Tutorial of Visual Basic for MSN

Visual Basic is a simplified programming language for beginning programmers.

Visual Basic, a program by Microsoft, isn't far removed from MSN. Getting the two to sync up in a significant way requires a bit of basic coding. This is the beauty of Visual Basic, however, as it was designed as an accessible program for novice programmers. Visual Basic's program allows for the creation of simple graphic user interface applications as well as more complicated apps. Programming an MSN Messenger to work in Visual Basic, for example, is a matter of entering specific attributes in a form, along with arranging the components and controls of the form. 

Instructions

1. Open "Form1.vb (DESIGN)" in Visual Basic. Click "Project" and select "Add Reference." Choose "Messenger API Type Library" in the resulting window.

2. Copy the "Online" button in Form1.vb (DESIGN). Paste the button in the form to make two vertical rows of three. 

3. Change the text for the first button in the second column to "Busy," the second button in the first column to "away," the next one over to "Out To Lunch," the last button in the first column to "Appear Offline" and the final button to "Offline."

4. Scroll down to "Name" and change each respective button to the following: btnBusy, btnAway, btnLunch, btnAppear and btnOffline. 

5. Highlight the "Online" button and select "Form1.vb." Highlight everything from the third row down to "End Class" and delete. Paste "msn.MyStatus = MessengerAPI.MISTATUS.MISTATUS_Online" on the line below "Private Sub." 

6. Click "Form1.vb (DESIGN)" and highlight the "Busy" button. Go back to Form1.vb. Enter the same code as you did for the "Online" button, instead interchanging the word "Busy" for "Online." Repeat for each button, interchanging the name of the buttons accordingly. 

References

• YouTube: Visual Basic 2008 Tutorials: MSN Status Changer

Resources

• Microsoft: Visual Basic Development Center
• Venky Dude: MSN Messenger Protocol