Visual Basic for DOS Standard
This document lists brief descriptions of current and older Microsoft® development tools for the PC, along with notes and a brief list of features. While you may find older versions of development tools in many places, links to the old/used programming tools sales pages of EMS Professional Software, this page's sponsor, are provided for your convenience. EMS is not affiliated with Microsoft or any other vendor. All terms on this page are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. Version information for other Microsoft products. Version information for other vendors' products.
Visual Basic for DOS
Visual Basic 1.0 for Windows
Visual Basic 2.0 for Windows
Visual Basic 3.0 for Windows
Visual Basic 4.0 for Windows
Visual Basic 5.0 for Windows
Visual Basic 6.0 for Windows
MS Part Numbers:
VBDOS 1.0 Std., academic, 3.5": 046-351V100
VBDOS 1.0 Std., 10 license pack, academic, 3.5": 046-499V100
UPGRADE VISUAL BASIC 1.0(DUAL)RSLR: 046-099-100
VBDOS 1.0 Std., 3.5": 046-095V100
VBDOS 1.0 Prof., Upgrade, Academic, 3.5": 203-095-100
VBDOS 1.0 Prof., Upgrade, Direct, 3.5": 203-095-125
VB PRO 1.00 (DUAL) PC NFR: 203-599V100
VBDOS 1.0 Prof., 3.5": 203-095V100
VBDOS 1.0 Prof., 3.5"/5.25": 203-099V100
Visual Basic for DOS Standard
Visual Basic for DOS Professional - For the dual media package, the MS product number is 203-099V100. Includes seven 1.44MB and/or nine 1.2MB diskettes and the following printed materials:
Manuals:
Programmer's Guide, 658 pages, Document Number DB27591-0792, book rear bar code label: 27591
Reference, 510 pages, Document Number DB27592-0792, book rear bar code label: 27592
Professional Features, 365 pages, Document Number DB32480-0792, book rear bar code label: 32480
MS Part numbers:
Std. NFR: 046-550V100
Retail Dual media: 046-050V100
"WINDOWS VB PROTOOLKIT 1.00 (DUAL)": 203-050V100
Programmer's Guide manual, 456 pages, 0191 Part No. 12974
Three 3.5" 720K disks dated 5/10/1991 1:00AM, labeled Disk Assy 046-051-004 (and 5 and 6)
Visual Basic 1.0 for Windows Standard, Special upgrade Offer. 3.5" low density disks. MS Product number 046-051-060. To qualify for purchase, MS asked that you be a licensed user of Turbo Pascal, Borland C, C++ or Turbo C, Actor, or Smalltalk. System requirements: Windows 3.0 or later running in standard or enhanced mode. 80286 or higher processor. 1MB or memory (2 recommended), floppy and hard disk. CGA, EGA, VGA, 8514/A, Hercules or compatible video adapter, and mouse. Box spine marked 1191 Part No. 27776. Originally published with a $99 suggested retail price.
Manuals: (and others?)
Programmer's Guide, 0991 Part No. 26489
Language Reference, 0991 Part No. 26490
Visual Basic 1.0 for Windows Professional, Competitive Upgrade
Visual Basic with Professional Toolkit (VB 1.00 with both 3.5" and 5.25" media)
MS Part numbers:
Visual Basic 2.0 Standard, 3.5": 046-051V200
UPGRADE WIN VB PRO 2.0 (5.25) RSLR: 203-051-080
WINDOWS VB PRO 2.00 (5.25): 203-050V200
WINDOWS VB PRO 2.00 (3.5): 203-051V200
Visual Basic 2.0 Standard, Gateway 2000 Edition - Six 1.2MB diskettes.
