Index

Special Characters
& (ampersand)
    concatenating strings, 99-100, 106-7
    creating command button access keys, 303-4
    creating menu access keys, 282
' (apostrophe), 189-91
* (asterisk), 186, 189
: (colon)
    label control captions and, 268
    line labels and, 117
    multiple statements and, 150
... (ellipsis), 282
( ) (parentheses)
    clarifying expressions with, 242-43
    function calls and, 46
+ (plus sign), 99-100, 106
_ (underscore)
    as line continuation character, 151-56
    simulating spaces in names, 35, 86

A
abbreviations
    avoiding, in comments, 192-93
    procedure names and, 34, 35
    variable names and, 83-84, 87-88
About dialog boxes, version numbers in, 22, 332-33, 333
About Face: The Essentials of User Interface Design, 251
accelerator keys, 253, 285-88, 286
access keys. See also shortcut keys
    command button, 303-4, 304, 305
    menu, 282, 282, 303, 304
ActiveBar software, 286
active error handler, 122
ActiveX components, backward compatibility of, 333-41, 338, 340
    Binary Compatibility level, 340
    conditions for, 336-37
    Project Compatibility level, 339
    overview of, 334-36
    relinquishing, 338
    version compatibility vs., 333-34
    Visual Basic levels of, 337, 338
ActiveX controls, 57, 273. See also controls
add-in menu, Visual SourceSafe, 352-53, 353
AddNew method, indentation and, 162, 166
Admin user, 351
aligning statements, 154-55
Alt key, 303
ampersand (&)
    concatenating strings, 99-100, 106-7
    creating command button access keys, 303-4
    creating menu access keys, 282
API viewer, 65
apostrophe ('), 189-91
application consistency, 253
application names in object templates, 21-22
application prefixes, 71-73
application titles, 320, 320
App object properties, 20-22, 333
arrays
    control, 70-71, 276-77
    looping through, 226-27
    naming, 55
    of Variants, 100
asterisk (*), 186, 189
author information, 195
Auto List Members feature, 61-62, 62

B
background compilation, 110-12, 111
backing up files, 339, 342. See also copying projects
backward compatibility, 334. See also ActiveX components, backward compatibility of
BeginTrans method, indentation and, 162, 166-67
Binary Compatibility level, 337, 338, 340
binary files, 15, 356, 360
blank lines, grouping statements with, 169-77
Boolean data type, 97
Boolean expressions, comparing, 241
Boolean operators, 155-56
Boolean variables, 89-91, 241-42
border styles, form
    default, 254-55
    Fixed Dialog, 255, 255
    Fixed Single, 256-57, 257
    Fixed ToolWindow and Sizable ToolWindow, 258-59, 259, 260
    none, 255-56, 256
    Sizable, 255, 257, 258
boxes, comment, 188-89
branching constructs. See flow control constructs
breaking statements, 154-56
buttons
    command (see command buttons)
    menu items for toolbar, 288-89
    message box, 61-62, 62, 74, 321-23, 323
ByRef and ByVal keywords, 41-42

