I have Visual Basic 6 and am considering upgrading to .NET. I have some questions:

1. What are the main differences between the two?

2. Does Microsoft still sell VB 6?

3. Do people still program in VB 6 or is "everyone" programming in .NET?

4. Do there exist math / stat libraries for either or both?

Thank you

Lisa

On 3 Dec 2003 05:14:46 -0800, Lisa Henkel wrote:

>I have Visual Basic 6 and am considering upgrading to .NET. I have some questions:
>
>1. What are the main differences between the two?
>
>2. Does Microsoft still sell VB 6?
>
>3. Do people still program in VB 6 or is "everyone" programming in .NET?
>
>4. Do there exist math / stat libraries for either or both?


1. They are two different languages. The difference is somewhat similar
to the difference between C++ and Java (including the fact that the
former compiles to native code while the latter requires a virtual
machine), but there are many more differences between VB6 and VB.NET.

2. No. Look on ebay.

3. I would say that most people are using pre-.NET languages. Certainly
everyone in this group is.

4. Go to any search engine and type in "visual basic math library"
(without the quotes).

Personally, I wouldn't touch anything .NET with the proverbial 10-foot
pole.
--
auric "underscore" "underscore" "at" hotmail "dot" com
*****
Love is a matter of chemistry, but Sex is a matter of physics.

This statement is a touch too strong.

Windows forms/controls and the language - dim, if/then/else - is pretty much
the same with many of the rough edges smoothed.

The environment changes in that VB6 has objects, but you could write a lot
of object less code. VB.NET is all objects.

If your were comfortable using VB6 and objects, i.e. cl***es, then VB.NET is
not that big a step.

"Auric__" <EMAIL REMOVED> wrote in message
news:EMAIL REMOVED...
> On 3 Dec 2003 05:14:46 -0800, Lisa Henkel wrote:
>
>
> 1. They are two different languages. The difference is somewhat similar
> to the difference between C++ and Java (including the fact that the
> former compiles to native code while the latter requires a virtual
> machine), but there are many more differences between VB6 and VB.NET.
>

"SFB" <EMAIL REMOVED> wrote in message news:<spqzb.249$EMAIL REMOVED>...
> This statement is a touch too strong.

IMO it isn't strong enough

> Windows forms/controls and the language - dim, if/then/else - is pretty much
> the same with many of the rough edges smoothed.

any many of the smooth edges roughened; VB.Net is a drastic change.

> The environment changes in that VB6 has objects, but you could write a lot
> of object less code. VB.NET is all objects.

one reason why it's a very different language

> If your were comfortable using VB6 and objects, i.e. cl***es, then VB.NET is
> not that big a step.

it makes it easier, but it's still a BIG step

On Wed, 3 Dec 2003 14:04:07 -0500, SFB wrote:

>This statement is a touch too strong.
>
>Windows forms/controls and the language - dim, if/then/else - is pretty much
>the same with many of the rough edges smoothed.

C also uses if and else, and can declare variables in a similar manner -
does that make it an upgrade to VB?

>The environment changes in that VB6 has objects, but you could write a lot
>of object less code. VB.NET is all objects.

That's exactly like the change from C++ to Java - in C++, you *can* use
objects, while in Java, EVERYTHING is an object.

>If your were comfortable using VB6 and objects, i.e. cl***es, then VB.NET is
>not that big a step.

You forgot to mention the fact that calls to system functions are
handled differently, and some (possibly many) of the functions work
differently.

In my opinion VB.NET is no closer to "real" VB than VB is to "real"
BASIC. If you like it, great - more power to you.
--
auric "underscore" "underscore" "at" hotmail "dot" com
*****
All computers wait at the same speed.