Visual Basic 2.0 Standard, retail 3.5" package. MS part number 046-051V200
Visual Basic 2.0 Professional, Special Upgrade - MS product number for 3.5" version: 203-051-080. No disk scan or enforcement, but license requires you to have a Visual Basic 1.0 for Windows, Borland C++, Borland Turbo C++ for Windows, Borland Turbo Pascal, or Borland Turbo Pascal for Windows. Contains eight 1.2MB diskettes plus the following printed materials:
Professional Features, Bar code label 34892
Programmer's Guide, Bar code label 34887
Language Reference, Bar code label 34888
License card "UPGRADE WIN VB PRO 2.0 (5.25) RSLR"
Registration card
Visual Basic 2.0 Professional - MS part number 203-051V200. White label on top of retail sleeve reads" WINDOWS VB PRO 2.00 (3.5)". Rear 0992 Part No. 36889. Includes the following printed materials:
Professional Features, 34892
Programmer's Guide, 34887
Language Reference, 34888
MS Part numbers:
VB3 Std. Competitive Upgrade with "LRN" suffix, 3.5": 046-751-112
VB Std. 3.5", full retail: 046-051V300 also 046-751V300 (LRN additions?)
WIN/VB 3.00 (1.44MB)AE SINGLE USR: 046-351V300
VB3 Pro., Academic, 3.5": 203-351V300
VB 3.00, 3.5", Learning Edition, 046-751V300
VB3 Pro, version upgrade, 3.5", 203-051-102
UPDATE WIN/VB PRO 3.00 (1.44MB)DIR, 203-051-300A (direct box, license agreement looks like international)
VB3 Pro, 3.5", 203-051V300
VB3 Pro w Office DK, 3.5"/CD, Special Upgrade, 203-851-101
VB3 Pro w Office DK, 3.5"/CD, Not for Resale, 2035851V300
VB3 Pro w Office DK, 3.5"/CD, Academic, 203-351V300
VB3 Pro w Office DK, 3.5"/CD, full retail, 203-851V300
VB3 Pro w Office DK, CD/CD, full retail, 203-052V300
Visual Basic 3.0 Standard, version upgrade - No disk scan or enforcement. Requires Windows 3.0 or later, 2MB of available memory for design environment, one high density disk drive and a hard disk with 12MB available. EGA or higher resolution monitor. MS mouse or compatible pointing device. Includes three 1.44MB diskettes and the following printer materials:
Component Objects and Companion Products for Visual Basic, Winter/Spring 1994, Part No. 55439
Support and Service for Microsoft Visual Basic brochure. 1292 Part no. 50510
CompuServe offer
License agreement, 0294 Part No. 57117, inkjet marked "UPDATE WIN/VB 3.00(1.44MB) DIRECT"
Diskette and Upgrade order form, 0394 Part No. 55566
Microsoft Support Network contact info card, 0993 Part No. 55277
Inside Visual Basic for Windows newsletter offer, 59476
Visual Basic Programmer's Journal magazine offer, Part #52753
Manuals:
Programmer's Guide, 55959 -or-
Programmer's Guide, 711 pages, Document Number DB51410-0493, rear bar code label 51410
Language Reference, 674 pages, Document Number DB51411-0493, rear bar code label 51411
Visual Basic 3.0 Standard competitive upgrade version - No disk scan or enforcement, but license requires you to have a "Microsoft language product, Borland language product, or other Windows based programming products." Requires Windows 3.0 or later, 2MB of available memory for design environment, one high density disk drive and a hard disk with 12MB available. EGA or higher resolution monitor. MS mouse or compatible pointing device.
Visual Basic 3.0 Standard - MS part number 046-051V300
Visual Basic 3.0 Std. Academic Edition
VB3 Standard "Propeller Head" packaging.
Visual Basic 3.0 "LRN", I think this is a learning edition, but don't know what its relationship is to later academic licensing.
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional, version upgrade: You qualify for the upgrade if you own Visual Basic Programming System with Professional Toolkit (VB1 Pro), VB2 Pro, or Professional Toolkit for Visual Basic.
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional with Office DK on 3.5" and CD. Special upgrade. MS product number 203-851-101. For users of Microsoft language products, Borland language products, other Windows-based programming products, Microsoft Access, Excel, or Office. Box spine rear bottom marked 0294 Part No. 55029
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional with Office DK on 3.5" and CD. "Not for Resale" package. Front of box has transparent sticker "PROMOTIONAL SAMPLE NOT FOR RESALE". White label on top of box says "WIN/VB3.0PRO(3.5/CD)NFR" with product number "2035851V300"
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional 3.5" and Office DK, Academic Edition, MS Part number 203-351V300
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional - Nine 1.44MB diskettes with files dated 04/28/93 00:00. First diskette, labeled Disk Assy 203-051-025, gets written ID of first user in file vbsetup.ini.
