Win32 API calls from Visual Basic 6 - allowing the VB programmer to access the powerful repertoire of API calls available when programming in Windows.

Visual Basic does an excellent job of letting developers build sophisticated Windows applications in a relatively short amount of time. This allows one to quickly build prototypes for end-users to evaluate and test, which can accelerate the development cycle. However, this ease of use does have its disadvantages. By shielding the programmer from the low-level Win32 calls, s/he may not be able to optimize certain functions and/or perform some tasks that the users have requested. Unless a programmer has started his/her career developing Windows applications in a lower level language like C or Pascal, they may be unfamiliar with the API calls that can be made to the OS. This can lead to frustration or confusion in using an API procedure that may behave unexpectedly.

Currently, there exist a number of references, both on the Internet and in printed form, that have documented virtually all of the Win32 API calls that can be made. While most of them do an fine job in explaining what the calls do, there are relatively few books that show clear, step-by-step examples that can be applied to business development. This book will address the newcomer to VB who is just starting to learn how to code within the environment, and give them clear explanations to the Win32 calls within a project application.

• Makes API programming accessible and understandable to Visual Basic programmers
• Starts from the ground up - no previous experience of Windows programming required
• Gives great practical examples of the key API calls in a structured tutorial format
• Enables readers to then explore and exploit the vast range of API calls on their own

Visual Basic programmers who have some experience programming with Visual Basic, who now want to exploit the resources of the Windows environment.

Since the book's primary focus is on the Win32 API, the reader should be able to use either VB4 32-bit or VB5, except for the sections on callbacks (only VB5 can be used in these areas). Also, the calls will be limited to 32 bit calls - no 16 bit calls will be addressed.

The author will handle any knowledge of building components to encapsulate API functionality - it will not be a requirement of the reader to understand COM at any level. All component examples will be specified in full for the reader to keep the emphasis on the API calls.

Jason Bock has received both a Bachelors and Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering from Marquette University. He has worked primarily in VB since vesion 3.0 writing client/server applications for a variety of business applications, ranging from application tracking systems to payroll processing to custom query analysis tools. These systems used and/or integrated with a multitude of different technologies and software packages, such as SQL Server, COM, Sybase, Oracle, PeopleSoft, and MS Office. Currently, Jason is a Consultant for Keane, Inc., where he is able to pursue his professional and personal interest in pushing VB as far as it can go.

When he's not starting at a computer monitor, Jason enjoys golfing, playing tennis, biking, spending a lot of time with his wife, and playing with his cat Simon.

Introduction

Chapter 1: API Fundamentals

Chapter 2: API Pitfalls to Avoid and the Encryption Program

Chapter 3: Kernal32 Calls

Chapter 4: User32 Calls

Chapter 5: Gdi32 Calls

Chapter 6: API Calls Outside of Win32

Chapter 7: Callbacks and the AddressOf Operator

Chapter 8: COM Components

Conclusion

Appendix A: Data Type Summary

Appendix B: Hungarian Notation

Appendix C: That Thing Called COM

Appendix D: Summary of API Declarations