This week, you learn the skills you need to create a simple database that contains a master record table and design and implement a complete data entry form, including input validation routines. You also design and implement a simple list report that you can call from within your Visual Basic application.
Day 1: If you're new to Visual Basic, you learn basic controls and write a complete Visual Basic database data entry application using no more than three lines of Visual Basic code.
Day 2: You learn the basics of relational database theory including databases, data tables, and fields. You also learn the database data types recognized by Visual Basic and how to use them in your Visual Basic applications.
Day 3: You learn how to use the Data Manager program that ships with Visual Basic 4 to create and maintain databases in Microsoft Access format, as well as other database formats including dBASE, FoxPro, Paradox, and Btrieve.
You also design the CompanyMaster data table, which you use throughout the three-week course.
Day 4: You learn what the Visual Basic database objects are and how to use them to read and write data tables.
Day 5: You learn how to design and build quality data entry forms using Visual Basic bound data controls. You also learn how to design forms that conform to the Windows 95 style specifications.
Day 6: You learn the fundamentals of input validation for data entry forms. You learn how to write keyboard filters, field-level, and form-level validation routines. You also create your first Visual Basic reusable library when you build the LIBVALID.BAS module that contains validation routines you can use in any Visual Basic application.
You create a complete data entry form for the CompanyMaster data table you created on Day 3.
Day 7: You learn how to use the Crystal Reports report writer that ships with Visual Basic 4 to create and run quality reports from your databases.
You also create a generic Report Print form that prints any report definition created with Crystal Reports. This generic form can be added to any Visual Basic program.
For the last project of the week, you create a list report that prints the customer list from the CompanyMaster data table you created earlier in the week.