FILE: Whitepaper on Optimizing Visual Basic

Last reviewed: February 5, 1997
Article ID: Q147664

The information in this article applies to:

Standard, Professional, and Enterprise Editions of Microsoft Visual Basic, 16-bit and 32-bit, for Windows, version 4.0

SUMMARY

The whitepaper covers many aspects of optimizing Visual Basic 4.0 programs. This includes, but is not limited to, the following topics:

Optimization philosophy: where to start and where to stop
Determining what aspect(s) to best optimize
Optimizing actual speed: - use correct data types - cache properties in variables - use of correct looping constructs
Optimizing display speed - proper settings of graphics related properties - use of controls vs. code when appropriate
Optimizing apparent speed - performing work behind the scenes - doing heavy computational tasks when time is available - how to speed up load times, both real and perceived
Keeping application memory size small - using correct data types - reclaiming unused space - cutting back on graphics
Segmenting applications with OLE - ability to load and unload on demand - 16-bit code can be separated from 32-bit code - using remote OLE servers to distribute load
Optimizing OLE - early binding vs. late binding - using proper language constructs - minimizing cross process calls

MORE INFORMATION

The following file is available for download from the Microsoft Software Library:

 ~ Vboptimz.exe

For more information about downloading files from the Microsoft Software Library, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q119591
   TITLE     : How to Obtain Microsoft Support Files from
               Online Services

KBCategory: kbappnote kbprg kbref kbfile
KBSubcategory: Refs vb4win vb4all
Additional reference words: 4.00

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