Visual Basic 3.0 Release Information (long)
Lance Andrewes
messages asking for information on VB 3.0. So, to stop my email
bill getting out of hand - the release announcement follows,
reproduced without permission ...
Microsoft Announces Visual Basic 3.0 for Microsoft Windows
Standard and Professional Editions
Visual Basic Integrates Client-server Data Access and OLE 2.0 Components
to Speed the Development of Robust Corporate Solutions
REDMOND, Wash. * May 14, 1993 * Microsoft Corporation
announced today worldwide availability of the Microsoft* Visual Basic*
programming system version 3.0 for the Microsoft Windows* operating
system. To address the strategic needs of corporate developers, Visual
Basic 3.0 provides easy access to a wide variety of data sources by
integrating the Microsoft Access* 1.1 database engine and the ability to
leverage investments in commercial applications through Object Linking
and Embedding (OLE) 2.0. Visual Basic 3.0 also adds new tools, new
controls, greater ease of use and an enhanced custom control standard.
"Many corporations are struggling with the question, What
language or tool should I use for client-server development? Visual Basic
3.0 is a great tool to invest in," said Cheryl Currid, industry analyst and
consultant with Currid & Company, Houston, Texas. "It's very complete.
It offers tremendous ease of use and learning for the professional developer
* what a great place to take the legions of corporate and COBOL
developers who've been looking for a new language to adopt! It's all
there."
Visual Basic 3.0 and the Microsoft Access database management
system now form a family of tools that work well together to access local
or enterprise-wide data. The development power and extensibility of
Visual Basic 3.0 coupled with the strengths of Microsoft Access as an
interactive application make the two a great combination that can be used
together on many projects, including line-of-business, decision support and
client-server solutions.
"One of the most interesting implications for me, as an analyst and
architect of GUI client-server development systems, is that you've got
Visual Basic and this wealth of third-party tools designed for Visual Basic
that you can use together as a robust client-server development
environment. This is really exciting for me!" said Christine Comaford of
Corporate Computing, Inc., a consulting firm in Sausalito, California. "The
skill sets between Microsoft Access and Visual Basic are transferable and
scalable * you can have power users working in Microsoft Access, and
over time they can become programmers who use Visual Basic, retaining
the expertise they've gained with Microsoft Access," she added.
New Features of Visual Basic 3.0
* Microsoft Access 1.1 Database Engine. The database engine
provides direct access to Microsoft Access, the Microsoft
FoxPro* database, Borland* dBASE*, Borland Paradox*,
Novell* Btrieve* and any format via Open Database
Connectivity (ODBC). ODBC drivers for Microsoft SQL
Server, Sybase* SQL Server and ORACLE* are included in
the box. The engine provides robust multiuser support, true
transaction processing (the database equivalent of Undo),
optimistic and pessimistic locking, support for rich data types
such as sound, video, OLE objects, pictures and more. The
new Microsoft Access Engine increases the maximum size of a
database to over 1 gigabyte, while also offering easy access to
stored procedures on servers. In addition, the database engine
includes a state-of-the-art query capability that parses SQL, the
ability to perform distributed joins (for example, the ability to
join a Paradox table with an ORACLE table), updatable
queries, query optimization, and international collating orders.
The database engine is accessible through a collection of both
programmable and visual objects, including a fully
programmatic object layer for complete control, and visual
controls for fast development and ease of use. All these
features combine to make Visual Basic 3.0 the best investment
for a general-purpose development tool that provides data
access.
"The data access engine let us develop a more robust and
reliable front-end for our application. Very sound technology,"
said Gary Viviano, systems analyst at Southwestern Bell
Telephone.
* Data Access Objects * the Programmatic Layer. A
complete suite of objects gives programmers a versatile, easy-
to-use programmatic layer that can drive the Microsoft Access
Engine across a full range of functionality, including database
definition as well as database manipulation. It provides
programmatic access to the database; the ability to define a
query, field, index or table; access to data stored in a
table; and the ability to execute a query, manipulate the results and
update the database.
* Data-aware Controls * the Visual Layer. Data-aware
controls, such as the text box, picture, image, label, check box,
masked edit field, and 3-D check box, can be linked directly to
a query, providing an easy-to-use way to create the
data-access portion of custom solutions without writing code.
Data-aware controls can be combined with the programmatic
data-access object layer to smoothly integrate productivity with
versatility. Visual Basic extensibility has been improved so that
now third parties can also create data-aware controls, such as
text boxes, calendars, gauges and pictures, or multi-row
controls, such as grids and list boxes. Data-aware controls can
expose database events, such as reposition or validate, and can
even get information about the query itself. Many third parties
have announced data-aware controls.
* Crystal Reports* for Visual Basic. Crystal Reports 2.0 for
Visual Basic uses the Microsoft Access 1.1 engine for data
access and includes a custom control to make embedding
reports in applications easy. Programmers can design reports
using the graphical WYSIWYG, banded report designer.