C
calling procedures, 45-47, 156, 158
Call keyword, 45-46
call stack, error handlers and, 122-24, 125
Cancel command buttons, 302-3
CancelUpdate method, indentation and, 162, 166
capitalization. See case of characters
captions, 268
Case Else statements, 77, 78, 236-37
case of characters
    in comments, 193
    constant names, 65, 67
    formatting code and, 146
    GoTo labels, 65, 118, 246-47
    procedure names, 34-35
    system constant names, 75
    variable names, 86-87
Case statements
    indentation and, 162, 164
    multiple result values in, 234
    ordering, 237-39
central error handlers, 127-34, 130
characters
    case of (see case of characters)
    comment lines of solid, 185-88
    maximum, of code per line, 153-56
    using special, for each developer, 190-91
check box controls, 268, 278, 279
checking files in and out
    using Visual Basic IDE, 361-64, 362, 363
    using Visual SourceSafe Explorer, 359-61, 360, 361
Class IDs (CLSIDs), 336, 340
class modules, 28
cleanup code, 36, 38-39
CLSIDs (Class IDs), 336, 340
Code Complete (McConnell), 9, 148
code helper drop-down lists, 61, 62, 63, 63, 73-74, 73
coding standards, 1-11
    benefits of, 3-5
    commenting violations of, 182
    constructs (see commenting code; flow control constructs; formatting code; looping constructs)
    conventions (see constants; enumerations; error handling; naming conventions; variables)
    design (see modules; object templates; procedures; project templates)
    team projects (see Microsoft Visual SourceSafe; projects; version control)
coding standards, continued
    this book about, 9-11
    user interfaces (see interface design)
    Visual Basic and necessity for, 5-9 (see also Microsoft Visual Basic)
    Visual SourceSafe violations of, 345, 365
coercion, 6, 94, 99
cohesion, modules and, 26-28
collections
    looping through object, 223-28
    of procedures, modules as, 26-28
colon (:)
    label control captions and, 268
    line labels and, 117
    multiple statements and, 150
colors, system, 289-93, 290, 291
combo box controls, 265-67, 266, 267, 278, 278
command buttons
    assigning access keys to, 303-4, 304, 305
    creating default and cancel, 302-3
    disabling vs. hiding, 270, 270, 271
comment boxes, avoiding, 188-89
commenting code, 179-203
    avoiding comment boxes, 188-89
    benefits of, 179-80
    documenting changes with, in Readme files, 341-42
    documenting code processes with inline, 198-203
    documenting code purposes, 180-82
    documenting expected errors, 182-84
    documenting variables with end-of-line, 203
    explaining violations of coding principles, 182
    goals of, 180
    If...End If constructs, 170-71
    indentation and, 168, 193
    line continuation and end-of-line, 153
commenting code, continued
    nested constructs, 239-40
    in object templates, 23-24
    parameters, 42
    procedures, 193-98
    as pseudocode, 184-85
    readability and, 191-93
    using apostrophes for, 189-91
    using solid-character lines, 185-88
CommitTrans method, indentation and, 162, 166-67
Common database, Visual SourceSafe, 349
company prefixes, 71-73
comparing file revisions, 367-70, 367, 368, 369
compatibility, types of, 333-34. See also ActiveX components, backward compatibility of
compilation
    data types and errors, 227
    incrementing version numbers at, 330-32, 331
    options, 110-12, 111
compile errors, 109-12, 111, 227
compound conditions, short-circuiting, 232-34
concatenating strings, 99-100, 106-7, 152
consistency, 138-41, 252-54
constants. See also enumerations
    default scope of, 66
    global, 20-21
    goals of using, 64
    magic numbers vs., 21, 59-61, 67-68
    naming, 64-67
    system (see system constants)
    using, 59-61
    using, in For...Next loops, 208, 212
    using, as references to elements of control arrays, 70-71
container controls, 275-76, 279-80, 301
context menus, 307-11, 308, 315-17
continuation lines
    indenting, 156-59, 162, 164-65
    using, 151-56
controls
    ActiveX vs. standard, 273
    advanced interface techniques and, 265
    avoiding picture box, 279-80
    benefits of naming conventions for, 51
    check box captions, 268
    denoting default properties, 53
    disabling, vs. hiding, 269-70, 270, 271
    displaying lists with combo box, 278, 278
    displaying lists with list box, 277, 277
    displaying static lists with option buttons, 275-77, 275
    displaying text with text box, 274, 274
    height of single-line, 265-67, 266, 267
    looping through arrays of, 276-77
    prefixes for ActiveX, 57
    prefixes for standard, 56-57
    referencing, in control arrays, 70-71
    setting maximum length of data-bound, 305-7, 306, 307
    standardizing appearance of, 265-73
    tab order and, 299-301, 301, 302
    toggling options with check boxes, 278, 279
    transparent backgrounds for labels, 269, 269
    using frame, 280
    using scroll bar, 280-81, 280
    using Tag properties, 271-73
    vertical alignment of labels, 268, 268
conventions. See constants; enumerations; error handling; naming conventions; variables
coordinates
    frame control, 280
    variables for, 83
copying projects, 358-59, 358, 359. See also backing up files
copying text in Visual SourceSafe, 370
copyright information, 196
counter variables, For...Next, 209, 212-15
critical messages, 318, 319
Ctrl+C key combination, 370
Ctrl+F5 key combination, 110, 111
Currency data type, 98

