Lesson 37: Creating Console Applications in VB2019

In this lesson, you'll learn how to create console applications in Visual Basic 2019. Unlike Windows Forms applications, console apps run in a command-line interface and are ideal for automation tasks, simple utilities, and learning core programming concepts.

37.1 Creating a Console Application Project

To start creating a console application in Visual Basic 2019:

1. Launch Visual Studio 2019
2. Select "Create a new project"
3. Choose "Visual Basic" as the language
4. Select "Console App (.NET Framework)"
5. Name your project and click "Create"

Figure 37.1: Creating a new console application project

37.2 The Console Application Code Window

After creating your project, Visual Studio opens the code window with the basic structure of a console application:

Figure 37.2: The console application code window

The main entry point for a console application is the Sub Main() method. This is where your program starts execution.

Module Module1
    
    Sub Main()
        ' Your code goes here
    End Sub

End Module

37.3 Adding Modules

You can add additional modules to your console application to organize your code:

1. Right-click on your project in Solution Explorer
2. Select "Add" → "Module"
3. Name your module and click "Add"

Figure 37.3: Adding a new module to your project

37.4 Console Application Examples

Let's explore some practical examples of console applications.

Example 37.1: Displaying a Message

This simple program uses InputBox to get user input and MsgBox to display it:

Module Module1
    
    Sub Main()
        Dim myText As String
        myText = InputBox("Enter Your Text")
        MsgBox(myText)
    End Sub

End Module

When you run this program, you'll first see an input dialog:

Figure 37.4: InputBox for user input

After entering text and clicking "OK", a message box displays your input:

Figure 37.5: Message box displaying user input

Example 37.2: Looping Program

This example demonstrates a looping structure using Do Until...Loop:

Module Module1
    
    Sub Main()
        Dim x As Single
        Do Until x > 100
            x = x + 5
        Loop
        MsgBox("The value of x is " & x)
    End Sub

End Module

When executed, this program shows the final value of x after the loop completes:

Figure 37.6: Output of the looping program

Next Lesson

Continue learning console applications in Lesson 38: Console Applications Part 2.

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by Dr. Liew Voon Kiong

Master Visual Basic 2019 with this comprehensive guide that includes detailed coverage of console application development. Learn to create efficient command-line tools and utilities.

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Console Coverage:

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