Copyright: Goran Liljestrom v1.00:061294


Contents
VB - Spy Help

Contents

What is VB-Spy ?

Toolbar

Sections

Questions


File menu
File menu:

Open:

The open menu is for opening a new project file to process.

Remeber to save Your files as text in VB first.

Keyboard Shortcut CTRL+O.

Update Project

Updates the current project file. The file name is showing on the titlebar.

Keyboard Shortcut CTRL+U.

Exit

Exit VB-SPY.

Keyboard Shortcut ALT + F4.


Options Menu

Load last file on start:

This option  loads the last .MAK file VB-SPY was using in Your last session. This makes it easier when using VB-SPY in multiple sessions on the same project.

On Top:

Makes the window stay on top of other windows, even when not active.


Help Menu

Contents:

Open the help contens screen.

Search help on...

Open the help search dialog  box.

About VB-SPY

Display the About form.


Toolbar

Open a new projekt (.MAK) file. Remember to save Your files as text in the Save As...dialog in VB. Se also File Menu

Exit VB-SPY. Se also File Menu

Cancel the on-going project update. This is useful with big projects. Availeble only during project update. Not accesebly via  menu.

Make the VB-SPY window stay on top of other windows, even when not active. Se also Options Menu

Make the VB-SPY window behave normally. Cancels the previous action. Se also Options Menu

Update the current project. To use when You have added code since  last update or since You started VB-SPY. Se also File Menu


What is VB-Spy ?

 Its a program for Visual Basic programmers intended to use alongside with VB when You are working on Your application.

 It reads Your code files and displays info about the name and number of  global, module and local variables, functions, subs, declarations. You also gets a summary of Your project with totals, number of codelines .It also displays the .MAK file in the summary section.

 The program is provided with source code, and for You to modify as You wish.

 VB-Spy is totally free of charge.

 The VB-Spy project has a couple of general modules for You to use and modify.

Se also: Questions


Sections

The different sections ( Tabs ) are showing information about Your Visual Basic program.

There are seven different sections:

Subs

Functions

Global Var.

Module Var.

Local Var.

Declarations

Summary


Subs

This section is showing the name of all Your subroutines including arguments.

The subroutines are grouped by files in Your project.

Note:

Gosub procedures inside subroutines or functions are ignored.

To view the subs section You can click on the subs tab or press alt+s.


Functions

This section is showing the name of all Your functions including arguments and return value definition.

The functions are grouped by files in Your project.

To view the functions section You can click on the functions tab or press alt+f.


Global Variables
Global Var.

This section is showing the name of all Your global variables.

They are grouped by files in Your project.

To view the global variables section You can click on the global var. tab or press alt+g.


Module Variables
Module Var.

This section is showing the name of all Your module variables.

They are grouped by files in Your project.

To view the module variables section You can click on the module var. tab or press alt+m.


Local variables
Local Var.

This section is showing the name of all Your local variables.

They are grouped by files in Your project.

To view the local variables section You can click on the local var. tab or press alt+l.


Declarations

This section is showing the name of all Your declarations.

They are grouped by files in Your project.

To view the declarations section You can click on the declarations tab or press alt+d.


Summary

This section is showing the summary for all the files that have been read by VB-Spy.

Here You get the number of codelines ,subs, functions, global-, module-, local variables and declarations.

They are grouped by files in Your project.

This section also displays a total summary for all the items mentioned above.

Last You get to see the contents of Your project file ( .MAK ).

Note:

The number of codelines doesnt include lines with only comments. nor is the formdefinition code in .FRM files

To view the summary section You can click on the summary tab or press alt+s.


Questions
Questions & Answers

How do I get it to work ?

Can I modify the sourcecode ?

Who is the author ?

Do I need to register ?


How do I get it to work ?

-  Be sure to save Your code in VB as text, because the whole program principal is to read text  files. You can find the save as text check box in the VB file/save as menu. You can also make it default by make the change in the enviroment menu option.
If VB-Spy tries to read a binary file, You will get a file error message and the process will stop.

-  Remember to save Your code files before updateing the project in VB-Spy. Because it reads the saved file, not the text that happens be in the code window,

-  The program uses three .VBX files:
Cmdialog.vbx: Included with standard VB 3
Threed.vbx: Included with professional VB 3
Tabbed.vbx:The excellent .vbx written by Peter Ashton. Included on PC-Plus superdisk in issue 95, august 1994. Please note that this custom control is shareware. Please read instructions provided with this VBX.
The program will not work if it cant find these files.


Can I modify the source code ?

Yes, by all means do. My experience is that allmost all small utilities are not used because it has som quirks or behaviour that You dont like. This is especially true with programmers !

Here are some ideas to get You going:

-  Put in timer code in timeconsuming subs or functions.e.g. You could print to the debug window how long time the procedure is taking using the timer function. It would be relatively easy to make the insertion end deletion of debug code automatic.

-  Make VB-Spy call the  DLL functions to always load the same .MAK file as VB is using. Bevare of errors when calling DLL and save Your work before execution.

-  Add code to take care of keywords in code lines separated by colons.
E.g. in the line:
Dim x : Dim y
The variable y will not be noted by VB-Spy. But the following line will be handled correctly:
Dim x, y

-  With a few code lines You could make a print function for the program.

-  You could do automatic backup of Your files, let´s say in the OpenCodeFile procedure and even extend it to some kind of version control.


Keywords:

The strings in Your source code that VB-Spy is looking for:

Sub, Function, Declare, Global, Dim, Const, Static.


Who is the author ?

My name is Goran Liljestrom and live near Jakobstad ( Pietarsaari ) in Finland. I am 30 years old and is coding just for fun ( carpenter as trade ).

I apologise for the spelling errors in this help-file ( surely there must be some! ) but english is my third language, behind swedish and finnish.

My other hobby is amateur radio and often combined with programming and other computer related stuff.

You can contact me under the following address:

Goran Liljestrom

Purmov. 718

SF-68940 Lillby

FINLAND

If You are or knows a radioamateur, You can also contact me on the packet radio net:

OH6MUE@OH6RBG.FIN.EU

Have fun with Visual Basic !!


No, the program and source code is free