D
data
    data entry problems with magic numbers, 60
    enumerated (see enumerations)
    hard-coded (see hard-coded values; magic numbers)
    input/output procedures, specialized, 31
    numerical conditions in If...End If constructs, 231
    object templates and sharing, 20-22
    passing, between procedures using parameters, 41-44 (see also parameters)
    return values (see return values)
    True and False values, 89, 231, 238-39, 241
    types (see data types)
    validating (see data validation)
database object prefixes, 58
databases, Visual SourceSafe
    adding users to, 351-52, 351, 352
    creating, 349, 349
    .ini file extension, 350, 351
    opening, 349-51, 350
data-bound controls, maximum length of, 305-7, 306, 307
data ink, 187
data types
    choosing, for variables, 94-98, 95
data types, continued
    coding standards and, 6
    collection elements, 223-24, 226, 227
    constants and, 65-66
    enumerations as, 61, 63 (see also enumerations)
    Hungarian notation and, 52-53
    indentation and user-defined, 168-69
    for parameters, 41
    prefixes for variable names, 53-55
    suffixes, 52
    using specific in For Each...Next loops, 227-28
    Variant (see Variant data type)
data validation
    constants, 60
    enumerated type parameters, 64, 76-78
    parameters, 42-44
date, code modification, 195-96
Date data type, 98
debugging code
    enabling and disabling error handlers, 125-27, 126, 127 (see also error handling)
    single exit points and, 35-36
    specialized procedures and, 29
    tightly coupled procedures and, 30
decision structures. See flow control constructs
declarations
    of enumerations, 62
    explicit, of constants, 66
    explicit, of parameters, 41
    explicit, of variables, 5, 60, 79, 91-94, 93
    indentation and, 168-69, 170, 174-75
    indenting procedure, 156, 157-58
    single, of variables per line, 101-2
Declarations section, 23, 60, 62, 168-69
default command buttons, 302-3
default message box buttons, 322
default project templates, 16-17, 16, 17
default properties of controls, 53
descriptive names. See also names; naming conventions
    for procedures and modules, 33-35
    for variables, 82-86
design. See coding standards; interface design; modules; object templates; project templates; procedures
design consistency, 253-54
Developing User Interfaces for Microsoft Windows, 251
dialog boxes. See also forms
    About, 332-33, 333
    border styles, 255, 255
    design consistency and, 253-54
    tool windows, 258-59, 259, 260
differences, file revision, 368-70, 369
Dim statement, 53, 91, 103
directories. See folders
disabling error handlers, 124-27, 126, 127
disabling items on forms, 269-70, 270, 271
disabling menu commands, 283
disabling object templates, 18-19, 19
Dispatch IDs, 337
display resolution, 153
documentation, Readme files and, 341-42. See also commenting code
Do...Loop loops, 216-23
    commenting, 201-2
    GoTo statement vs., 221-23, 244-46
    indentation and, 162, 164
    testing exit conditions, 219-21
    While...Wend loops vs., 223
Double data type, 98
dynamic lists, 275, 277, 277, 278, 278

E
Edit menu commands, 284
Edit method, indentation and, 162, 166
element variables, 223-24
ellipsis (...), 282
ElseIf statement, 235
Else statement, 162, 163
enabled error handler, 122
Enabled property, 269, 283
enabling error handlers, 125-27, 126, 127
enabling object templates, 18-19, 19
encapsulation, 28, 31
End Function statement, 140
End If statement, 231-32
endless loops, 139
end-of-line comments, 153, 203, 239-40
End Property statement, 140
End Sub statement, 140
Enter key, 302-3
enumerations. See also constants
    custom, 62-64, 63
    goals of using, 64
    indentation and, 169
    naming conventions, 71-73
    parameters and, 44, 75-76
    system constants vs., 73-75, 73, 74
    using, 61-62, 62, 68-69
    validating passed values, 76-78
Enum keyword, 62
environmental errors, 109
Err object, 112-13, 114-15
error handling, 109-41
    call stack and, 122-24
    Case Else statements and, 236-37
    central, 127-34, 130
    creating consistent blocks, 138-41
    data types and, 227
    disabling, with On Error GoTo 0, 124-25
    documenting expected errors, 182-84
    enabling and disabling, in debugging, 125-27, 126, 127 (see also debugging code)
    Err object and, 112-13
    goals of, 134
    logging errors to text files, 130-34
error handling, continued
    object templates and, 18
    overflow errors, 94-95, 95
    single exit points and, 140-41, 244
    trapping expected errors with On Error Resume Next, 114-16, 136-38
    trapping unexpected errors with On Error GoTo, 116-22, 134-36
    types of, 113-28
    types of errors, 109-10
    using GoTo with, 244
    Visual Basic compilation options, 110-12, 111
Esc key, 302
Event procedures, documenting, 196
events
    backward compatibility and, 336-37
    mouse, 310-11, 315-17
evil type coercion (ETC), 99
exclamation icon, 318, 319, 321
execution flow. See flow control constructs
Exit Do statement, 218,
Exit For statement, 210, 215-16
Exit Function statement, 35, 118, 119
exit points for procedures, 30-31, 35-39, 140-41, 244
Exit Property statement, 118, 119
Exit Sub statement, 35, 118, 119
expected errors
    documenting, 182-84
    trapping, 113, 114-16, 136-38
explicit declaration
    of constants, 66
    of parameters, 41
    of variables, 5, 60, 79, 91-94, 93
expressions
    breaking statements between, 155-56
    comparing Boolean, to True or False, 241
    formatting, 241-43
    indenting continuation lines, 156, 158-59
    using parenthesis in, 242-43

