What is a Visual Basic Object (Control)?

Anything that you can point the mouse at is an Object or Control:

• Windows
• Buttons
• Scroll Bars
• List Boxes
• Labels
• Menus and Menu Items
• and much more...

What are an ObjectÆs Properties?

HereÆs a list of some of your Properties? (The values of which will remain secret)

• Age
• Height
• Weight
• Name
• Eye color

Objects in a Visual Basic program also have Properties. Here are just some of the Properties shared by most Visual Basic Objects:

• Height
• Width
• Name
• Visible
• Text
• BackColor
• ForeColor

Why are Objects (Controls) and their Properties important in Visual Basic?

Objects are literally the building blocks of a Visual Basic Program. By combining Buttons, Textboxes, scrollbars, and Menu objects, it is easy to create a simple program with Visual Basic. By changing an objectÆs properties, you change the way it appears: By changing a buttonÆs Text property, for example, you can change a button that says "ON" to "OFF", or "Start" to "Stop". You can move a PictureBox around in a window by changing its Top and/or Left properties. You can change the size of a Textbox by adjusting its Height and Width properties. By changing an ObjectÆs Properties you can customize the look and behavior of objects within your Visual Basic programs.

To access an ObjectÆs Properties, just select the Object after it has been placed on a Form. It's properties are listed in the Properties Window.  Note: Visual Basic Objects will commonly be referred to as Controls throughout the rest of this class.