good references 2

[crystalized]

I am looking for references to books or on-line sources of information that are good for getting me started on VB.

I would also like opinions on the following

1. Access vs VB for creating front ends for an SQL Server database.
2. How steep the VB learning curve is for someone with Access and Visual Interdev experience.
3. Report generation quality in VB.
4. Any other relevant information about VB anyone thinks is indispensible to a newbie.

Thanks in advance for any input you might offer. [sig]<p>Crystal<br><a href=mailto:crystals@genesis.sk.ca>crystals@genesis.sk.ca</a><br><a href= > </a><br>--------------------------------------------------<br>
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.<br>
-Oscar Wilde<br>
[/sig]

 

[swilliams]

About the best sources for information are the help files and MSDN / TechNet.
Answers (my own personal opinion)
1. I personally do not like creating any applications in access. I would always prefer to create the front end in VB.
2. If you have coded in Access (written code behind forms, rather than just created forms using wizards, then you are more than half way there to 'getting started' - you will have been using VBA!!
3. I have always done report generation in Crystal Reports (version 6, 7 and 8) which are more flexible - if not more frustrating - than Access reports.
4. Play about with it, if you get stuck, just ask.

(I have looked around on the web for good VB forums, and this is by far the best in terms of presentation, quality and helpfullness - if anyone knows any other ggod ones I would like to know!!)

Simon [sig][/sig]

 

[crystalized]

Thanks a bunch for the speedy response Simon. I will start hitting the help files and see where I get. [sig]<p>Crystal<br><a href=mailto:crystals@genesis.sk.ca>crystals@genesis.sk.ca</a><br><a href= > </a><br>--------------------------------------------------<br>
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.<br>
-Oscar Wilde<br>
[/sig]

 

[NickBulka]

Hi again Crystal,
VB sill be pretty easy to pick up after doing ASP. You'll have to get used to assigning datatypes to your variables, but syntactically, VBScript and VB are virtually identical.
There are a ton of good VB sites on the net. Off the top of my head, try these:

http://www.cgvb.com

http://www.vbsquare.com

http://www.vbwire.com

http://www.vbip.com

[sig]<p>nick bulka<br><a href=mailto: > </a><br><a href=

http://www.bulka.com>

</a><br>[/sig]

 

[crystalized]

Great,

Thanks again Nick you are a virtual font of references. Assigining datatypes will be no problem at all, I learned programming with Java and C++ and actually find the lack of datatype assignment in VBScript a little bit frustrating at times.

Well I am on my way to those sites. [sig]<p>Crystal<br><a href=mailto:crystals@genesis.sk.ca>crystals@genesis.sk.ca</a><br><a href= > </a><br>--------------------------------------------------<br>
Experience is one thing you can't get for nothing.<br>
-Oscar Wilde<br>
[/sig]

 

[MichaelRed]

Crystal,

Contrary to popular opinion, I do not see a great deal of difference in the use of MS. Access vs. VB. There are some 'features' of each which are -IMHO - better than the other, however on balance they are pretty much equal.

Again, - IMHO - htis is a lot like the FAA found years ago. Everyone is more comfortable 'flying' the platform they first learned on. They like 'flying' where the controls are positioned the same and feel the same as the controls werer on the plane they learned to fly on. This is why that ALL critical controls on ALL aircraft are now &quot;normalized&quot; to be the same.

If, therefore, you have learned how to 'program' using Ms. Access, - I predict you will find using it as your front end will 'be better' - at least for you. And the converse. If you learned VB first, you will think VB is the 'better' front end.

IMHO, I think Dear BILL (Gates) has just been fooling around, advertising esach of his products in slightly different ways to slightly different audiences just to sell more products. I will not go into specifics, but there is just NO REASON that the weak features of each of these 'languages'could not be improved by some &quot;cross polliniation&quot; from the 'other' language.
[sig]<p>MichaelRed<br><a href=mailto:mred@duvallgroup.com>mred@duvallgroup.com</a><br>There is never time to do it right but there is always time to do it over[/sig]