F
F1 key, 74
F5 key, 110
False value, 89, 231, 241
fan-in and fan-out, 31-32, 32
File menu commands, 283
files
    backing up, 339, 342
    binary, 15, 356, 360
    .ini file extension, 350, 351
    logging errors to text, 130-34
    Readme, 341-42
    Visual Basic (see projects)
    Visual SourceSafe database (see databases, Visual SourceSafe)
Fixed Dialog style, 255, 255
Fixed Single style, 256-57, 257
Fixed ToolWindow style, 258-59, 259, 260
flow control constructs, 229-47
    avoiding GoSub statements, 243-44
    documenting, 243
    documenting nested, with end-of-line comments, 239-40
    formatting expressions, 241-43
    goals of, 230
    GoTo statements, 244-47
    If...End If, 230-34
    overview of, 229-30
    Select Case...End Select, 234-39
    using On Error Goto for, 116-22
focused variables, 80-81, 82
folders
    designating working, 356-57, 357, 358
    for object templates, 14-15, 14, 15, 19-20, 19
    paths and object templates, 21
    for project templates, 16, 17
    sharing working, 357
    Visual SourceSafe database, 349, 349
For Each...Next constructs, 223-28, 277
formatting characters for each developer, 190-91
formatting code, 145-77
    benefits of, 145-49
    expressions, 241-43
    goals of, 149
    indenting comments, 193
    indenting continuation lines, 156-59
    indenting declarations to show subordination, 168-69
    indenting For...Next constructs, 210, 215
    indenting to show organizational structure, 160-68, 160
    menus, 281-85, 282
    using line continuation character, 151-56
    using single statements per line, 102, 150-51
    using white space to group statements, 169-77
forms, 254-65
    assigning access keys to command buttons, 303-4, 304, 305
    avoiding morphing, 264-65
    border styles, 254-59, 255, 256, 257, 258, 259, 260
    controls on (see controls)
    creating command buttons, 302-3
    disabling templates, 18, 18
    keyboard navigation, 298-99 (see also keyboard navigation and interaction)
    pop-up menus (see pop-up menus)
    setting maximum length of data-bound controls, 305-7, 306, 307
    setting tab order of, 299-301, 301, 302
    startup positions, 260-64, 261, 262, 263
    templates, 14-15, 14
    unloading, 264
For...Next constructs
    commenting, 201-2
    GoTo statement vs., 221-23
    looping through arrays, 226-27
    using, 205-16
frame controls, 275-76, 279-80, 301
Friend keyword, 39-41
functionality, backward compatibility and, 337
Function keyword, 26
Function procedures. See also procedures
    calling, 45-46
    defined, 25, 26
    documenting return values, 198
    retrieving return values, 45, 46-47
    Variant return values, 101

G
global constants, 20-21, 30, 66. See also system constants
globally unique identifiers (GUIDs), 336
global scope, 39
global variables
    commenting, 202-3
    parameters vs., 20-21, 30, 41
    problems of, 103-4
GoSub statement, 243-44
GoTo statements
    case of line labels, 65, 118, 246-47
    indentation of line labels, 167-68
    line numbers and labels, 117
    looping constructs vs., 221-23
    single exit points and, 36
    using, 244-47
grammar mistakes, 324
Guest user, 351
GUIDs (globally unique identifiers), 336

H
hard-coded values
    numbers (see magic numbers)
    in object templates, 20-22
    strings, 59
height of single-line controls, 265-67, 266, 267
Help menu commands, 285
hiding
    items on forms, 269-70, 270, 271
    menu commands, 283
history, file revision, 367-68, 367, 368
hot keys, 282, 282, 285-88, 286
hourglass pointer icon, 312-13
Hungarian notation, 52-53, 79. See also prefixes

I
icons
    message box, 318, 320, 320, 321
    mouse pointer, 311-15
    source code control, 355, 355, 362
IDE. See integrated development environment (IDE)
If...End If constructs
    blank lines and, 170-71
    commenting, 199-200
    indentation and, 156, 159, 162-63
    numerical conditions, 231
    Select Case...End Select vs., 235
    short-circuiting compound conditions, 232-34
    using, 230-34
    using End If statements with, 231-32
    validating enumerated values, 76-78
ignoring errors. See expected errors
image controls, 279
indentation
    of comments, 193
    of continuation lines, 156-59
    of For...Next constructs, 210, 215
    self-documenting code and, 148
    to show organization structure, 160-68, 160
indexes of control arrays, 70-71
information messages, 318, 319
.ini file extension, 350, 351
inline comments, 182, 198-203
input, specialized procedures for, 31. See also interface design; user input
Insert menu commands, 284
installation programs, 332
Integer data type, 97
integrated development environment (IDE). See also Microsoft Visual Basic
    checking files in and out using, 360, 361-64, 362, 363
    run-time errors in, 110
    setting in error trapping, 126-27, 126, 127
interactive duality, 297
interface design, 251-93
    benefits of standards, 4-5
    consistency in, 252-54
    controls (see controls)
    forms (see forms)
    goals of, 254
    menus (see menus)
    using system colors, 289-93, 290, 291

