How to Write VB Code for PowerPoint Hangman Game?

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Hangman is a classic word guessing game where players attempt to guess a secret word by suggesting letters. If too many incorrect guesses are made, the player loses and the hangman is hanged. Creating a Hangman game in PowerPoint using Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code can be a fun way to gamify presentations. Here are some tips for writing effective VB code for a PowerPoint Hangman game.

Structure the Code for Readability

The _play() method that runs the main game logic can get lengthy. Break it down into separate methods for:

  • Checking if a guess is valid
  • Checking if a guess is correct
  • Printing the updated board
  • Checking if the game is won or lost

This improves readability and reusability of the code.

Private Sub CheckGuess(ByVal guess As String)
  ' Check if guess is valid
End Sub

Private Sub PrintBoard()
  ' Print board with guessed letters
End Sub

Private Sub CheckGameOver()
  ' Check if player won or lost
End Sub

Use Enums for Game States

Instead of True/False variables, use an enum for game states:

Enum GameState 
  Playing
  Won
  Lost
End Enum

Dim currentState As GameState

This self-documents the code.

Separate Print Logic

Move printing code into a separate Printer class or methods. Keep the main Hangman class focused on game logic.

Allow Guessing Whole Words

Let players guess the entire word, not just single letters. This matches traditional hangman more closely.

Add Difficulty Levels

Let players choose difficulty by setting number of allowed wrong guesses. Default to the number of hangman images.

Use Type Hints and Comments

Use type hints and method docstrings to clarify logic.

Validate Word List

Check if the word list file path is valid before loading words. Don’t assume words.txt exists.

Summary

Applying OOP principles like separation of concerns and abstraction improves Hangman code. Refactoring to separate classes and methods makes the game more readable, maintainable and extensible. This allows enhancing the game by adding features like difficulty levels without impacting existing logic. Use enums, validation and documentation to make the code robust and clear.

Basic Game Structure

Here is one approach to structure a PowerPoint Hangman VB code project:

1. Main Game Class

This class contains the main game logic and flow. Key elements:

  • Game variables tracking state, guesses, etc.
  • Event handlers for user input like button clicks
  • Primary game methods like StartGame, MakeGuess, GameOver

2. Word Manager Class

Encapsulates logic around:

  • Loading word list file
  • Selecting a random secret word
  • Checking if guess is in the word

Keeps this concern separate from main game class.

3. Printer Class

Handles all printing logic:

  • Printing dashes for secret word
  • Updating display of guessed letters
  • Printing winning/losing message

Decouples view rendering from game logic.

4. Hangman Drawing Class

Renders the visual hangman images that update based on wrong guesses. Encapsulates complexity of drawing logic.

Key Coding Tips

Follow these tips when writing your Hangman game code:

  • Use descriptive names – for variables, methods, classes.
  • Validate assumptions – check word list file, guesses, user input.
  • Comment complex parts – document what key sections are doing.
  • Test often – check game logic after writing new parts.
  • Handle errors gracefully – anticipate bad user input.

Conclusion

Using OOP design principles as a guide when coding a Hangman PowerPoint game in VBA results in flexible, extensible code. Separate logical components into classes and methods focused on single concerns. Use enums, validation and documentation to make the code robust and clear. Test frequently as you build new functionality. Following these tips will lead to maintainable VB code you can build on over time.

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