Visual Basic is one of the most popular programming languages, and is part of the Microsoft Visual Studio set. In its new.net version, the language can be used to create stand-alone applications, ActiveX applets for Web pages, or libraries of functions that can be called from other programs. As Visual Basic is fully compatible with the other programming languages in Microsoft"s Visual Studio set, its programs can share data and functions with programs written in those languages. The book is an introductory level text intended for new IT users and students who want to get to grips with the program (and covers.net and version 6). It cuts through the complexity of the language and focuses on the essential structures and techniques. The advanced features of the language are introduced once a firm foundation has been built.