Includes the following manuals:
Professional Features Book1, 51412
Professional Features Book2, 52324
Language Reference, 51411
Programmer's Guide, 55959
Office Developer's Kit, 55428
Visual Basic 3.0 Professional on CD-ROM, with SDK on CD-ROM. Full retail version has Microsoft product ID 203-052V300 on white label on top of box.
MS part numbers:
4.0, CD: 046-051V400
VB 4.0STD/WIN(CD): 046-056V400
4.0 Professional, Academic, 3.5": 203-356V400
4.0 Professional, Academic, CD: 203-???V400
VB PRN 4.0 WIN EN NA CD AE NA ONLY: 203-00044
4.0 Professional Easy Fulfillment Document Set: 203-055-045
4.0 Professional Upgrade, CD: 203-054-205, also 203-056-205
4.0 Professional w Office DK, Upgrade, CD: 203-851-101
4.0 Professional Competitive Upgrade, CD: 203-054-215, also 203-056-215
4.0 Professional, CD: 203-054V400 also 203-056V400
VB 4.0PRO/WIN(CD)NFR: 203-556V400
4.0 Enterprise Upgrade, CD: 2034155-400
4.0 Enterprise, CD: 2031056V400
4.0 Enterprise, NFR, CD: 2031556U400
MASTERING VISUAL BASIC 4.00: 007-056-210
VB 4.0STD/WIN(CD): 046-056V400
System requirements: 386DX or later processor. Windows 95 or NT 3.51 or later OS. 6MB of RAM (8 recommended) or 16MB for NT. 20-60MB disk space.
Consists of the following:
Retail box 0795 Part No. 65163.
CD in jewel case with orange CD Key on rear insert 0895 Part No. 64510. Front insert 0895 Part No. 64514. CD face Version 4.0, Disc Assy. 046-056-006, 0296 Part No. 69913.
License agreement 51880002.DOC, 0895 Part no. 61798. "VERSION 4.00, STANDARD EDITION, LICENSES: 1"
Professional edition offer, 0895 Part No. 66889
Registration card, 0995 Part No. 67821
Manuals:
Programmer's Guide, 857 pages, Document No. 58513-TR6, 58513
(I'm not sure about this next one. It was in the box we examined.)
Teach yourself Visual Basic 4 for Windows 95, with 3.5" disk, ISBN 1-55828-399-4
Visual Basic 4.0 Professional version upgrade - MS part number for 3.5/CD w ODK 203-851-101. Box sleeve 0795 Part No. 65167. Top of box reads "UPDATE VB 4.0PRO/WIN(CD)PRO/PRO RSL". Will search your hard disk and/or floppy drive to confirm your eligibility. To be eligible, you must be a licensed user of Visual Basic Professional version 2.0 or 3.0. CD jewel case rear insert 0895 Part No. 66295. Jewel case font insert rear 0895 Part No. 66296. CD face reads Version 4.0, Disc Assy. 203-056-006, 0895 Part No.66147. Dates of directories in CD root are 8/24/95 3:31:48pm. Includes the following printed materials:
Registration card, 0995 Part No. 67821
License card, printed "VERSION 4.00, PROFESSIONAL EDITION, LICENSES: 1", 0895 Part No. 61798
Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 Roadmap, 66931
1.44 MB Disk Offer, 0695 Part No. 66302, Kit No. 203-054-045
Enterprise Edition info card, 0895 Part No. 66890
Developer Network offer, 66858
Visual Basic Programmer's Journal offer, 61882
Component Objects and Companion Products for Visual Basic catalog, Volume 5, Winter/Spring 1995, 60087
Manuals:
Crystal Reports for Visual Basic User's Manual, 143 pages, Document No. DD58500-0795, 58500
Professional Features, Document No. DB58499-0795, 58499
Language Reference, 1064 pages, Document Number DB58514-0795, 58514
Programmer's Guide, 857 pages, Document No. 58513-TR6, 58513
VB 4 Pro Academic
