From: yfwu@Uz.nthu.edu.tw (EE U780935)
Subject: Visual Basic 2.0 Features
Organization: National Tsing Hua University (HsinChu)
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 09:59:26 GMT

Hello! Visual basic lovers,
    This is a e-mail from Mr. Mark  which was from Mr. Joe in Microstft.
    Thanks for their help!!!!
								Y.F. Wu
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    Microsoft Announces Visual Basic, Version 2.0
          Standard and Professional Editions
    Create Faster, More Powerful Applications

    REDMOND, Wash. * Nov. 2, 1992 * Microsoft
Corporation announced today worldwide availability of the
Microsoft* Visual Basic* Programming system for Windows
version 2.0.  The high productivity programming system for
Windows includes more than 300 new features and enhancements
that provide for faster applications, access to advanced features of
the Microsoft Windows* operating system and greater developer
productivity.
    "Like many large companies, Microsoft has been using
Visual Basic 1.0 for a number of internal projects since it was
introduced," said Mike Maples, executive vice president products at
Microsoft.  "Now, with the performance and capacity
enhancements in version 2.0, we are choosing Visual Basic to
develop packaged software products ourselves.  Visual Basic 2.0's
rapid development capability will help us get products to market
more quickly."
    "Visual Basic 2.0 delivers on thousands of requests from
Windows-based developers all over the world," said Tom Button,
group product manager for applications programmability at
Microsoft.  "It gives our customers the fastest possible way to
program for the Windows operating system and gives them the
power to create sophisticated, industrial strength applications."

New Improved Visual Basic 2.0
    To better serve the needs of a broad range of developers,
Visual Basic 2.0 is offered in two editions, Standard and
Professional.  Programmers using the Standard Edition can create
applications for Windows quickly * and easily * due to many
enhancements:
    *   Improved performance.
        -Visual Basic 2.0 delivers faster and smaller .EXE's
        than the previous version.
        -Applications load up to 400 percent faster
        -Applications are 38 percent smaller
    *   Greater capacity.  Developers can create larger, more
        sophisticated applications.  Huge arrays, unlimited
        string space and more than twice the code capacity are
        built in.
    *   New Debugging Tools.  Programmers can diagnose
        code problems quickly with new Watch Expressions,
        Conditional Break Expressions and a Calls window.
    *   Better support for development teams.  ASCII
        representations of all files enables source library
        management (SLM) systems and provide for an open
        system for third party CASE tools.
    *   New Properties Window.  Developers can set all of
        the properties of a control or object from a single
        window.  Multiple (marquee) selection lets developers
        set properties of several controls simultaneously and
        aids in screen layout and forms creation.
    *   New Tool Bar.  Puts common programming and
        debugging operations a mouse click away.
    *   True MDI support.  Multiple document interface
        (MDI) and multiple dynamic instances of forms help
        developers create commercial-quality applications.
    *   Color-coded syntax.  Graphically highlights different
        language elements for the developer.  The enhanced
        editing capabilities of the Code window and a new
        procedures browser combine to make event driven
        programming even easier.
    *   New support for international currency, time and
        date formats.  Makes it quick and easy to create
        applications for international markets.
    *   18 extensively commented sample applications.  (27
        in the professional version) Demonstrate key concepts
        and features of Visual Basic.
    *   Better and faster grid control.  Improves applications
        with spreadsheet-like displays.

Professional Edition
    The Professional Edition of Visual Basic is designed for
MIS staff, corporate programmers, analysts, consultants, value-
added resellers and independent software vendors writing vertical
market programs.  The Professional Edition includes all of the
improvements and new features found in the Standard Edition plus
enhanced versions of all features formerly found in the Professional
Toolkit.  The program also provides tools to create new workgroup
and database access applications:
    *   Two new Messaging API (MAPI) controls.
        Developers using Visual Basic can create mail-enabled
        and other workgroup applications.
    *   Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) support.
        Provides data access to a variety of client-server, host-
        based and local databases.
    *   New Masked Edit Control.  Supports formatted data
        entry like social security or telephone numbers.
    *   Communications Control.  Provides quick access to
        serial communications for binary or ASCII data transfer
        via modem.
    *   Two new Windows for Pens controls.  Supports
        simulated keyboard and inking functionality for storing
        ink as data.
    *   Windows 3.1 support.  Includes Windows 3.1 help
        compiler and online API references.
    *   New Control Development Kit.  256 color, DDE,
        ASCII, and graphical control development guidelines
        allow third parties to create even more powerful
        custom controls.
    "Visual Basic provides developers with fast access to
important new capabilities of Windows," said Button. "Visual Basic
makes it easier than ever before to build production-quality
workgroup and client-server applications."

Production Quality Applications
    The high productivity of Visual Basic has made it a popular
choice for vertical market applications and internal MIS
development projects.  With the improvements in Visual Basic 2.0,
software publishers are now using Visual Basic for horizontal,
packaged software products.
    "Visual Basic 2.0 is a significant enhancement over version
1.0," said John Boebinger, manager of development for TeamLinks
at Digital Equipment Corporation.  "We have measured a
substantial increase in the speed of our product and decrease in the size."

Pricing and Availability
    The Standard Edition of  Microsoft Visual Basic is available
now for the suggested retail price of $199.  Upgrades for Visual
Basic 1.0 & Toolkit owners is $79.  The Professional Edition of
Visual Basic is available for the suggested retail price of $495.
Upgrades from Standard Edition 1.0 and 2.0 is $199 and for
Professional Toolkit owners it is $99.

System Requirements
    Visual Basic 2.0 requires Microsoft Windows 3.0 or higher,
286 or higher microprocessor, a hard disk, EGA, VGA, 8514 or
Hercules* display, 1MB of RAM and a mouse.
Visual Basic Popularity
    A comprehensive user survey* conducted one year after the
May 1991 release of Visual Basic 1.0 showed that more than 113,000
applications had been developed and shipped with the product.  An average
of 44 users per Visual Basic-created application totals nearly 5 million
active Visual Basic-created applications.  The Visual Basic
programming system is also one of the most cost-effective tools of
its type, with run-time and royalty-free implementation that allow
for developers to distribute finished applications to customers cost
effectively.
    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.
            #########
Microsoft is a registered trademark and Visual Basic and Windows are
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
Hercules is a registered trademark of Hercules Computer Technology.
Prices are U.S. suggested retail prices.  Reseller prices may vary.

--
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 Yuh-Fuu Wu                                      National Tsing-Hua University
 e-mail: yfwu@uz.nthu.edu.tw                     Dept. of Electric Engineering
                                                 Hsin-Chu City, 300
 Like MS Visual Basic most!                      Taiwan, ROC
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Newsgroups: comp.os.ms-windows.programmer.tools