Visual Basic Q&A

Symptoms
This article demonstrates how to programmatically control Microsoft Outlook using Automation from Visual Basic. The example demonstrates creating contacts, creating appointments, and sending messages by using Microsoft Outlook’s object-model.
Resolution
Follow the steps below to create and run the example. To run the sample, you need an early-bound reference to a Microsoft Outlook type library. The following table lists the file names of the type libraries for the different versions of Microsoft Outlook:
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Outlook versionHow type library appears in references listFilenameOutlook 97″Microsoft Outlook 8.0 Object Library”msoutl8.olbmsoutl8.olb”Microsoft Outlook 98 Object Library”msoutl85.olbOutlook 2000″Microsoft Outlook 9.0 Object Library”msoutl9.olbOutlook 2002″Microsoft Outlook 10.0 Object Library”msoutl.olbOffice Outlook 2003″Microsoft Outlook 11.0 Object Library”msoutl.olb
Building the automation sampleStart Visual Basic, and create a new Standard EXE project.From the Project menu, choose References and select Microsoft Outlook.Add a button to your form.Double-click the button, and then add the following code:

‘ Start Outlook. ‘ If it is already running, you’ll use the same instance…Dim olApp As Outlook.ApplicationSet olApp = CreateObject(“Outlook.Application”)’ Logon. Doesn’t hurt if you are already running and logged on…Dim olNs As Outlook.NameSpaceSet olNs = olApp.GetNamespace(“MAPI”)olNs.Logon ‘ Create and Open a new contact.Dim olItem As Outlook.ContactItemSet olItem = olApp.CreateItem(olContactItem) ‘ Setup Contact information…With olItem.FullName = “James Smith”.Birthday = “9/15/1975″.CompanyName = “Microsoft”.HomeTelephoneNumber = “704-555-8888″.Email1Address = “someone@microsoft.com”.JobTitle = “Developer”.HomeAddress = “111 Main St.” & vbCr & “Charlotte, NC 28226″End With’ Save Contact…olItem.Save’ Create a new appointment.Dim olAppt As Outlook.AppointmentItemSet olAppt = olApp.CreateItem(olAppointmentItem)’ Set start time for 2-minutes from now…olAppt.Start = Now() + (2# / 24# / 60#)’ Setup other appointment information…With olAppt.Duration = 60.Subject = “Meeting to discuss plans…”.Body = “Meeting with ” & olItem.FullName & ” to discuss plans.”.Location = “Home Office”.ReminderMinutesBeforeStart = 1.ReminderSet = TrueEnd With’ Save Appointment…olAppt.Save’ Send a message to your new contact.Dim olMail As Outlook.MailItemSet olMail = olApp.CreateItem(olMailItem) ‘ Fill out & send message…olMail.To = olItem.Email1AddressolMail.Subject = “About our meeting…”olMail.Body = _”Dear ” & olItem.FirstName & “, ” & vbCr & vbCr & vbTab & _”I’ll see you in 2 minutes for our meeting!” & vbCr & vbCr & _”Btw: I’ve added you to my contact list.”olMail.Send’ Clean up…MsgBox “All done…”, vbMsgBoxSetForegroundolNS.LogoffSet olNs = NothingSet olMail = NothingSet olAppt = NothingSet olItem = NothingSet olApp = Nothing Run the project, and click the button to run the code. Once the code runs, you should have a new contact named “James Smith,” an appointment scheduled in two minutes with a reminder to appear in one minute, and have sent a message to someone@microsoft.com. Also, because you added a birthday for your contact (9/15), a recurring event was added for your Outlook Calendar to remind you of the day.
New to Outlook 2002 are the two dialog boxes: one warning you that a program is trying to access e-mail addresses you have stored in Outlook and asking if you want to allow this, and another message to the effect that a program is trying to send e-mail. This feature will protect you from unknowingly being used by a virus that sends e-mail from your system.
For more information, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
290500?(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/290500/) Description of the developer-related e-mail security features in Outlook 2002

Symptoms
This article demonstrates how to create an Automation client for Microsoft Excel by using Microsoft Visual Basic .NET.
Resolution
Automation is a process that allows applications that are written in languages such as Visual Basic to programmatically control other applications. Automation to Excel allows you to perform actions such as creating a new workbook, adding data to the workbook, or creating charts. With Excel and other Microsoft Office applications, virtually all of the actions that you can perform manually through the user interface can also be performed programmatically by using Automation.
Excel exposes this programmatic functionality through an object model. The object model is a collection of classes and methods that serve as counterparts to the logical components of Excel. For example, there is an Application object, a Workbook object, and a Worksheet object, each of which contain the functionality of those components of Excel. To access the object model from Visual Basic .NET, you can set a project reference to the type library.
This article demonstrates how to set the proper project reference to the Excel type library for Visual Basic .NET and provides sample code to automate Excel. Create an automation client for Microsoft ExcelStart Microsoft Visual Studio .NET.On the File menu, click New, and then click Project. Select Windows Application from the Visual Basic Project types. Form1 is created by default.Add a reference to Microsoft Excel Object Library. To do this, follow these steps: On the Project menu, click Add Reference.On the COM tab, locate Microsoft Excel Object Library, and then click Select.
Note Microsoft Office 2003 includes Primary Interop Assemblies (PIAs). Microsoft Office XP does not include PIAs, but they can be downloaded. For more information about Office XP PIAs, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
328912?(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/328912/) Microsoft Office XP primary interop assemblies (PIAs) are available for downloadClick OK in the Add References dialog box to accept your selections.On the View menu, select Toolbox to display the Toolbox, and then add a button to Form1.Double-click Button1. The code window for the form appears.In the code window, locate the following code:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.ClickEnd Sub Replace the previous code with the following code:

