INFO: Visual Basic 4.0 Does Not Include a Win32 API Help File (166325)

SUMMARY

The 16-bit editions of Visual Basic include a Help file, win31wh.hlp, documenting the Windows 3.1 API functions. A Help file for the 32-bit API functions is not shipped with Visual Basic. However, the MSDN/Visual Basic Starter Kit shipped on the Visual Basic CD-ROM contains information about the 32-bit API functions. This article shows you how install the starter kit and how to access the 32-bit API function information.

MORE INFORMATION

Among the information stored in the MSDN/Visual Basic starter kit is the product documentation for the Windows Software Development Kit (SDK) which contains information on both the Windows 3.1 and the Win32 API functions. Additionally, the starter kit contains search tools and options that work better than the Windows Help file system.

To Install the MSDN/Visual Basic Starter Kit

From the Visual Basic CD-ROM, start setup.exe. The Visual Basic 4.0 Master Setup dialog box appears.
Click the MSDN Starter Kit button and follow the instructions.

The setup program creates the MSDN_VB Starter Kit program group with the MSDN_Visual Basic Starter Kit icon. Start the MSDN Viewer by clicking on this icon.

When the MSDN Viewer starts, look under Product Documentation, then SDKs. The API functions for both Microsoft Win32 and Windows 3.1 API are documented in this section. You can use the Search Engine of the MSDN/VB Starter Kit viewer to locate a specific API function, any associated data types and return values quickly. To use the search engine, click on the Find button on the toolbar and enter any search keywords.

For more information on The Microsoft Developer Network or to order the full version of MSDN, call (800) 759-5474 between the hours of 6:30am and 5:30pm Pacific Time.