A Complete Trilogy of Visual Basic Tools

Rick Grehan

Code Complete is a triad of visual programming tools from MicroHelp that's primarily aimed at Visual Basic developers. Code Complete is simultaneously eclectic and useful. First in the suite is Code Analyst. A three-trick pony, Code Analyst provides cross-referencing, standards review, and code compression. The cross-referencing capability is a reporting facility that reveals information such as which routine calls which other routine, which routine references which variables, and how each variable is typed.

With the code-review form viewer, you can pull up a VB form and examine its overall layout of controls. (I say "overall" because the viewer is definitely not WYSIWYG; controls are uniformly represented by flat rectangles.) Code Analyst's code review also lets you check for standards adherence. I passed a VB project throu gh the review, and it correctly caught a variable that had "excess scope" (the variable was referenced in only one routine and unnecessarily defined as a global).

Code Analyst's compressor grinds through your code, pulling out uncalled routines and unreferenced variables. This is not as frightening as it sounds. Code Analyst doesn't overwrite existing source; it copies the modified source into a new project.

The AutoCoder module, which installs itself as a VB add-in, manages "template scripts" that are governed by "rules." You unleash AutoCoder on your program and, if a particular rule fires, the associated script runs. So, you might define a rule that searches routines for error handlers; if it finds a routine sans handler, an "error handler writing" script is activated that automatically writes the handler for you. Some rules and scripts are provided. You can create more to your heart's co ntent.

Splash Wizard is not as tied to Visual Basic as are the other components. It's a kind of executable wrapper that checks a system for requirements that you specify before installing the program.

Though you can purchase any component separately, the package deal, $249, is best. If you're seriously into VB work, this is a good set of back-end tools.

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Product Information

MicroHelp

Phone:    (770) 516-0899
Fax:      (770) 516-1099
Internet: 
http://www.microhelp.com


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