Crystal Reports for Visual Basic supports formulas, two-pass
calculations, unlimited grouping, print-time customization of
reports, Print Preview, standard Avery* and custom mailing-
label formats, bitmaps, rich text and more. The programmer
can set the selection formula, the title, embedded formulas,
sorting order, group visibility and the number of copies, as well
as the destination of the report * window, printer, file * with
control over appearance. Crystal Reports is available from
Crystal Services as a standalone product for $199.
* Full Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) Support. Visual
Basic 3.0 Professional Edition provides access to client-server,
host-based, and local databases and includes drivers for
Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase SQL Server and ORACLE.
* New Tools. The Data Manager tool provides a
straightforward way to create and manipulate databases, tables,
fields, indexes and data, no matter what the format. The tool
itself was written in Visual Basic 3.0, and source code will be
available on CompuServe*. The Setup Wizard automates the
process of distributing applications. It scans the programmer's
project and determines what custom controls (.VBXs) and
dynamic link libraries (DLLs) are required. Then it builds a
custom set-up program complete with version checking,
compresses all the files and copies the compressed files to
floppies.
* New Controls. Visual Basic 3.0 includes a new Outline
control that makes it easy for programmers to use Visual Basic
to create hierarchical list boxes just like the controls found in
Microsoft Windows File Manager or Microsoft Mail. The new
Data control provides a visual way for a programmer to issue a
query and navigate through the results. Many other controls
are now data-aware. User-interface controls can be "bound"
to any one of several Data controls on a form without the
programmer having to write any code. Other new controls
include the Report control for embedding reports in
applications and the new OLE 2.0 control.
* Pop-up menus. Developers can easily create pop-up menus
with just one line of code. This enables developers to create
context-sensitive menus within their applications and take
advantage of the right mouse button.
* OLE 2.0 Automation. OLE 2.0 makes it easy for developers
to use commercial applications, such spread sheets or word
processors, as a source of world-class, reusable objects. OLE
2.0 Automation provides the ability to directly set properties or
execute methods on an OLE-defined object. With OLE
Automation, corporations can leverage their large investments
in commercial applications, such as spreadsheets and word
processors, and use them to build custom solutions. For
example, a programmer can develop a custom application that
uses the recalculation feature of an OLE 2.0 spreadsheet to
manipulate numbers. With the Visual Basic support for in-
place editing, an OLE 2.0 word processor would become a
very powerful rich-text editing control. The new OLE 2.0
container control allows the programmer to easily select the
desired OLE object from a standard dialog.
* Usability Improvements. The Visual Basic 3.0 file menu now
contains the four most recently used projects, making Visual
Basic source code easier to locate and load. The new Save
Project Before Run environment option makes it safer to
experiment and test new DLLs, VBXs and other new
technologies. This also makes it easier to reuse new code and
leverage legacy code.
* Language Improvements. The language is enhanced to
support the new data-access capabilities and OLE 2.0 features.
System Requirements
Visual Basic 3.0 requires the Microsoft Windows operating system
version 3.0 or higher running in standard or enhanced mode; a 286 or
higher microprocessor; a hard disk; an EGA,
VGA 8514 or Hercules display; 2MB of RAM for design environment
(4MB RAM recommended with the Professional Edition); 1MB RAM for
target systems; and a Microsoft Mouse or other compatible pointing
device.
Availability and Pricing
The Standard Edition of Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 is available
now for a U.S. suggested retail price (SRP) of $199. An upgrade from
Visual Basic Standard Edition version 1.0 or 2.0 to the Standard Edition
of Visual Basic 3.0 is $49.
The Professional Edition of Visual Basic 3.0 is available for an
introductory SRP of $395 through July 15, 1993. After that date, the SRP
is $495. An upgrade from the Professional Edition version 1.0 or 2.0 to
the Professional Edition version 3.0 is $99. An upgrade from the Standard
Edition 1.0 or 2.0 to the Professional Edition of version 3.0 is $149.
Microsoft Visual Basic 3.0 is one of the family of tools provided by
Microsoft that enables programmers to create components and solutions
for solving corporate business problems. Development tools in this family
include Microsoft Access, Microsoft FoxPro and the Microsoft Visual C++
* development system as well as others.
Founded in 1975, Microsoft (NASDAQ "MSFT") is the worldwide
leader in software for personal computers. The company offers a wide
range of products and services for business and personal use, each designed
with the mission of making it easier and more enjoyable for people to take
advantage of the full power of personal computing every day.
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Microsoft, Microsoft Access and FoxPro are registered trademarks and
Visual Basic, Windows and Visual C++ are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Borland and dBASE are registered trademarks of Borland International, Inc.
Paradox is a registered trademark of Ansa Software, a Borland Company.
Novell and Btrieve are registered trademarks of Novell, Inc.
Sybase is a registered trademark of Sybase, Inc.
ORACLE is a registered trademark of Oracle Corporation.
Crystal Reports is a trademark of Crystal Computer Services, Inc.
Avery is a registered trademark of Avery International Corporation.
CompuServe is a registered trademark of CompuServe, Inc.
Prices listed are U.S. suggested retail prices. Reseller price may vary.
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_______ Email: la...@lancea.actrix.gen.nz
//// ZL2AJH Wellington, New Zealand