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How much VB6 do you need to know before you study for 70-176?

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JohnFaunce

IS-IT--Management
May 11, 2003
4
AU
Hi Guys. Can I just tell you about myself first. I have a Bachelor of Commerce, a Certificate IV in Micro-Computer Technology, and more recently a Master of Information Systems. Basically I can't get a job even with a masters degree. I thought that Informations Systems(IS) was a job viable area. My friend who did IS with me is in the same boat, and wants to get serious with learning Visual Basic 6, as he says it is being used more than Java these days. We did do some VB at university (I'm Australian), but as uni courses go, did not cover it in enough depth. I told him certification is really the only way to go ( we are in our mid-30's). For the MCSD you have to study 3 or 4 subjects. I know theres 70-176 VB for Desktop applications. then thers the Distributed applications subject, then a third subject, then possibly a fourth. While not trying to sound lazy, do you have to learn VB fundamentals before tackling Desktop applications (70-176), or not. I had a look at the MP book for 70-176, and it didn't seem to be covering any fundamentals. I know I sound naive, I just want to know. The book that we used at university was Visual Basic 6-How to Program by Deital & Deital & Nitto. We are studying this book at the moment. Any advice to do with VB, or Information Systems careers, or any other certification paths would be highly appreciated. Thanks very much for your time. John
 
Good Programmers in "Southern Asia" and "Eastern Europe" are typically hired for between $6,000-10,000/year. There are "education factories" cranking out really good IT workers faster than any of us want to admit.

Make sure you have enough to differentiate yourself from them or expect to be asking your clients if they'd like their order "supersized".

Oh, and as for the test, go to the Microsoft test webpage and review the objectives. When you're certain you know all of them, go for it!! You can get discount test vouchers at various websites, cramsession.com has studyguides, and we're all ready for you to be a star!

Just don't forget to stay sharp in your skills!!

JTB
Solutions Architect
MCSE-NT4, MCP+I, MCP-W2K, CCNA, CCDA,
CTE, MCIWD, i-Net+, Network+
(MCSA, MCSE-W2K, MCIWA, SCSA, SCNA in progress)
 
Hi john. I got my mcsd last year on the path your contemplating and honestly, I found the 175 Distributed to be much easier the the Desktop app. Much, much easier, despite a bit of overlap. In fact, the 176 probably scared me so much I may have overstudied for the 175, but I've talked to others who felt the same about the 2 exams.

I'm really not sure about more people using VB6 than Java, but then again we are on opposite sides of the world. I used "MCSD in a Nutshell" (strong on Desktop, which the Dietel book is probably a good approximation of), the Exam Cram Distributed study guide, and most importantly Transcender. I also had about 2 1/2 years experience with VB and Sql Server (my elective).

jtb's right about the microsoft web site being the place to go, but the other required exam is the Solutions Architecture exam. The material is pretty straightforward and I think a study program that mimics the test (drag and drop, tabbed case scenarios, etc - again I used Transcender) is most importatnt for this one.

Good luck!
 
No clue what the Aussie IT market is like, but you and your friend may want to look into the new .NET certifications as well (especially if you're just going to start hard core into a technology (vb6.0)).

Here in Canada, .NET is slowly starting to permiate the microsoft shops. Also, in a few years, vb6.0 apps will probably be considered legacy, so you'd end up just maintaining instead of new development. However, there are much better tools for converting vb6.0 apps to .NET apps.

Short of it: research which Microsoft technologies you want to bet your career on. vb6.0 isn't going to go away anytime soon, but if getting all your certs is going to take a year or more to get, make sure your market will support your skills at that time.

hth

D'Arcy
 
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