Visual Basic 4.0 Professional competitive upgrade version - Software will scan your hard and floppy drives to ensure you own one of the following: a licensed user of one of the following products: Microsoft Visual Basic, Standard Edition, version 2.0, 3.0, or 4.0, Microsoft Visual C++ version 1. 5 or later, Microsoft Visual FoxPro version 3.0 or later, Microsoft FoxPro version 2. 6 for Windows, Microsoft FORTRAN Power Station version 4.0 or later, Microsoft Office Standard or Professional version 4. 0 or later, Microsoft Access version 2. 0 or later, Microsoft Excel version 5.0 or later, Borland Delphi, Borland dBASE for Windows, or Powersoft Power Builder 3 or 4. CD face is labeled Disc Assy.203-056-006, 0895 Part No.66147
Visual Basic 4.0 Professional, CD. MS Part number: 203-056V400
Visual Basic 4.0 Enterprise - MS product number 2031056V400. Includes the following materials:
Registration card (part number unknown)
License card, printed "VERSION 4.00, ENTERPRISE EDITION, LICENSES: 1", 0895 Part No. 61798
License card (probably for Visual SourceSafe 4.0), printed "VERSION 4.00, LICENSES: 1", 0195 Part No. 62720
Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0 Roadmap, 66931
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe 4.0 Quick Reference Card, 64666
Visual Basic Programmer's Journal offer, 61882
Component Objects and Companion Products for Visual Basic catalog, Volume 7, Winter 1996/1997, 93143
Inside Visual Basic for Windows magazine offer, 61884
CD jewel case rear insert, 0895 Part No. 64579, bar code 64579
CD jewel case front insert, 0895 Part No. 64577
CD face: Disc Assy. 2031056-010, 0296 Part No.69944
Manuals:
Crystal Reports for Visual Basic User's Manual, 143 pages, Document No. DD58500-0795, 58500
Professional Features, Document No. DB58499-0795, 58499
Language Reference, 1064 pages, Document Number DB58514-0795, 58514
Programmer's Guide, 857 pages, Document No. 58513-TR6, 58513
Microsoft Visual SourceSafe User's Guide, 204 pages, Document No. D64664-0795, 64664
Building Client/Server Applications with Visual Basic, 275 pages, Document No. DD59950-0795, 59950
MS Part numbers:
Learning Edition: 046-00067 "VB STD 5.0 W32 EN NA CD LRN COM"
Professional, AE: 203-00100
VB PRO 5.0 W32 EN NA CD COM: 203-00102
Enterprise, Upgrade, CD: 361-00088
Enterprise NFR: 361-00090 "VB ENT 5.0 W32 EN NA CD NFR COM"
Enterprise International Academic: "VB ENTERPRISE 5.0 W32 EN INTL CD AE COM: 361-00170
Learning Edition. 046-00067 "VB STD 5.0 W32 EN NA CD LRN COM"
Retail box sleeve 1196 Part No. 94214.
License agreement card is printed: VERSION 5.00, LEARNING EDITION, LICENSES: 1", 0197 Part No. 94186
Registration card assembly 0897 Part No. X03-41835
Rebate coupon 0297 Part No. 94216
Installation card, 93010
Visual Basic Programmer's Journal offer, Part No. 93144
Microsoft Office and Visual Basic for Applications Developer offer, PART # X03-22916
Component Objects and Companion Products for Visual Basic, Summer/Fall 1997, volume 8, Part No. X03-09311
License card, Part No. 98177
Mastering Visual Basic 5.0 offer, 1196 Part No. 93336
CD jewel case front insert 93009, rear insert 93008, with CD key
CD, 1196 Part No. 93007
Learn visual Basic Now CD, Part No. 93006
Visual Basic 5.0 Professional competitive upgrade version - May search your disk for competitive software. License requires you to own one of the following: Visual Basic 3 or 4, Visual C++ 1.5 or later, Visual FoxPro 3.0 or later, Fortran PowerStation 4.0 or later, Office97 Developer Edition, Delphi, dBASE for Windows, PowerBuilder 3, 4 or 5, Oracle PowerObjects or Developer/2000, or Borland C++.
