Create an EXE (newbie) 1

[JBaileys]

I have a VB6 app which someone wrote. It is very simple one .FRM that I want to convert to .NET.

I have made my code changes to the .FRM, and now I want to create an EXE how is that done?

Secondly, does the GUI work the same as VB6?

Thanks,

JB

 

[RiverGuy]

You can't use a .FRM file in VB.Net. You have to either make a new .vb file or let the .Net IDE upgrade your project for you. When you build your project from your project menu, it will place the executable in your bin folder.

 

[CubeE101]

(VB6 user waiting for Visual Studio .Net Order to arrive)

So what is this I hear about VB.NET not creating 'True' EXE programs, and requiring The .Net Framework to be installed on all target User's PCs?

I know that embedded VB for Pocket PC creates a .vb file that runs only on pocket PC. Does VB.Net do something similar?

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[RiverGuy]

I'm not sure about embedded VB. But the .vb files aren't what runs Windows Forms.

Yes, users have to have the .Net Framework. .Net uses a JIT compiler.

But think about it this way: many VB6 programs install lots and lots of .dll's anyways....and the .Net Framework now comes on most new PC's I believe.

 

[CubeE101]

I guess that is true...

Also, looking at different examples on the net... it looked like the .vb extention was used for several different types of files in the VB.Net IDE, I guess forms (.frm files) are being replaced .vb format.

I know a lot of stuff in VS.Net is going to XML, is that the format of the .VB files?

And I guess JIT stands for Just In Time, right.
Does this work similar to the Java Virtual Machine?

Also, what is the extention of the files produced with VB.Net?
EXE or IL
I heard someone mention something about IL format...

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[RiverGuy]

VB.Net uses classes. Forms are classes. All files with code in them end with .vb. Which means a class or module will end with .vb.

Forms are not marked up with XML. I believe that will be an option in future releases, but never required.

All files from your project are compiled into one .exe, or one .dll, etc. It does not compile each class into its separate file. You get an .exe.

Read this:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...ml/cpconMicrosoftIntermediateLanguageMSIL.asp

 

[CubeE101]

Ok, so they basically merged the .bas, .frm, and .cls files, into a common format .vb, which where all basically the same (text files that contained source code) in the first place...

(Now are the Project Files in XML format, I think a VC++.net project file was when I DL'ed a VC++ project to find out I needed VC++ 7.0 to open it)

and the .Net Framework is just a set of common DLLs that the EXEs (compiled with .Net) will use. The way previous versions used their own sets of DLLs.

So as experienced .NET developers, is this a good thing?

It sounds like it is. But MS has a tendency to sugar coat things, which is why I have remained skeptical up until now...

As long as all the Target Systems have .Net Framework installed (which it looks like it is included with XP, so no problems there) you should get an exe that the end user will not be able to tell the difference if it came from VB6 or VB.Net

Am I getting close to the concept yet?

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[RiverGuy]

If you open a .vbproj in notepad, you will see it appear as XML. But, the think I like is that instead of project groups, you have solutions. Project groups always seemed to give me a bit of trouble.

This basically explains it all:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...e/html/cpovrintroductiontonetframeworksdk.asp

But by far, the most immediate advantage you will see are the ready-to use rich library. There are many things that would have required Win API that are built in now. GDI+ is right there. It is very easy to draw nice 2-D graphics on the screen.

The IDE is simpler to use. For example, instead of typing your property Get and Let, you can just type "Public Property Value As String." The IDE will format the Get and Set parts for you.

In UserControls, the properties will automattically save. You don't have to use PropBag.

But speaking of Controls, Inheritance is a key feature. If you have a commonly used Windows Forms Control, or any class for the matter, you can create a class to inherit from it, and add functionality. It's a much cleaner approach in my opinion than say, adding a text box to a user control, when you only want a custom text box.

 

[CubeE101]

Cool, Thanks RiverGuy, you have been a Great help today here is another Star.

Yeah, the file I opened in notepad was a .vcproj file and it was 'coded' in XML

I watched a video, the other day, on inheritance...

Speaking of which check out the Thread I Started In the VB 5 & 6 section on microsoft's VB.Net giveaway...

Watch 5 out of 101 videos and rate them to get a free copy of VB.Net Standard

thread222-847037

Here is a direct Link to the site...

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/atthemovies/

I will repost this in new Thread also.

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[RiverGuy]

Yes, I have seen that on MSDN. I am thinking about doing this at home. You do know, that with all the .Net languages, you can get the compilers for free from Microsoft as an SDK download, right?

You don't need an IDE to drag a button onto a form. You can code in notepad. Just letting you know in case your free copy takes longer than advertised to get there.

 

[JBaileys]

Cubee101,

Did you receive the free software?

 

[CubeE101]

I am still waiting for it... They said they shipped it about 2 weeks ago...

HOWEVER, I did download the SDK and a program called #Develop and it works pretty good as an alternative...

http://www.icsharpcode.com

It can be used for VB.Net & C#

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[infinitelo]

got my vb.net 2003 in the mail yesterday,
came with a short book excerpt, service pack 4 for win 2000
3 msdn cds, one vb.net standard and one prerequisits cd
ever notice how long 3 weeks is when your waiting on
something?



if it is to be it's up to me

 

[CubeE101]

So the average wait so far is 3 weeks, anyone else?

it looks like I probably have ~1 week left

ever notice how long 3 weeks is when your waiting on
something that is FREE FROM MICROSOFT?

Thanks for the update infinitelo.


Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[CubeE101]

I got my Copy of VB.Net Standard today (well yesterday now 6-16-04)...

Same thing...
2 VB.NET install disk
3 MSDN Install disk (1.9 GB of .NET Docs)
1 Win2K service Pack 4 disk
The infamous Microsoft, Sign your name in Blood, EULA ;-)
And a 131 pg. starter booklet (Adapted from Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Step by Step by Michael Halvorson)

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.

 

[ZOR]

Does only the developer version allow final exe applications to be created. I see so many versions of Net, which version do you go for as a continuity to VB^? Thanks

 

[ZOR]

Nobody knows?

 

[CubeE101]

what do you mean by...?
>>allow final exe applications to be created

It compiles it to an exe everytime you press the run button... (or build)

Have Fun, Be Young... Code BASIC
-Josh

http://cubee.topcities.com

PROGRAMMER: Red-eyed, mumbling mammal capable of conversing with inanimate objects.