores.
27. Q. What are some good books on Visual Basic?
A. Microsoft cannot recommend any specific books. However you can
call 800-MSPRESS (800-677-7377) to get a list of available books
published by Microsoft Press or check at your local book or computer
store.
28. Q. How can I program and control the printer object, as other Microsoft
applications do from my Visual Basic application?
A. The best way to control the printer is to call the Windows API
ExtDeviceMode function, but you cannot call this API function
directly from Visual Basic because the function requires a callback.
Visual Basic does not provide callback functionality.
To use this API function in your Visual Basic program, you need to
buy or create a DLL that calls the ExtDeviceMode function. Then call
the DLL from your Visual Basic program.
We have available a small sample that demonstrates how to create
a DLL in Microsoft C or C++ that uses the API ExtDeviceMode function
and exposes a function that can be used by a Visual Basic
application to manipulate the ExtDeviceMode API function call.
To obtain the sample files, download VBEXTDEV.EXE, a self-extracting
file, from the Microsoft Software Library (MSL) on the following
services:
- Microsoft Download Service (MSDL)
Dial 425- 936-6735 to connect to MSDL
Download VBEXTDEV.EXE
- Internet (anonymous FTP)
ftp ftp.microsoft.com
Change to the \softlib\mslfiles directory
Get VBEXTDEV.EXE
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