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Scroll bars provide easy navigation through a long list of items or a large amount of information by scrolling either horizontally or vertically within an application or control. Scroll bars are a common element of the Windows and Windows NT interface.

Scroll bar controls are still of value in Visual Basic because they provide scrolling to applications or controls that do not provide them automatically. See "Scroll Bar Controls Scenario: Creating a Scrollable Graphics Viewport" for information on using scroll bars in this manner.

The scroll bar controls use the Scroll and Change events to monitor the movement of the scroll box (sometimes referred to as the thumb) along the scroll bar.

Event                         Description

Change                     Occurs after the scroll box is moved.

Scroll                        Occurs as the scroll box is moved. Does not occur if the scroll                                        arrows or scroll bar is clicked.

Using the Scroll event provides access to the scroll bar value as it is being dragged. The Change event occurs after the scroll box is released or when the scroll bar or scroll arrows are clicked.