J-K
jargon, avoiding, 324-25
keyboard navigation and interaction, 295, 298-325
    assigning access keys to command buttons, 303-4, 304, 305
    dialog box command buttons and, 302-3
    setting maximum length of data-bound controls, 305-7, 306, 307
    setting tab order of forms, 299-301, 301, 302
keys. See access keys; shortcut keys

L
label controls, 268-69, 268, 269, 274, 274
labels. See line labels
line continuation character (_), 151-56. See also continuation lines
line labels. See also GoTo statements
    case of, 65, 118, 246-47
    indentation and, 167-68
    line numbers and, 117
line labels, continued
    PROC_ERR, 117
    PROC_EXIT, 36, 118, 119, 140, 244
line numbers, 117
list box controls, 277, 277, 315-17
lists
    dynamic, 277, 277, 278, 278
    selecting items before displaying pop-up menu, 315-17
    static, 275-77, 275
local constants, 66
local variables, 84, 103
logging errors to text files, 130-34
log in, Visual SourceSafe, 353, 353
Long data type, 98
looping constructs, 205-28
    benefits of, 205
    blank lines and, 170, 173
    commenting, 201-2
    Do...Loop, 216-23
    For Each...Next, 223-28
    For...Next, 205-16
    goals of, 205
loops, endless, 139
loosely coupled procedures, 30
lowercase. See case of characters

M
magic numbers. See also hard-coded values
    constants vs., 21, 59-61, 67-68
    data validation and, 77-78
    loops and, 208
MaxLength property, 305-7, 306, 307
memory resources
    picture box controls and, 279
    scope and, 103, 104
    unloading forms to free, 264
    Variants, 100
Menu Editor, 282, 286
menus, 281-89
    access keys, 282, 282
    basic and extended shortcut keys, 288
    Edit menu commands, 284
    File menu commands, 283
menus, continued
    formatting and organizing Windows style, 281-85, 282
    Help menu commands, 285
    Insert menu commands, 284
    items corresponding to toolbar buttons, 288-89
    keyboard access, 298
    pop-up, 307-11, 308, 315-17
    shortcut keys, 253, 285-88, 286
    tools for creating, 286
    Tools menu commands, 285
    View menu commands, 284
    Visual SourceSafe add-in, for Visual Basic, 352-53, 353
    Window menu commands, 285
message boxes, 318-25
    avoiding technical jargon, 324-25
    button enumerations, 61-62, 62, 74
    choosing appropriate, 318-20, 319, 320
    choosing buttons, 321-23, 323
    error handling and, 139
    notification messages and, 297-98
    proofreading messages, 324, 324
methods
    backward compatibility and, 336-37
    indentation of Recordset, 162, 166-67
    PopupMenu, 309-10
    SetFocus, 136, 183-84
Microsoft Office, 4-5, 252-53
Microsoft Outlook-style navigation bars, 265
Microsoft Visual Basic
    Auto List Members feature, 61-62, 62
    compilation options, 110-11
    data types, 97 (see also data types)
    declarations settings, 5, 60, 92-93, 93
    default scope, 40
    IDE (see integrated development environment (IDE))
Microsoft Visual Basic, continued
    levels of ActiveX component compatibility, 337, 338
    levels of scope in, 103
    necessity for standards for, 5-9 (see also coding standards)
    projects (see projects)
    project templates, 16-17, 16, 17
    setting in error trapping, 126-27, 126, 127
    source code control (see Microsoft Visual SourceSafe)
    system constants, 71 (see also system constants)
    tab stop settings, 160, 160
    template settings, 19-20, 19
    viewing multiple procedures, 32-33, 33, 176, 177
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, 345-72
    adding new files to projects, 364-65, 364
    adding users, 351-52, 351
    benefits and complexities of, 345-46
    checking files in and out with Visual Basic IDE, 361-64, 362, 363
    checking files out with Explorer, 359-61, 360, 361
    comparing revisions, 367-70, 367, 368, 369
    components and functions of, 347-48
    creating databases, 349, 349
    creating working copies of projects, 358-59, 358, 359
    designating working folders, 356-57, 357, 358
    opening databases, 349-51, 350
    placing projects under control of, 352-55, 353, 354, 355
    project development under, 355-70
    retrieving latest version of files, 365-67, 365, 366, 367
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe, continued
    setting up, with Administrator, 348-55, 348
    team development challenges, 346-47
    version control and, 343 (see also version control)
Microsoft Windows
    interface, 252-53, 281-85, 282
    viewing version numbers with Explorer, 330, 331
mixed-case. See case of characters
modules. See also projects
    alphabetizing procedures in, 32, 33
    compiling (see compilation)
    creating, 26-28
    Declarations sections, 23-24, 168-69 (see also declarations)
    descriptive names for, 33-35
    error handling and, 18 (see also error handling)
    goals of designing, 33
    procedures and, 25-26 (see also procedures)
    requiring variable declaration, 92-93, 93
module scope, 39-40, 41, 103
monitor resolution, 153
morphing forms, 264-65
mouse interaction, 295, 307-17
    pop-up menus, 307-11, 308
    selecting list items before displaying pop-up menu, 315-17
    using pointer for user feedback, 311-15
MousePointer property, 311-12
MsgBox statement, 61-62, 62, 74, 139, 297, 318. See also message boxes
multiline text boxes, 306
multiple-document interface (MDI) mode, 261-62, 262
multiple-line statements, 154-55
multiple procedures, viewing, 32-33, 33, 176, 177
multiple statements per line, 101-2, 150-51
multiselection list boxes, 277, 277