The international academic version includes:
Retail box sleeve, 1196 Part No. 93025 with product label "VB ENTERPRISE 5.0 W32 EN INTL CD AE COM: 361-00170"
Media:
VB 5 Enterprise CD in jewel case with key code. CD marked 1196 Part No. 93027. Front insert 93029. Rear insert 1196 Part No. 93028
SQL Server 6.5 Developer Edition CD paper window sleeve, 0796 Part No. 92636
Transaction Server Developer Edition in jewel case with key, CD marked 1296 Part No. 93159, Front insert is a multi-page booklet 1296 Part No. 93157. Rear insert 1296 part no. 93158
MSDN Library Special Edition, CD in jewel case marked 0197 Part No. 97449, front insert 0197 Part No. 97453, rear insert 0197 Part No. 97448
License agreement documents:
End-User License Agreement, "VERSION 5.00, ENTERPRISE EDITION AE, LICENSES: 1", 0197 Part No. 94186
EULA for SQL Server 6.5 Developer Edition, marked "AE, LICENSES: 1", 0297 Part No. X03-09013
EUAL for Microsoft Database Tools, 0397 Part No. X03-17069
Addendum to server license for transaction Server 1.0, Developer Edition, 0297 Part No. X03-09070
License agreement for SourceSafe, labeled "VERSION 5.00 AE, LICENSES: 1", 0295 Part No. 62720
Printed manuals:
Guide to Data Access Objects, Crystal Reports for Visual Basic: Document No. 93015
Component Tools Guide, Document No. 93014
Language Reference, 1064 pages, Document No. DB58514-0795
Visual Basic Guide to Building Client/Server, 366 pages, Document No. 93026
Visual Basic Programmer's Guide, 898 pages, Document No. 93011
Visual SourceSafe User's Guide, 247 pages, Document No. DB92889-0196
Other printed materials:
Microsoft Transaction Server, Developer Edition feature card, 0197 Part No. 90300
SourceSafe 5.0 Quick Reference Card, bar code label 94752
Visual Database Tools Quick Reference Card, bar code label 92944
Limited Warranties booklet, bar code label 61002
Registration card assembly, Part Number 94206, folding envelope 361-00170
Mastering Visual Basic brochure, 1196 Part No. 93336
MS part numbers:
US:
VB PRO 6.0 WIN32 ENGLISH NA CD REFR: 203-00768
Visual Basic 6 Programming Starter Kit by McMillan: special limited version
Academic: Enterprise - 361-00438, Professional (with NT 4.0 workstation) - 203-00506, Learning - 046-00392. Professional w SQL Dev. Ed.? - 203-00769
Academic with W2K Readiness Kit: Professional - 203-00769
Upgrade: Enterprise -361-00441, Professional - 203-00509
Full: Enterprise - 361-00422, Professional - 203-00490, Learning - 046-00378
International:
Upgrade: Professional, English - 203-00510, Spanish - 203-00532, Enterprise, Spanish - 361-00446
Full: Enterprise, English - 361-00423, Spanish - 361-00437, Professional, English - 203-00491, Spanish - 203-00505, Standard/Learning, English - 046-00379
Visual Basic - synopsis Judson McClendon judmc123@bellsouth.net (remove numbers)
Sun Valley Systems http://personal.bhm.bellsouth.net/~judmc
When Microsoft and IBM split the blanket over OS/2, Microsoft dusted off the dinky old toy which was Windows 2.x, and did a serious rewrite as Windows 3.0. Microsoft needed development languages for Windows fast, because not everybody had enough hair on their chests to tackle Windows API development directly C. Working on two fronts, Microsoft released Visual Basic for DOS and Visual Basic for Windows. VB DOS provided not only a QuickBasic compatible platform, but a character based, interrupt driven platform similar to Windows programs, specifically VB Windows. VB DOS was never enhanced, because Microsoft was determined to abandon the DOS platform as soon as possible. VB DOS was only a hook to get QuickBasic programmers acclimated to the idea of Windows programming. With Windows 95, Microsoft released VB 4.0 which supported (in the professional version) both the older 16 bit Windows 3.x API, and the newer 32 bit Windows 95 API. The 16 bit option was dropped with VB 5.0. Visual Basic 6.0 is the latest version. Though enormously powerful, Visual Basic is also enormously more complex to learn and master than QuickBasic, QBasic or PDS. You can actually learn to do some easy stuff in VB quicker than you might with QBasic. But to really know VB takes a tremendous amount of effort and time.
