Total VB SourceBook

Visual Basic Programmer's Journal

Buyer's Guide, Spring 1999, Vol. 9, No. 5
by Rama Ramachandran

Readers' Choice Award

Quick Facts

Searchable repository of VB code, with a customizable library and repository of well-written Visual Basic code routines.

Pros

Intuitive interface, powerful VB routines, quick retrieval, supports team development.

Cons

None.

If you're looking for a customizable, searchable repository of VB code snippets, Total VB SourceBook might be the answer. Visual Basic programmers know that when they write good, modular code, it can be reused in other projects. Total VB SourceBook can provide that elusive bit of code quickly and efficiently.

The software presents its code routines in an interface called Code Explorer, which is similar to the Microsoft MSDN interface. A treeview in the left pane provides the categories where code routines are segregated. You can drill down on this tree to individual code segments and modules. When you highlight any code, the right-hand pane displays useful information in a tabbed interface.

Not only does Total VB SourceBook provide the usage syntax, it provides a working example of the selected code. As an added bonus, it lists all additional modules, DLL files, or other library dependencies required before using the selected code. This list of dependencies alone makes the product worth its price. The code modules that ship with Total VB SourceBook follow consistent naming conventions, maintain the same style and formatting, and are well-commented. The Search tool provides full text searching within code modules and their notes.

Total VB SourceBook supports a multi-developer environment. The code resides in a central location, which can be accessed by several developers. Code stored in the Code Repository can be tracked by author as well as date created and modified, and marked read-only to prevent changes by other developers.

Version 6 incorporates code import functionality that allows you to import an existing VB module or class into the repository. Total VB SourceBook is a well-designed code repository filled with solid VB code that you'll definitely reuse in your other projects. What makes Total VB SourceBook valuable is not only the quality of the code, but the ability to add your own code routines, share them with your coworkers, and annotate existing code routines with your comments.

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