N
names
    alphabetizing procedure, in modules, 32, 33
    application, 21-22
    in comments, 181
    constant, 60
    conventions (see naming conventions)
    descriptive, for procedures and modules, 33-35
    descriptive, for variables, 82-86
    hard-coded application, in object templates, 21-22
naming conventions, 51-58
    for constants, 64-67
    data type suffixes, 52
    denoting variable data type, 53-55
    denoting variable scope, 55-56
    differentiating variables from controls, 51
    for enumerations, 71-73
    Hungarian notation, 52-53
    for modules, 26
    for objects, 56-58
navigation. See keyboard navigation and interaction
navigation bars, Outlook-style, 265
nested constructs
    commenting, 239-40
    indenting, 161
nested procedures, 122-24
No Compatibility level, 337, 338, 338
Nothing, setting forms equal to, 264
notifications. See also user input
    goals of, 298
    message boxes, 318-25 (see also message boxes)
    overview of, 295, 297-98
numbers
    as conditions in If...End If constructs, 231
    line, 117
    magic (see magic numbers)

O
Object data type, 223-24, 227
objects
    controls (see controls)
    default properties, 53, 148
    Err, 112-13, 114-15
    error handling with, 116
    looping through collections of, 223-28
    prefixes for, 54, 56-58
    reusable, 13, 16
    templates (see object templates)
    Variant data type and, 98
object templates. See also project templates
    benefits of, 13
    comments in, 23-24
    editing, 15
    enabling and disabling, 18-19, 18, 19
    error handling and, 18
    goals of using, 20
    hard-coded values and, 20-22
    setting folder for, 19-20, 19
    using, 14-15, 14, 15
obj prefix, 54
OK buttons, 302-3, 321-22
On Error GoTo 0 statement, 117, 124-25
On Error GoTo statement, 113, 116-22, 134-36
On Error Resume Next statement, 113, 114-16, 136-38
option buttons, 275-77, 275
Option Explicit statement, 5, 60, 92-93
ordering Case statements, 237-38
organizational structure, indentation to show, 160-68, 160
output, specialized procedures for, 31
overflow errors, 94-95, 95

P
parameters
    backward compatibility and, 337
    documenting, 197
    enumerations for, 44, 64, 75-76
    global data vs., 20-21, 30
    passing data between procedures using, 41-44
    system constants for, 74, 74
    validating, 42-44, 76-78
parent controls, 275-76, 279-80, 301
parentheses ()
    clarifying expressions with, 242-43
    function calls and, 46
passing by reference vs. by value, 41-42
passwords, Visual SourceSafe, 351-52, 351
paths, object templates and hard-coded, 21. See also folders
performance, 7, 100-101, 223, 241
picture box controls, 279-80
pixels, 266280
plus sign (+), 99-100, 106
pointer, mouse, 311-15
pointing devices, 295
PopupMenu method, 309-10
pop-up menus, 307-11, 308, 315-17
positive form in Boolean variables, 89-91, 241-42
prefixes
    application or company, for enumerations, 71-73
    constant, 64-67
    Hungarian notation and, 52-53
    object, 56-58
    variable data type, 53-55
    variable scope, 55-56, 105-6
Private keyword, 39-41, 66, 91, 103
procedural scope, 103
Procedure IDs, 337
procedures
    alphabetizing, in modules, 32, 33
procedures, continued
    blank lines and, 170, 176-77, 177
    calling, 45-47
    clearly defined scope for, 39-41
    comment headers for, 193-98
    descriptive names for, 33-35
    documenting code processes in, 198-203
    error handling in (see error handling)
    goals of designing, 33
    indenting continuation lines of, 156, 157-58
    minimizing fan-in and fan-out, 31-32, 32
    modules and, 25-28 (see also modules)
    object templates and Property, 22
    parameters to pass data between, 20-21, 41-44 (see also parameters)
    self-contained, 30-31
    single exit points for, 35-39
    specialized functions and, 28-30
    types of, 25-26
    viewing multiple, 176, 177
PROC_ERR label, 117
PROC_EXIT label, 36, 118, 119, 140, 244
programmer errors, 109
programming standards. See coding standards
Project Compatibility level, 337, 338, 339
Project Explorer, 355, 355, 361-64, 362, 363
projects. See also modules
    adding objects to, 14-15, 14, 15
    coding standards (see coding standards)
    compatibility at level of, 337, 338, 339
    compiling (see compilation)
    error trapping setting, 126-27, 126, 127 (see also error handling)
    source code control (see Microsoft Visual SourceSafe)
projects, continued
    team development challenges, 8, 346-47
    templates (see project templates)
    version control (see version control)
project templates. See also object templates
    benefits of, 13
    custom, 17-18
    goals of using, 20
    Visual Basic, 16-17, 16, 17
proofreading messages, 324, 324
properties
    App object, 20-22, 333
    backward compatibility and, 336-37
    denoting default, of controls, 53
    determining system constants for, 74, 74
    Err object, 112-13
    exposing, for template objects, 22
    MaxLength of data-bound controls, 305-7, 306, 307
    MousePointer, 311-12
    tab order, of forms, 299-301
    Tag, 271-73
Property keywords, 26
Property procedures, 22, 25, 26, 196
pseudocode, comments as, 184-85
pseudosubroutines, 243-44
Public keyword, 39-41, 66, 91, 103
purpose
    of code, 180-82
    of procedures, 197
    of variables, 80-81, 82

