Visual Basic has gained popularity over time because of its ease of use and easy acquisition. It's a hearty language, and allows for both stand-alone Windows programs and Web applications. With this in mind, Microsoft has met the needs of many seeking entrance into the wonder that is VB: Visual Basic 6.0, Learning Edition. Melding a standard version of Visual Basic 6.0 with a multimedia lab/tutorial polishes this product and makes VB even more attainable to those without a degree in computer science. The learning portion of this package was written and designed by Michael Halvorson, an eight-year technical editor at Microsoft Press. Also included in the package is a 218-page reference manual that contains excerpts from three beginning-to-intermediate level books also written by Halvorson: Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Step by Step: Learn by Doing, Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Programmer's Guide: Comprehensive Product Guide, and Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 Developer's Workshop: Learn by Example.
Getting into the tutorial includes a five-minute video presentation about the tutorial itself. And, for those who may experience hearing difficulties, or those who wish to study Visual Basic while the kids are asleep, closed captioning is available for all of the narrated demonstrations. The narration, both in audio and printed form, is lively and witty, and unexpectedly allows the creator's zest for the topic to come through.
Just like in high school, each lesson is structured in a comfortable format: lecture and demonstrations, followed by a set of labs and a quiz. By no means must you start at the very beginning. Scanning some of the quizzes and activities may help you place yourself at the right spot on the learning curve--may that be introducing yourself to basic programming concepts or sharpening your existing knowledge by addressing ActiveX controls or how to use Automation technology.
The tutorial and lab direction components of your learning are entirely separate from the actual Visual Basic programming environment. This means that rather than learning programming in a controlled setting, you'll be up to your elbows in the real thing. This facet of the package allows for side-by-side work--as you take your cues from the lab's directions (and yes, they often follow the empirical format), you'll then forge your own programming path in creating your own application, often from scratch. Beginners start out with the creation of an on-demand time display; more advanced users will create database front-ends and learn to manipulate the contained data.
The package is truly a complete first step in a foray into Visual Basic. Aside from the tutoring component, you will also be able to install the Microsoft Developer's Network Library. Once you're familiar enough with Visual Basic, you can stretch your learning with this documentation and programming information. The library contains over a gigabyte of information--code samples, how-tos, and general reference--that you can also access directly from the disc, rather than tying up hard drive space. --Emilie Dirks
