This manual uses the following typographic conventions.
Example of convention | Description |
Sub, If, ChDir, Recordset, Time, FontSize | Words in bold with the initial letter capitalized are language-specific words with special meaning to Visual Basic. These can be functions, statements, objects, methods, properties, operators, or keywords. |
DblClick, TransferText | Names of events and actions appear with the initial letter capitalized. Concatenated names may contain other capital letters. |
expr, path | In syntax, text in italic indicates placeholders for information you supply. |
[color] | In syntax, items inside brackets are optional. |
{While | Until} | In syntax, braces and a vertical bar indicate a mandatory choice between two or more items. You must choose one of the items unless all of the items also are enclosed in brackets. |
Dim dbs As Database |
This font is used for code. |
acViewNormal | Intrinsic constants consist of a word or words that begin with an initial capital letter, preceded by a prefix that indicates which type library they reside in. The prefix “ac” indicates that the constant is a Microsoft Access constant; the prefix “vb” indicates that the constant is a Visual Basic constant; the prefix “db” indicates that the constant is a DAO constant. Constants are shown in bold. |
ENTER | Small capital letters are used for the names of keys, such as ENTER and CTRL. The key names correspond to the names on the IBM® Personal Computer keyboard. Other computers may use different names for keys. |
ALT+F1 | A plus sign (+) between key names indicates a combination of keys. For example, ALT+F1 means hold down the ALT key while pressing the F1 key. |
varX = MsgBox("Concatenate " _ & "strings separated by " _ & "the line continuation " _& "character." |
The line-continuation character ( _ ) consists of a space and an underscore. It indicates that the code before and after the line-continuation character should appear on one continuous line. |
CreateForm([database[, formtemplate]]) |
In examples of command lines, an arrow indicates line continuation. |