Q
qualifiers, variable name, 88-89
quantity, indicating, 280-81, 280
question messages, 318 319

R
readability
    comments and, 6, 191-93
    constants and, 61, 68
    formatting and, 6, 148
Readme files, 341-42
read-only files, Visual SourceSafe and, 348
Recordset methods, indentation and, 162, 166-67
redundancy, 205
reentrancy, preventing, 104-5
Registry, 336
REM keyword, 189
reserved words, 154
resolution, monitor, 153
resources. See memory resources
restoring backup files, 342
return values
    documenting, 198
    enumerations, 64
    message box constants, 322-23
    retrieving, 45, 46-47
    Variant, 101
reusability, 13, 16, 20, 252
revisions
    comparing, 367-70, 367, 368, 369
    history, 196
RollBack method, indentation and, 166-67
rounding, 6, 94, 99
routines. See procedures
run time, disabling error handlers at, 124-25
run-time errors, 109-10

S
scope
    denoting constant, 61, 64-67, 70
    denoting variable, 55-56, 105-6
    minimizing variable, 30, 41, 103-6
    of procedures, 39-41
scroll bar controls, 280-81, 280
Select Case...End Select construct
    blank lines and, 170, 172
    Case statements that are never True, 238-39
    commenting, 200-201
    determining selected option button, 236
Select Case...End Select construct, continued
    including Case Else with, 236-37
    indentation and, 162, 163-64
    ordering Case statements, 237-38
    using, 234-39
    validating enumerated type parameters, 77, 78
selecting list items before displaying pop-up menus, 315-17
self-contained procedures, 30-31
sentences, using complete, 191-92
SetFocus method, 136, 183-84
Shift+F2 key combination, 66
short-circuiting compound conditions, 232-34
shortcut keys, 253, 285-88, 286. See also access keys
Simonyi, Charles, 52
single declarations per line, 102
single-document interface (SDI) mode, 261, 261
single exit points for procedures, 30-31, 35-39, 140-41, 244
single statements per line, 150-51
Sizable style, 257, 258
Sizable ToolWindow style, 258-59, 259, 260
solid-character comment lines, 185-88
source code control. See Microsoft Visual SourceSafe; version control
source code standards. See coding standards
spaces
    splitting statements after, 154-55
    underscores for, 35, 86
special characters for each developer, 190-91
specialized procedures, 28-30, 31
speed, indicating, 280-81, 280
spelling mistakes, 75, 146, 324, 324
standard controls, 56-57, 273. See also controls
standards. See coding standards
startup position, form, 260-64, 261, 262, 263
statements
    blank lines between groups of, 170, 175-76
    breaking, 154-56
    grouping, with blank lines, 169-77
    indentation and, 162, 164-65
    single, per line, 102, 150-51
Static keyword, 91
static lists, 275-78, 275, 277, 278, 279
static variables, 104-5
Step keyword, 205, 207-8, 212
String data type, 97
strings
    breaking large, 152-53
    concatenating, 99-100, 106-7, 152
    eliminating hard-coded, 59
    passing, 42
strong cohesion, 27
Sub keyword, 26
Sub procedures, 25, 26, 46, 47. See also procedures
suffixes
    data type, 52
    qualifier, 88-89
syntax errors, 109-10, 154
system colors, 289-93, 290, 291
system constants
    message box buttons, 321-23, 323
    message box icons, 320
    message box return values, 322-23
    mouse pointer icons, 311-12
    naming conventions, 71
    pop-up menu, 310
    system colors, 292
    using, 73-75, 73, 74, 83

