Where to get started?

[Jaiden]

I'm thinking I'm finally going to take the extra time to learn Visual Basic, something I should have done a long time ago.

Where do I get started? What are some reliable sources for tutorials, guides, etc. for learning how to do what I need to do to work with Eclipse?

[Vus]

http://lmgtfy.com/?q=visual+basic+6+tutorials

[FinalFlame]

There's plenty of websites out there with tutorials, all you have to do is Google search. There's also books on how to do it at any book store.

[Minikloon]

Hi.

First you thing you might want to do is download a copy of your chosen version's IDE (Integrated Development Environment). I will suppose you want to learn VB6, since the Eclipse Engine is using that version. To download Visual Basic 6, which is a software by Microsoft, you'll need to find a friend, a co-worker or someone who has a valid copy. VB6 isn't supported by Microsoft anymore, so it's not for sale. You can also download it somewhere, like on a P2P network.

Here's Robin's tutorial to install Visual Basic 6 : [http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,68399.0.html](http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,68399.0.html)

Then, there are plenty of resources on internet. You might first want to read an 'A to Z' kind of tutorial. [Here](http://www.profsr.com/vb/vbintro.htm) and there are two of those type of tutorials. Those will mostly get you around using the software and creating simple programs.

Talking of programs, here's a tip : Try to complete them fast and don't aim to high. If you don't complete your ideas while you're a beginner, it's completely normal, but it might discourage you a bit. Results boost moral.

You'll probably need to learn more about programming in general, object-oriented programming concepts, take a grasp of bytes and data typing, but no more to then pickup most challenges you wish.

Here are random resources :
- Programming in VB, printable : [http://hsc.csu.edu.au/sdd/core/package/solution_package/tutorials/visualbasic_tutorial.pdf](http://hsc.csu.edu.au/sdd/core/package/solution_package/tutorials/visualbasic_tutorial.pdf)
- VB6 on MSDN : [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms788229](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms788229)
- VB6 wiki on vb6.us : [http://www.vb6.us/](http://www.vb6.us/) << THIS ! 
- [http://www.hitmill.com/programming/vb.htm](http://www.hitmill.com/programming/vb.htm)
- [http://www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html](http://www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html)

You might also want to look up for books. I can't recommend any since I didn't read any about the subject, but take a quick search on [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) (If you're American) and look at the comments.

On the long run, you'll want to draw stuff on screen like EO's doing, loading resources and more. The basics are very simple. Take a look again on the MSDN : [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa260827%28v=vs.60%29.aspx](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa260827%28v=vs.60%29.aspx). I don't know much about the rendering part of the engine, so I could be giving you wrong informations, sorry.  :embarrassed:

I hope you'll be able to contribute back to Eclipse on the long run.

Good luck!
Minikloon.

EDIT : Warning, while you were typing, 2 new replies were posted.

[janpan40]

I can give you a copy of mine for free just pc me.
:)

[Jaiden]

@Minikloon:

> Hi.
>
> First you thing you might want to do is download a copy of your chosen version's IDE (Integrated Development Environment). I will suppose you want to learn VB6, since the Eclipse Engine is using that version. To download Visual Basic 6, which is a software by Microsoft, you'll need to find a friend, a co-worker or someone who has a valid copy. VB6 isn't supported by Microsoft anymore, so it's not for sale. You can also download it somewhere, like on a P2P network.
>
> Here's Robin's tutorial to install Visual Basic 6 : [http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,68399.0.html](http://www.touchofdeathforums.com/smf/index.php/topic,68399.0.html)
>
> Then, there are plenty of resources on internet. You might first want to read an 'A to Z' kind of tutorial. [Here](http://www.profsr.com/vb/vbintro.htm) and there are two of those type of tutorials. Those will mostly get you around using the software and creating simple programs.
>
> Talking of programs, here's a tip : Try to complete them fast and don't aim to high. If you don't complete your ideas while you're a beginner, it's completely normal, but it might discourage you a bit. Results boost moral.
>
> You'll probably need to learn more about programming in general, object-oriented programming concepts, take a grasp of bytes and data typing, but no more to then pickup most challenges you wish.
>
> Here are random resources :
> - Programming in VB, printable : [http://hsc.csu.edu.au/sdd/core/package/solution_package/tutorials/visualbasic_tutorial.pdf](http://hsc.csu.edu.au/sdd/core/package/solution_package/tutorials/visualbasic_tutorial.pdf)
> - VB6 on MSDN : [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms788229](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vbasic/ms788229)
> - VB6 wiki on vb6.us : [http://www.vb6.us/](http://www.vb6.us/) << THIS ! 
> - [http://www.hitmill.com/programming/vb.htm](http://www.hitmill.com/programming/vb.htm)
> - [http://www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html](http://www.vbtutor.net/lesson1.html)
>
> You might also want to look up for books. I can't recommend any since I didn't read any about the subject, but take a quick search on [http://www.barnesandnoble.com/](http://www.barnesandnoble.com/) (If you're American) and look at the comments.
>
> On the long run, you'll want to draw stuff on screen like EO's doing, loading resources and more. The basics are very simple. Take a look again on the MSDN : [http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa260827%28v=vs.60%29.aspx](http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa260827%28v=vs.60%29.aspx). I don't know much about the rendering part of the engine, so I could be giving you wrong informations, sorry.  :embarrassed:
>
> I hope you'll be able to contribute back to Eclipse on the long run.
>
> Good luck!
> Minikloon.
>
> EDIT : Warning, while you were typing, 2 new replies were posted.

Thank you very much! I already have it installed and have a basic understanding of the interface.
I know I can google search, but I just wanted reliable sources.

[janpan40]

I learned from following lightnings pet tut, just follow little source code mods like that and it will get you started.
:)