devxlogo

We are an award-winning tech entrepreneurship website where trusted experts can provide value globally.

Since 1998, DevX has helped people start businesses, build websites, and provide enterprise technology to people globally. Interviewing the likes of Microsoft’s co-founder, Steve Ballmer, the publication brings comprehensive, reliable, and accessible insights to the Internet.

devxlogo

Trusted for 26 years

Over 30K Articles

1M+ Readers

Expert-reviewed

10K+ Tech Terms

As seen in:

microsoft logo
business_insider_logo
wired_logo
berkley
arstechnica_logo
hackernoon

The Latest

Allow Multiple File Names In An Open File Dialog Box

If you want to allow multiple file names in an open file dialog box(Flags OFN_ALLOWMULTISELECT), the resulting FileName string will consistof the drive and directory path followed by a space-separated

Avoid an ODBC Error Referencing SP_Statistics

After opening a record set on a SQL server, this ODBC error occurs: ODBC–call failed. [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][SQL Server] (#20001) Attach the SQL Server table and open a record

Handling Long INI File Entries

INI file entries can be so extremely long that the normal way of sizinga string before retrieving the entry may not be sufficient. This most frequentlyis true when retrieving the

Create An Access/Quicken-Like Combo Box

This example shows how to make a combo box act like those found in Quickenor Microsoft Access, without using a third-party VBX. As each characteris typed, the elements in the

Keeping Accurate Time In VB

I developed a CBT project which required the user to read large amountsof text. I wanted to prompt the user to take a break after a period oftime. The problem

Padding a Date String

Some functions return dates in single units (1st May 1996 maybe returned as 5-1-96). This makes formatting difficult whereyou have dates like 5-1-96 and 12-15-96 on the same column. The

Don’t Let Go Without Notice

Users may unexpectedly quit your application by clicking the closemenu in the control box or by clicking the close button underWindows 95. Add a procedure to the QueryUnload event on

Creating Disabled or Etched Icons

Here’s how to create an etched or disabled icon using an icon editor:1. Change all filler color to light gray. 2. Change the outline to dark gray (usually from black).

Conditionally Compile Your Code

Most developers know about VB4’s Conditional Compilation feature, where you can declare WindowsAPIs for 16-bit and 32-bit operating systems: #If Win#32 then ‘If running in 32-bit OS Declare SomeApi….#Else ‘If

License Errors in VB4

I ran across an interesting problem trying to install VB4 EnterpriseEdition in the Windows 3.1 environment. The new version of VBuses the Registry database, which in Win 3.1 is limited

Activating the Previous Instance of Your App

There are many times when you may not want to allow more than one instanceof your application to be launched. In such cases, your program needs todetermine if an instance

Constant Failure? Don’t Do That!

Most things in VB4, including the VBA and VB engines, are OLEobjects. In some cases, objects can expose properties or methodswith the same name as in another object. Theoretically, the

Cool Screen Wipes

You can achieve some cool form wipes with judicious use of the Movemethod. For example, to draw a curtain from right to left use this routine: Sub WipeRight (Lt%, Tp%,

Get Date and Time Delimiters Without API Functions

Use these easy algorithms to obtain the current Date, Time, and Decimal delimiters used by Windowswithout resorting to Locale Settings or API calls: DateDelimiter = Mid$(Format(Date, _ “General Date”), 3,

GPF in VB.EXE

What do you do when you get a GPF in VB.EXE? Remember that Windows requiresyou to ensure memory integrity when calling API functions. A GPF in VB.EXEcan be produced if

Subclassing ChDir

If your application’s current directory is D:OldDir, the callChDir(C:NewDir) will change the C Drive’s default directory toNewDir, but the application’s current directory will remain D:OldDir.It seemed to me that ChDir

Change Tab Order Sequence

While in design mode, the tab order may get out of sequence, especiallyif you add a control after all the others are set in place. You can setthe TabOrder sequence

To Sync Or Not To Sync (ASYNC) ODBC Queries

Here you are in VB3, you have loaded the compatibility layer for Jet2.0, and you are using ODBC. In this configuration, the ODBC queries willalways run in asynchronous query execution

Prevent Errors When Using GetSetting

Using Visual Basic’s GetSetting function might cause an error, particularly in certain situations when using itunder 16-bit operating systems with INI files. If there’s no specific entry in the INI

The Mid Statement and Function

You’re probably familiar with the Mid function, which returnsa substring of a specified number of characters from its stringargument. But are you aware that Mid can also be used to

Debugging Events When They’re Acting Funny

Use Debug.Print “Entering event …” without breakpointsto trace events if they seem to act funny. Don’t use break points withMsgBoxes–they can alter the event sequence.

The Move Method is Faster

To move a control or form to a new location, you can set the Leftand Top properties to new values: frmCustomer.Left = frmCustomer.Left + 100 frmCustomer.Top = frmCustomer.Top + 50

Get Rid of Leading Zeros

Eliminate “leading-zeros” in a text string in this interestingway: instring$ = “00030” ‘ set the string with some leading-zeros’ now to get rid of them….instring$ = CStr(Cint(instring$))’ now instring$ should