Advantages of VB6 over Access 2000

[elizabeth]

Could developers who have used both these products give me a summary or point me to some material that compares and contrasts these two? I'm specifying the most recent versions of each product to make sure I focus only on stuff that is true as of today. TIA!<br>This was cross posted to the Access forum.

 

[Karl Blessing]

Um Access 2000 is a tool for managing and creating your access database, VB6 is a programming language, using ADO or some other ODBC interface you can read from, modify and use access databases. I dont exactly know your question, but word of advise, if you use ADO with Access 2000 databases in VB6, be sure to load ADO 2.1, and not an earlier version to avoid crashes. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[NoHandle]

It really depends on where you are coming from and where you expect to be going. <br>If your requirements are database-centric then Access gives you lots easy to use features with VBA supplying any additional bells and whistles. <br>However, if you are looking for a powerful programming language that (amongst it's many other capabilities) can hook into an Access database then VB6 is what you want.

 

[elizabeth]

Karl, thanks, but don't quite get your point. We can use ADO from Access 2000 or VB6, so what is the <i>advantage</i> to using ADO in VB6? In other words, if I'm creating a new application, what reasons might I have for choosing VB6 over Access 2000 (or vise versa, for that matter) to create it?&nbsp;&nbsp;I took an intro course a year or 2 ago in VB5 and do not remember coming across anything I couldn't do in Access. Maybe the diff is just in some more advanced techniques? <br><br>Also I'm wondering about the relationship (in these versions) of VB to VBA. It sounds as if there is much overlap, but is VBA a subset of VB?

 

[Karl Blessing]

Um because Access doesnt create applications. VB does<br>Access 2000 only manages the databases it creates, does not create applications that you later distribute to users. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[elizabeth]

Karl, yes Access does create apps that you can later distribute to users. You have this capability when you purchase the Developer's version. Maybe you have been using other versions of Access, there are a number of them. Please post if you have any other idea.<br><br>NoHandle, to date <i>all</i> my apps have been data-centric, because I've always been in corporate MIS/IT depts. This will sound pretty stupid, but what would other types of apps be? All I can think of is things that would involve primarily logic and graphics, such as games...

 

[Karl Blessing]

The version I have is whatever version comes when you buy Microsoft Office 97. Visual Sudio 6 Professional is installed on this machine. I did not know Access 2000 could create applications, how is the interface in Access 2000, and what limitations do you know of then I may have a better picture of what might be better, as far as other applications go the ones I current write are Internet applications, some of the projects I have (since I mainly create componets for the big picture or middleware) was like a Virtual Private Network protocal, some of the things my company got, is a Mapping application, WebSaras (state associated information for state analyst to use) there are numerious things<br>* Graphical Editing/Viewing<br>* Multimedia Editing/Viewing<br>* Audio, Video<br>* Data Intensive<br>* Transactional<br>* Scientific<br>etc<br>the ideas are pretty much limitless. <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[philcha]

As Karl says, there are many things VB can do which Access can't.&nbsp;&nbsp;A few more items VB can do which (as far as I know) Access can't:<br>*&nbsp;&nbsp;create custom objects which can be re-used in many places outside the system in which they were originally built.<br>*&nbsp;&nbsp;create common code modules which can be used in many places outside the system in which they were originally built.<br>*&nbsp;&nbsp;produce code to run in the middle tier of a 3-tier architecture.<br>These features make VB a better bet for building large commercial / administrative apps.&nbsp;&nbsp;Hence I'd suggest that wherever the choice appears finely balanced you should go for VB because it's more extendable.<br><br>There's also a financial difference when you're building a system for multiple users:<br>* with Access each user machine needs a licence for the Access run-time module.<br>* with VB you can install and run the compiled code on any number of PCs.&nbsp;&nbsp;The only additional charges per PC would be for any 3rd-party Active X controls your app uses.<br><br>This doen't imply that I dislike Access:<br>* it's the first tool I'd examine for a small app with a small number of users.<br>* it's also a super prototyping tool because it makes you do the DB design first and you can then produce functionality you can demonstrate to the users (starting with basic queries and then clothing them in forms and reports) without writing much code.<br><br>

 

[elizabeth]

Thank you both so much for your thoughts. I'm sure this feedback will be helpful.<br><br>FYI pilcha, as I mentioned above to Karl, one version of Office 2000 is called the Developer's edition. They also have additional editions named: Standard, Small Business, Professional and Premium. Each level has a different set of programs included. The Developer Edition includes developer tools taht allow you to package a finished application and distribute it royalty-free. For more details see:<br><br><A HREF="

http://www.microsoft.com/office/order/suitegde.htm"

TARGET="_new">

http://www.microsoft.com/office/order/suitegde.htm</A>

 

[Jaymo]

As others have mentioned the big advantages of VB are portability, cheaper as extra licences are not required for each user. However nobody seems to have mentioned that Access is being phased out by Microsoft which means sooner or later it will be discontinued and not supported.<br><br>Hope this helps.<br>

 

[philcha]

<u>Elizabeth</u>,<br>Thanks for the info re Office Developer Edition.<br><br><u>Jaymo</u>,<br>Where did you get the info about Access being phased out by Microsoft.&nbsp;&nbsp;I'm astonished because I don't know of a suitable substitute and Access is one of the areas where MS Office has a big advantage over other office suites (have you ever tried to use Lotus Approach?)<br>

 

[Karl Blessing]

How can it be phased out, access is a major componet, they may take out some features, but its a major part of any office collectoin<br>Word ( Word proccessor)<br>Excel (SpreadSheets)<br>Access(db) <p>Karl<br><a href=mailto:kb244@kb244.8m.com>kb244@kb244.8m.com</a><br><a href=

http://kb244.8m.com>

</a><br>Experienced in , or have messed with : VC++, Borland C++ Builder, VJ++6(starting),VB-Dos, VB1 thru VB6, Delphi 3 pro, Borland C++ 3(DOS), Borland C++ 4.5, HTML, ASP(somewhat), QBasic(least i didnt start with COBOL)

 

[elizabeth]

Jaymo, I also heard this a couple of years ago, in a MS authorized training center, a stray remark by the instructor who was doing the $99 into to the latest SQL Server version. He said the plan was to go ahead with Access 2000 and at least one following version but then they hoped to phase it out. He had no further info about how or when or why and I have not found anyone since who has heard anything like this. But I have noticed that it is impossible to get an MCSD with Access alone, it's necessary to also have C++ or VB or SQL Server. Please inform me of any details or other sources of info! Thanks!