Computer Programming Concepts and Visual Basic David I. Schneider

SECOND The function Second extracts the seconds from a serial date. If d is any valid serial
date, the value of Second(d) is a whole number from 0 to 59 giving the seconds recorded
as part of the date and time stored in d. [date]
SEEK The statement Seek #n, p sets the current file position in the binary or random-access
file referenced by n to the pth byte or record of the file, respectively. After the statement is
executed, the next Get or Put statement will read or write bytes, respectively, beginning with
the pth byte or record. The value of the function Seek(n) is the current file position either in
bytes or by record number. After a Put or Get statement is executed, the value of Seek(n) is
the number of the next byte or record. [binary file]
SELECT CASE The Select Case statement provides a compact method of selecting for execution
one of several blocks of statements based on the value of an expression. The Select
Case block begins with a line of the form Select Case expression and ends with the statement
End Select. In between are clauses of the form Case valueList and perhaps the clause Case
Else. The items in the valueList may be individual values or ranges of values such as “a To
b”or “Is < a”. Each of these Case statements is followed by a block of zero or more statements.
The block of statements following the first Case valueList statement for which valueList
includes the value of expression is the only block of statements executed. If none of
the value lists includes the value of expression and a Case Else statement is present, then the
block of statements following the Case Else statement is executed.
SENDKEYS The statement SendKeys str places in the keyboard buffer the characters and
keystrokes specified by str. The effect is exactly the same as if the user had typed the series
of characters/keystrokes at the keyboard. The statement SendKeys str, True places keystrokes
in the keyboard buffer and waits until these keystrokes are processed (used) before allowing
program execution to continue with the next statement in the procedure containing the Send-
Keys statement. Keystrokes can be specified that do not have a displayable character or that
result from using the Shift, Ctrl, or Alt keys.
SET Essentially, Set is “Let for objects.” Whereas the Let statement is used to assign ordinary
values to variables or properties, the Set statement is used to assign objects to variables
or properties.
The statement Set controlVar = objectExpression associates the name controlVar with
the object identified by objectExpression. For example, if the statements Dim Scenery As
PictureBox and Set Scenery = Picture1 are executed, then Scenery becomes another name for
Picture1, and references like Scenery.Print message are equivalent to Picture1.Print message.
Also, the Set statement assigns an object to an object variable. When you want to release the
memory used for the object, execute Set objVar = Nothing.
SETATTR The statement SetAttr fileName, attribute sets the file attribute of the file specified
by fileName. A file’s attribute can be 0 for “Normal”or a combination of 1, 2, or 4 for
“Read-only”, “Hidden”, and “System.” In addition, a file can be marked as “changed since
last backup”by adding 32 to its attribute. Thus, for example, if a file’s attribute is set to 35
(1 + 2 + 32), the file is classified as a Read-only Hidden file that has been changed since the
last backup.
SETFOCUS The method objectName.SetFocus moves the focus to the named form or control.
Only the object with the focus can receive user input from the keyboard or the mouse.
If objectName is a form, the form’s default control, if any, receives the focus. Disabled and
invisible objects cannot receive the focus. If an attempt is made to set focus to a control that
cannot receive the focus, the next control in tab order receives the focus.
SETTEXT The method ClipBoard.SetText info replaces the contents of the clipboard with
the string info.
SGN The value of the function Sgn(x) is 1, 0, or –1, depending on whether x is positive,
zero, or negative, respectively.
Appendix C 449