T
Tab controls, 265
tablets, 295
tab order of forms, 299-301, 301, 302
tab stops, 160, 160
Tag properties, 271-73
team development, challenges of, 8, 346-47. See also Microsoft Visual Source-Safe; version control
technical jargon, avoiding, 324-25
Template folder, 14-17, 14, 15, 16, 17
templates. See object templates; project templates
temporary variables, 84-86
territorial statements, 151
text box controls
    displaying editable text, 274, 274
    height of, 265-67, 266, 267
    maximum length of text in, 306-7, 307
    referencing control array elements, 70-71
text copying in Visual SourceSafe, 370
text files, logging errors to, 130-34
tightly coupled procedures, 30-31, 32
time values, 98
timing errors, 109
toggling options, 278, 279
toolbar buttons, menu items for, 288-89
Tools menu commands, 285
tool windows, 258-59, 259, 260
touchpads, 295
trackballs, 295
trapping errors. See error handling
Tree view controls, 265
True value, 89, 231, 238-39, 241
twips, 280, 316
type coercion, 6, 94, 99
type_ prefix, 54-55

U
udt prefix, 55
underscore (_)
    as line continuation character, 151-56
    simulating spaces in names, 35, 86
unexpected errors, trapping, 113, 116-22, 134-36
unfocused variables, 80
unloading forms, 264
Until keyword, 217, 219-21
Update method, indentation and, 162, 166
update problems, 60-61
uppercase. See case of characters
user accounts, adding Visual SourceSafe, 351-52, 351, 352
user-defined data types
    indentation and, 168-69
    naming, 54-55
user input. See also notifications
    data entry problems, 60
    goals of, 298
    keyboard interaction,
298-307 (see also keyboard navigation and interaction)     mouse interaction, 307-17 (see also mouse interaction)
    overview of, 295, 296-97
    specialized procedures for, 31
user interfaces. See interface design

V
validating. See data validation
values. See data
variables, 79-107
    abbreviating names of, 87-88
    benefits of naming conventions, 51
    blank lines and blocks of, 170, 174-75
    choosing data types for, 94-98, 95 (see also data types)
    concatenating strings, 106-7
    data type prefixes, 53-55
    data type suffixes, 52
    descriptive names for, 82-86
    differentiating, from controls, 51
    documenting, with end-of-line comments, 203
    element, 223-24
    explicitly declaring, 5, 60, 79, 91-94, 93
    focused, 80-81
    For...Next counter, 209, 212-15
    global (see global variables)
    goals of using, 79
variables, continued
    Hungarian notation, 52-53, 79
    minimizing scope of, 30, 41, 103-6
    mixed case in naming, 86-87
    names in comments, 181
    passing, between procedures, 41-44 (see also parameters)
    positive forms for Boolean, 89-91, 241-42
    qualifiers for, 88-89
    scope prefixes, 55-56, 106
    setting, and indenting continuation lines, 156, 157, 158-59
    setting, to Function procedure result, 46
    temporary, 84-86
    using Variant data type for, 98-102
    voodoo, 5
Variant data type
    as default type of parameters, 41
    element variables of collections and, 223-24, 226, 227
    and initial values, 92
    type coercion problems of, 6, 98-102
version compatibility, 334
version control, 329-43
    backing up files, 342
    benefits of, 329-30
    displaying version numbers in About dialog boxes, 332-33, 333
    documenting changes in Readme files, 341-42
    goals of, 330
    incrementing version numbers at compilation, 330-32, 331
    maintaining backward compatibility in ActiveX components, 333-41, 338, 340
    Microsoft Visual SourceSafe and, 343 (see also Microsoft Visual SourceSafe)
version control, continued
    object templates and hard-coded version numbers, 22
View menu commands, 284
violations of programming style, explaining, 182
visibility. See scope
Visible property, 269, 283
Visual Basic. See Microsoft Visual Basic
Visual Display of Quantitative Information, The (Tufte), 187
Visual SourceSafe. See Microsoft Visual SourceSafe
Visual SourceSafe Administrator, 348, 348, 352
Visual SourceSafe Explorer, 357, 357, 358, 359-61, 360, 361, 363
voodoo variables, 5

W
warning messages, 318, 319
weak cohesion, 27
While keyword, 216-17, 219-21
While...Wend constructs, 223
white space, grouping statements with, 169-77
Window menu commands, 285
windows
    tool, 258-59, 259, 260
    viewing multiple procedures in, 32-33, 33, 176, 177
Windows. See Microsoft Windows
Windows Explorer, 330, 331
Windows Interface Guidelines for Software Design, The, 251
With statement, indentation and, 162, 165
working copies of projects, 358-59, 358, 359
working folders, 356-57, 357, 358