Private Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, _ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.ClickDim oXL As Excel.ApplicationDim oWB As Excel.WorkbookDim oSheet As Excel.WorksheetDim oRng As Excel.Range’ Start Excel and get Application object.oXL = CreateObject(“Excel.Application”)oXL.Visible = True’ Get a new workbook.oWB = oXL.Workbooks.AddoSheet = oWB.ActiveSheet’ Add table headers going cell by cell.oSheet.Cells(1, 1).Value = “First Name”oSheet.Cells(1, 2).Value = “Last Name”oSheet.Cells(1, 3).Value = “Full Name”oSheet.Cells(1, 4).Value = “Salary”‘ Format A1:D1 as bold, vertical alignment = center.With oSheet.Range(“A1″, “D1″).Font.Bold = True.VerticalAlignment = Excel.XlVAlign.xlVAlignCenterEnd With’ Create an array to set multiple values at once.Dim saNames(5, 2) As StringsaNames(0, 0) = “John”saNames(0, 1) = “Smith”saNames(1, 0) = “Tom”saNames(1, 1) = “Brown”saNames(2, 0) = “Sue”saNames(2, 1) = “Thomas”saNames(3, 0) = “Jane”saNames(3, 1) = “Jones”saNames(4, 0) = “Adam”saNames(4, 1) = “Johnson”‘ Fill A2:B6 with an array of values (First and Last Names).oSheet.Range(“A2″, “B6″).Value = saNames’ Fill C2:C6 with a relative formula (=A2 & ” ” & B2).oRng = oSheet.Range(“C2″, “C6″)oRng.Formula = “=A2 & “” “” & B2″‘ Fill D2:D6 with a formula(=RAND()*100000) and apply format.oRng = oSheet.Range(“D2″, “D6″)oRng.Formula = “=RAND()*100000″oRng.NumberFormat = “$0.00″‘ AutoFit columns A:D.oRng = oSheet.Range(“A1″, “D1″)oRng.EntireColumn.AutoFit()’ Manipulate a variable number of columns for Quarterly Sales Data.Call DisplayQuarterlySales(oSheet)’ Make sure Excel is visible and give the user control’ of Excel’s lifetime.oXL.Visible = TrueoXL.UserControl = True’ Make sure that you release object references.oRng = NothingoSheet = NothingoWB = NothingoXL.Quit()oXL = NothingExit SubErr_Handler:MsgBox(Err.Description, vbCritical, “Error: ” & Err.Number)End SubPrivate Sub DisplayQuarterlySales(ByVal oWS As Excel.Worksheet)Dim oResizeRange As Excel.RangeDim oChart As Excel.ChartDim oSeries As Excel.SeriesDim iNumQtrs As IntegerDim sMsg As StringDim iRet As Integer’ Determine how many quarters to display data for.For iNumQtrs = 4 To 2 Step -1sMsg = “Enter sales data for” & Str(iNumQtrs) & ” quarter(s)?”iRet = MsgBox(sMsg, vbYesNo Or vbQuestion _Or vbMsgBoxSetForeground, “Quarterly Sales”)If iRet = vbYes Then Exit ForNext iNumQtrs’ Starting at E1, fill headers for the number of columns selected.oResizeRange = oWS.Range(“E1″, “E1″).Resize(ColumnSize:=iNumQtrs)oResizeRange.Formula = “=”"Q”" & COLUMN()-4 & CHAR(10) & “”Sales”"”‘ Change the Orientation and WrapText properties for the headers.oResizeRange.Orientation = 38oResizeRange.WrapText = True’ Fill the interior color of the headers.oResizeRange.Interior.ColorIndex = 36′ Fill the columns with a formula and apply a number format.oResizeRange = oWS.Range(“E2″, “E6″).Resize(ColumnSize:=iNumQtrs)oResizeRange.Formula = “=RAND()*100″oResizeRange.NumberFormat = “$0.00″‘ Apply borders to the Sales data and headers.oResizeRange = oWS.Range(“E1″, “E6″).Resize(ColumnSize:=iNumQtrs)oResizeRange.Borders.Weight = Excel.XlBorderWeight.xlThin’ Add a Totals formula for the sales data and apply a border.oResizeRange = oWS.Range(“E8″, “E8″).Resize(ColumnSize:=iNumQtrs)oResizeRange.Formula = “=SUM(E2:E6)”With oResizeRange.Borders(Excel.XlBordersIndex.xlEdgeBottom).LineStyle = Excel.XlLineStyle.xlDouble.Weight = Excel.XlBorderWeight.xlThickEnd With’ Add a Chart for the selected data.oResizeRange = oWS.Range(“E2:E6″).Resize(ColumnSize:=iNumQtrs)oChart = oWS.Parent.Charts.AddWith oChart.ChartWizard(oResizeRange, Excel.XlChartType.xl3DColumn, , Excel.XlRowCol.xlColumns)oSeries = .SeriesCollection(1)oSeries.XValues = oWS.Range(“A2″, “A6″)For iRet = 1 To iNumQtrs.SeriesCollection(iRet).Name = “=”"Q” & Str(iRet) & “”"”Next iRet.Location(Excel.XlChartLocation.xlLocationAsObject, oWS.Name)End With’ Move the chart so as not to cover your data.With oWS.Shapes.Item(“Chart 1″).Top = oWS.Rows(10).Top.Left = oWS.Columns(2).LeftEnd With’ Free any references.oChart = NothingoResizeRange = NothingEnd Sub Add the following code to the top of Form1.vb:

