If there’s one feature of Visual Basic that attracts all kinds of developers this is it. There is now a simple easy-to-learn and fun-to-use language for building ActiveX controls. An ActiveX control is what was formerly called an OLE control. You can think of ActiveX controls as extensions to the Visual Basic language. They are the
objects that are represented on visual Basic’s toolbox with a small icon and you can include them on any Form to add functionality to the applications that use them.
The first question is Why are they now ‘called ActiveX controls? More than anything else it’s a question of marketing. OLE controls were synonymous’with difficult tricky C programming. A name such as ActiveX will certainly help the average VB programmer feel less intimidated. And indeed this feature of Visual Basic has . been so well implemented’ that developing. Activex controls is with in the reach of the average VB programmer. It’s not only that Visual Basic 6 can produce ActiveX controls it’s how easily it can do so. In addition you can use ActiveX controls on Web pages one of the fastest-growing arenas for Visual Basic program development
Now, who should be developing ActiveX controls? If I have managed without ActiveX controls, why bother now? Indeed many of you may not develop custom ActiveX controls for a while. But sooner or later you will. If you come up with an interesting utility that can be used from within several applications why not package it as an ActiveX control? Besides why not indulge in the latest truly hot stuff? ActiveX controls are cool and will help you leverage your capabilities as a Visual Basic programmer. Being able to design components that can be used both on the Desktop and on the Internet is a great prospect for anyone who makes a living with VisualBasic
