Lesson 3: Working with Controls in VB6

Welcome to Lesson 3 of our Visual Basic 6 Tutorial! In this lesson, you'll learn how to work with essential VB6 controls to create interactive applications. We'll cover TextBoxes, Labels, CommandButtons, ListBoxes, ComboBoxes, and more, with practical examples you can implement.

3.1 The Control Properties

To create effective event procedures, you need to configure specific properties that dictate a control's appearance and functionality. These properties can be set either through the properties window or dynamically at runtime.

In the properties window, the top section shows the currently selected object. The bottom is divided into columns—the left lists properties, and the right displays their current states. To modify, simply adjust the items in the right column.

Changing Background Color at Runtime

This example changes the background color of the form to red when loaded:

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Form1.Show
    Form1.BackColor = &H000000FF&
End Sub

Changing Shape at Runtime

This code changes a shape control to a circle at runtime:

Private Sub Form_Load()
    Shape1.Shape = 3 
End Sub

3.2 Handling Common Controls

3.2.1 The TextBox Control

The text box accepts input from users and displays output. It handles string and numeric data. Use Val(text) to convert string input to numeric data.

Example: Summation of Two Numbers

This program adds numbers entered in two text boxes and displays the result in a label:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    ' Add values from TextBox1 and TextBox2
    Dim Sum As Double
    Sum = Val(Text1.Text) + Val(Text2.Text)
    
    ' Display the result in Label1
    Label1.Caption = Sum
End Sub

3.2.2 The Label Control

Labels provide instructions and display outputs. The Caption property is essential and can be changed at runtime.

3.2.3 The CommandButton Control

Command buttons execute procedures, typically in response to a Click event:

Private Sub Command1_Click()
    ' Code to execute when button is clicked
    ' ...
End Sub

Example: Simple Password Revealer

This program reveals a password entered in a text box with PasswordChar set to '*':

Private Sub cmd_ShowPass_Click()
    Dim yourpassword As String
    yourpassword = Txt_Password.Text
    MsgBox ("Your password is: " & yourpassword)
End Sub

3.2.4 The PictureBox Control

The PictureBox handles graphics. Load images at design time through properties or at runtime with LoadPicture:

Private Sub cmd_LoadPic_Click()
    Picture1.Picture = LoadPicture("C:\Path\To\Your\Image.jpg")
End Sub

3.2.5 The Image Control

Similar to PictureBox but with a key difference - images in an ImageBox are stretchable. Use the same LoadPicture method:

3.2.6 The ListBox Control

Presents a list of items for user selection. Add items with the AddItem method:

Private Sub Form_Load()
    List1.AddItem "Lesson1"
    List1.AddItem "Lesson2"
    List1.AddItem "Lesson3"
    List1.AddItem "Lesson4"
End Sub

3.2.7 The ComboBox Control

Similar to ListBox but presents items in a drop-down list. Add items with AddItem:

3.2.8 The CheckBox Control

Lets users select or deselect options. Value is 1 when checked and 0 when unchecked:

3.2.9 The OptionButton Control

Option buttons work together - when one is selected, others are deselected. Value is True when selected:

Private Sub cmd_SetColor_Click()
    If Option1.Value = True Then
        Form1.BackColor = vbRed
    ElseIf Option2.Value = True Then
        Form1.BackColor = vbBlue
    Else
        Form1.BackColor = vbGreen
    End If
End Sub

3.2.10 The Shape Control

Displays various shapes. Shape property values: 0=rectangle, 1=square, 2=oval, 3=circle, 4=rounded rectangle, 5=rounded square.

Next Lesson

Ready to learn more about VB6 programming? Continue to Lesson 4: Writing the Code.

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