Imports Microsoft.Office.Core Test the automation clientPress F5 to build and to run the program.On the form, click Button1. The program starts Excel and populates data on a new worksheet.When you are prompted to enter quarterly sales data, click Yes. A chart that is linked to quarterly data is added to the worksheet.

Symptoms
This article points to the “Differences Between Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET” white paper.
Resolution
Because of the previous differences between Visual Basic and C/C++, many developers assume incorrectly about the capabilities of Visual Basic .NET. Many Visual Basic developers think that Visual C# is a more powerful language than Visual Basic. In other words, Visual Basic developers assume that you can do many things in Visual C# that you cannot do in Visual Basic .NET, just as there are many things that you can do in C/C++ but cannot do in Microsoft Visual Basic 6.0 or earlier. This assumption is incorrect.
Although there are differences between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET, both are first-class programming languages that are based on the Microsoft .NET Framework, and they are equally powerful. Visual Basic .NET is a true object-oriented programming language that includes new and improved features such as inheritance, polymorphism, interfaces, and overloading. Both Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET use the common language runtime. There are almost no performance issues between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET. Visual C# .NET may have a few more “power” features such as handling unmanaged code, and Visual Basic .NET may be skewed a little toward ease of use by providing features such as late binding. However, the differences between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET are very small compared to what they were in earlier versions.
The “Differences Between Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET” white paper describes some of the differences between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET. However, remember that the .NET Framework is intended to be language independent. When you must select between Visual Basic .NET and Visual C# .NET, decide primarily based on what you already know and what you are comfortable with. It is easier for Visual Basic 6.0 developers to use Visual Basic .NET and for C++/Java programmers to use Visual C# .NET. The existing experience of a programmer far outweighs the small differences between the two languages.
No matter which language you select based on your personal preference and past experience, both languages are powerful developer tools and first-class programming languages that share the common language runtime in the .NET Framework.
The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Download Center:

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Download the “Differences between Microsoft Visual Basic .NET and Microsoft Visual C# .NET” white paper package now.(http://download.microsoft.com/download/6/3/5/6354bf47-c597-4029-89e9-2495e7539ab9/vbcsharpwp.exe)Release Date: June 18, 2002
For more information about how to download Microsoft Support files, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
119591?(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/119591/)How to obtain Microsoft support files from online servicesMicrosoft scanned this file for viruses. Microsoft used the most current virus-detection software that was available on the date that the file was posted. The file is stored on security-enhanced servers that help prevent any unauthorized changes to the file.

Symptoms
Jet does not support named QueryDefs on a non-attached ODBC database. A nonattached ODBC database is one that is opened directly with theOpenDatabase method of the WorkSpace object without the use of an .mdb file.
Resolution
The preferred method for opening an external ODBC table is to attach it toan .mdb file. For additional information, please see the followingarticle(s) in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:
150716?(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/150716/EN-US/): DAO: How To Attach to and Create QueryDefs on ODBC Tables
If this method is not appropriate for your application, the followingexample shows how to createQuerydefs with no name:

Set qd = db.CreateQueryDef(“”)qd.SQL = “Select * from authors”

Symptoms
According to Microsoft Knowledge Base article 275561?(http://support.microsoft.com/kb/275561/EN-US/) “ACC2000: New Features in Microsoft Jet 4.0″:
To minimize the impact of the increased page size and respond to a long-standing request from developers building applications based on the Microsoft Jet database engine, row-level locking was added to Jet 4.0.However, row-level locking of an Access database is not available with Data Access Objects (DAO) 3.60.
Resolution
To resolve this problem, use ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) to enable row-level locking on an Access database, and then open DAO connections to the database. All subsequent attempts to open DAO connections to the database will respect the locking mode that you set.

Symptoms
A form containing a bound Data Control disables the Validate event when theform is unloaded.
Resolution
Microsoft has confirmed this to be an issue in the Microsoft productslisted at the beginning of this article. Microsoft is researching thisissue and will post new information here in the Microsoft Knowledge Base asit becomes available.