Information of Value Before the Semester Starts

Class Policy The class policy statement include rules about grading, due dates, withdrawals, etc. Class Policy statement

Credit/NoCredit Info on the option of taking this course as a (Pass/Fail) class

Software Versions: This classes uses VB 2008 Work done in earier versions of Visual Basic is not accepted. Demos and code will be posted based on VB 2008. I will try to accommodate poeple using VB 2010 but I cannot promise complete compatibility.
See information below about obtaining the software.

Textbook: Gaddis; Starting out with Visual Basic 2008 ; Pearson;ISBN-13: 9780136076957 I do not give assignments from the textbook. The list price for a new copy is $124.( which is outrageous!) You can hopefully find used copies around $20.00.
If you have previous programming experience I would suggest you not buy this book.
The problem is- if this is your first time learning a programmng language you do need a textbook that walks you through a lot of code examples. And those textbooks are expensive. If you have previous programming experience you do not need to be told what a loop is- you need to learn the VB syntax for a loop.
We will talk about this at the first class session- so unless you can find a used copy, wait until then to buy the book.

What is a hybrid clas with a required onine component? Hopefully you noticed this on the class schedule page. Normally a CS programming class meets 4 hours a week- either a very long 4 hour session( and I cannot see going from 6-10 after coming from work. Or we meet twice a week for 2 hours each.
For this class we will meet once a week for 3 hours and there is a component of the class which is posted online to provide the material that would have been presented in the other hour. We can discuss this one the first class session - but you do need to realize that there is an online component- in addition to normal study and assignment time.

Email address: Your CCSF Email account Class email, including info on Insight and email I send you about adding from the Waitlist, is sent to the email account that CCSF displays on the class list. Check your email address from the Web4 page.

Software: We are using Visual Basic 2008. For this class VB Express is sufficeient to do the assignments. We have discs for you to install VB 2008 Pro on your local computer. You can borrow the discs from either Rosenberg library on the Phelan/Ocean campus or from the downtown library(4th and Mission). It would be a good idea to install the software before the semester starts.
You can download VB express from the Microsoft site
You can also use the software in the ACRC on the Phelan/Ocean campus. Consult their web page for hours and orientations.

It would be a good idea to install the software before the semester starts. I cannot provide individual help for installation issues.
How to:Search for disc status at the CCSF library

On the First Day or Two of Class, You Need to Do the Following

Log into the class Insight web site. Please click on this Orientation Link for info on Insight.

General Preparation for Classes

Students who need academic accommodations should request them from the Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) located in the Rosenberg Library,Room 323 on the Ocean Campus. Telephone: 415-452-5481 (V) 415-452-5451 (TDD). DSPS is the campus office responsible for verifying disability-related need for academic accommodations, assessing that need, and planning accommodations in cooperation with students and instructors as needed and consistent with course requirements.

General Information for CS 112A

This is a first semester course in the use of Visual Basic. This class focuses on basic programming techniques as used in Visual Basic and also the creation of windows forms and event-driven programming. .

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why learn Visual Basic?
A1: It's hard to ignore Microsoft.
A2:It's fun! With VB you can quickly create forms that include menus, list, pictures, check boxes- all of the widgets that users are familiar with. And VB makes this relatively easy, since it writes a lot of the more tedious code for you. That leaves you to think about the more interesting parts of the program.
Many companies use VB and SQL Server because they support the familiar Windows interface and integrate with other Microsoft products.

Q: Isn't Basic really old?
A: Well, Basic is pretty old; it was developed in 1963. But Visual Basic 2008/NET is not your father's (grandfather's?) Basic. In fact, it isn't even Visual Basic 6.0. Visual Basic 2008 (and its previous versions) is a new language- it probably should have been given a new name.

Q: What background do I need for this class?
A: I assume that you have used some Windows programs such as Word or Excel- so you understand about menus and using a mouse. I assume you have used the Internet to fill out forms- so you have seen drop-down boxes and buttons. No previous programming experience is required. But many students who take this class do have experience using other programming languages and they still find lots to learn with Visual Basic.

Q: How does this course fit into the other VB classes CS offers?
A: See CS 112A-B-D.