VB.Net Question/What to Buy?

[BKer]

I am considering acquiring a license through my company to get VB.Net and was wondering what it is I actually need. I want to create a small application to query a remote DB, within our intranet, from a form and produce reports. I have done some research on this and found some information that didn't really explain what I want to know.

1) Can I do what I want to with VB.Net Standard? or do I need to get Visual Studio?

2) What version does anyone recommend?

3) Can I and/or should I do it VB6?

Any help or recommendations would be helpful,

Thanks,
BK

 

[benlinkknilneb]

1) Don't know for sure; we went ahead and bought VS Enterprise at our plant.

2) .NET is much easier than VB6, once you get the hang of the .NET framework... as for the different versions of .NET, I don't know how much difference there is; probably worthwhile to just get the newest one, since you're already forking over the cash.

3) It is possible to do this in VB6; if you're experienced in VB, that may even be a better way to go (short term). If you're a beginner, I'd suggest holding out for .NET. My reasoning: (1) It is a true object-oriented language and (2) The framework is easy to learn. You would want to go with VB6 if you're using old machinery; Although .NET runs on Win98, the VB6 version would probably be better. NET does *not* run on '95. Another thing to keep in mind is that the entire .NET framework will have to be installed on any computer running a .NET app. It's only about 20MB, if I remember correctly; it seems like a lot of overhead, but memory's cheap, so it's probably not a big concern.

Personally, I don't develop anything in VB6 anymore... but that's just me. A lot of die-hard VB6'ers would tell you otherwise.

HTH
Ben

 

[SHelton]

With regard to your first question, BKer, the standard version of VB.NET and the Professional version of Visual Studio do not include some of the database tools that more expensive versions do - for example although you can see a stored procedure exists, you cannot view or modify the SP code.

Also, I believe VB.NET Standard does not allow you to build controls.

If your budget will stretch to it, I would recommend the Enterprise version of Visual Studio as a minimum, or you may find yourself limited in the future.

 

[RiverGuy]

I'm not sure if it holds true for v. 2003, but VB.Net Standard does not include Crystal Reports--so you might have to buy a reporting tool.

 

[chrissie1]

and the standard edition doesnt make conictions with sql-server only msde and access.
that is if you use the IDE.

If you hardcode it all it does it all.

Christiaan Baes
Belgium
"What a wonderfull world" - Louis armstrong

 

[RiverGuy]

Can you explain my not making connections with sql server, but msde? I don't really see how it distinguishes between the two.

 

[chrissie1]

well dont as me how he makes the difference he just does.

at home i have msde and named my computer like the server at work (the one with sql-server). I compiled the application and took it with me to work, I ran the exe and it worked fine, so far so good.

The at work a made a new application with the same standard edition. but now i had to make the same connection to another database on the same server and hey presto he refuses to do it saying my version (standard) doesnt do that. funny hé.
Apparently he only checks if its msde when using the ide component. by the way if you change the connectionstring manually he doesnt bother, i guess its just a trick to get us to spend some more money. how he nows the difference between msde and sql-server i dont know ask bill and his team, they only know


Christiaan Baes
Belgium
"What a wonderfull world" - Louis armstrong

 

[BKer]

So as far as I can gather, I cannot just get VB.Net with a built in reporting tool. Does VB6 have a reporting tool built in?

If I did get VB.Net, every computer has to be running the entire .net framework and has to be installed on each computer I want to run the app.

It sounds like I should just get VB6 so I don't have to install .net on every computer and get a reporting program as well.

I want anyone who needs to use the app to just be able to copy and paste from a network drive and place it on their desktop regardless of what they have or don't have on their computer.

Any suggestions?
Thanks for your suggestions
BKer