Which version of VB6 to start with? 2

[tearsmith]

All,

I have become obsessed with programing in the VBA environment of Excel. I have completed two major projects for accounting at my job and my husband's. I have started dreaming in VB script, and now I want to run with the big dogs. I have purchased a CD tutorial and 18 books about VB, VBA, JAVA Script, ASP, etc. Now all I need is the software. I have narrowed it down to VB6, but which version? Do I start with the Learning Edition, or the Professional Edition? I would be self-teaching (and abusing Tek-Tips) to create my own programs (and maybe oneday land my dream job). What do all of you experts recommend?

Thank you, tearsmith

 

[Golom]

Learning edition has too many limitations. I recommend VB6-Enterprise Edition ... if it must be VB6.

Note however that VB6 (in fact Visual Studio 6, including VB, C, C++, J++, etc.) is no longer sold by MS and copies of it will be tough to find. If you are just getting into programming then probably VB.Net is where you should be looking, although .Net is a rather a different animal than VB6 or VB-Script.

 

[ZmrAbdulla]

although .Net is a rather a different animal than VB6 or VB-Script.

Nice comparison...


Zameer Abdulla
_{Jack of Visual Basic Programming, Master in Dining & Sleeping}
Visit Me

 

[Swi]

I think you can buy .NET and downgrade to VB6. Check Microsoft's site.

Swi

 

[Swi]

Here is the link:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/previous/downgrad...

Swi

 

[Golom]

Swi
Your link got truncated so it gives a 404 error. Can you post the full link?

 

[Swi]

Sorry, here you go:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/vbasic/previous/downgrade.aspx

Swi

 

[Sheco]

I have purchased a CD tutorial and 18 books about VB, VBA, JAVA Script, ASP, etc. Now all I need is the software.

Holy cow! This brings a tear to my eye.

 

[trollacious]

You can also get a lot of .NET stuff for free (VB and the other languages), including editors and compilers. One place to look is:

http://www.thefreecountry.com

Lee

 

[CubeE101]

although .Net is a rather a different animal than VB6 or VB-Script.

Very True...
But, if you have experience with any form of Java and/or C, then the changes are not that big of a deal...

I downloaded the 2005 express beta, and was running with it at full speed within a day or 2...

You just have to keep in mind... ALL programming languages have the same basic core functionalities... Some just build on that with added features.

In VB.Net, the BIG difference is that, obviously, you have the .NET framework to work with...
Which is an extensive set of classes (objects) you can work with, that are common to all the .NET languages...

Some nice extras you get along with that include:
* Inheritance
* C style operators...
X++, ++X, X--, --X (Increment / Decrement)
X += Y, X -= Y, X *= Y, X /= Y (same as X = X + Y, etc...)
Dim X As Integer = 10 (intitialization)
* Funtion Overrides (and optional use of return)...

Function X(Y As Integer) As Integer
  X = Y + 5
End Function
Function X(Y As Integer, Z As Integer) As Integer
  Return X(Y) + Z + 5 'Call and return other X function
End Function
Function X() As Integer
  Return X(10, 15)
End Function

You can then Call any of the 3 functions, and depending on what type, and how many, arguments are passed, it will execute a different set of code... As you can see, they can even call each other...
* The form designer has changed for the better...
Anchor controls
Dock controls
Splitters
Setup Treeviews
etc...
* You can watch/download the training videos for free, for VB.Net...

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

As you can see, there is nothing wrong with .NET, and in many ways is better...
I, personally, am used to VB6 and that is still my dev tool of choice.
I use the PRO edition... (what is the advantage of the Enterpise Edition???)

Also... I'm waiting for the full version of 2005 to be released...
(I don't care much for the first 2 versions)

So, in short...
If you decide to take the .NET route, wait for 2005 version

If you decide to take the VB6 route... take SWI's advise, or if it were me, I would check EBAY...
(links NOT guaranteed)

http://search.ebay.com/visual-basic...refZC12QQfromZR8QQfsooZ1QQfsopZ1QQsacatZ51339

Here is an example...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=80300&item=7133432858&rd=1

(expires Feb-14-05 16:01:05 PST)
These 2 discs are all you need...
The program is on one, and the help and examples are on the other...

Personally, I would not pay over $100 (maybe $200) for VB6...
If it gets close to $300, just buy VB.Net and downgrade...

Hope this helps...
-Josh

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

 

[pkailas]

Only 18 books?!? And you call yourself "Obsessed"?

 

[CubeE101]

I think the free 2005 .NET betas are still available (for the moment) too...

http://lab.msdn.microsoft.com/express/

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

 

[tearsmith]

pkailas,
Not impressed huh? I figured 18 books was a good place to start without even owning the software yet... but... I never resist a challenge. I shall hit the local Book Nook asap. :^)

I did have an entire dream the other night where I couldn't do anything until I spoke it in VB code.... rather weird. Does anyone know the code for eating a PBJ??

Thanks everyone for your advise. I think I've found an affordable VB6 Pro edition. Once I can actually read CubeE101's post without hurting myself, I will upgrade. :^)

Tearsmith

 

[tsdragon]

CubeE101: What about "dynamic arrays" that REALLY are dynamic?

Tracy Dryden

Meddle not in the affairs of dragons,
For you are crunchy, and good with mustard.

 

[pkailas]

While pbj exists
  bite.value = true
  swallow.value = true
  sipmilk.value = true
wend

 

[CubeE101]

BTW... 18 Books isn't so bad...

I have over 40 ;-)
Including...
VB, VB.Net, C, C++, C#, Pascal, Python, Perl, PHP/MySQL, Java, JavaScript, HTML, XHTML, XML, COM+, Windows 2000 Graphics API, Game Design, Direct X, 3D Programming, Pocket PC, Game Design for Pocket PC, etc...

See I have over 20 Topics alone, and most of them I have more than one reference for...

One of my favorite VB books is actually one for making games...

SAMS Teach Yourself Game Programming With Visual Basic in 21 Days

It has a broad range of solutions that can be applied to many things... beginner to advanced
Though it is geared towards game design the lessons can be applied to any general program.

Games tend to be more complex than your everyday program so if you get a book that teaches the basics of that, then you should be able to get the basics for just about everything else...
(...Just a Thought)

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