Chapter 1
An Introduction to Computers and
Visual Basic
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Outline and Objective
–Introduction to Computers
–Using Windows
–Disk and Folders
–An Introduction to Visual Basic
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Parts of a Computer System:
• Hardware: Electronic Devices & Circuits
• Software: Instructions or Computer
Programs
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Main components of Hardware:
• Input : Keyboard & Mouse
• System unit: Central Processing Unit (CPU) &
Memory
• Output: Monitor
• Secondary Storage: Disk Drive
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Central Processing Unit (CPU):
• Control Unit (CU)
• Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
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Control Unit (CU):
• Directs the order in which commands are
executed.
• Communicates with input and output
devices.
• Transfers data to and from the primary
storage unit and various input and output
devices.
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Arithmetic Logic Unit (ALU)
• Performs calculations
(adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides)
• Makes logical comparisons
(=, <>, <, >, <=, >=)
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Memory:
• Memory is a Temporary Storage
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Types of Memory:
• Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Read Only Memory (ROM)
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Random Access Memory (RAM)
• Stores program instructions and data needed
for processing.
• Stores intermediate and final results of
processing.
• It is volatile.
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What is a Bit?
• Computers use binary system to process data.
• The smallest unit of computer memory is bit.
• A bit is basically an on/off switch and is usually
described as a 1 or 0.
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What is a Byte?
• A byte is a pattern of 8 bits.
• A byte is also called a character.
• Additional units of memory are defined by
powers of 2.
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Software:
• Instructions for the hardware.
• A collection of lines of instruction is called
a Program.
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Types of Software:
• System Software
• Application Software
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System Software
(Operating System):
• Is the interface between you and hardware.
• Is the interface between application
software and hardware.
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Examples of System Software:
• UNIX
• MS-DOS
• Windows 98 / NT
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Examples of Application Software:
•
•
•
•
Word Processing
Spreadsheet
Accounting
Programming Languages: Visual Basic,
C++, Pascal
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Using Windows
• Basic techniques to use the mouse:
–
–
–
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Pointing
Clicking
Dragging
Double-Clicking
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Key Terms in using Windows
• Title Bar
• Active window
• Dragging a window
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Using Windows
– Reviewing Notepad to learn more about
Windows application
– Notepad is an item in the Accessories menu
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Disks & Folders:
• Disk is a permanent storage.
• Disk management is handled by the Operating
System.
• A disk can store thousands of files.
• To organize your files you have to store them in
different folders (directories).
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Key Terms in using Folders
• Root folder
• Path Example:
A:\Temp\MyProjects\project1.vbp
• File Specification: You should always know
where you are saving your files.
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History of Visual Basic:
• BASIC stands for Beginner’s All-purpose
Symbolic Instruction Code.
• Developed by John Kemeny and Thomas Kurtz in
mid-1960s.
• Visual Basic was developed in mid-1991 by the
Microsoft Corporation.
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Introduction to Visual Basic:
• Language used to create windows
application.
• Provides a Graphical User Interface or GUI.
• The sequence of instructions executed in the
program is controlled by events.
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Terminology used in Visual Basic:
•
•
•
•
•
Forms
Controls
Objects
Properties
Events
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Steps to Design a Visual Basic
Application
• Decide on the Interface for the user.
(Forms & Controls)
• Determine which events the objects on the
window should recognize.
• Write the events procedures for those events.
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