Differences between VB 6 and VB.NET & Migrating VB 6 code to Microsoft VB.NET

VB 6 is an old application development framework that targets the COM infrastructure which in turn depends upon the useable components of the Windows framework.

VB 6 is considered extremely simple since it doesn’t depend on outside components since all the functions and features that are required by the application are shipped in the form of runtime libraries with VB 6 application code. VB 6 code can either be compiled to interpreted P-code or the native runtime code.

On the other hand, Microsoft VB.NET is the new generation language that targets .NET runtime and is part of Microsoft’s .NET Framework. VB .NET borrows usable components from the .NET framework whereas the execution of the VB.NET code is the responsibility of the .NET runtime.

Since VB .NET code is first compiled into Microsoft intermediate language code which is common for all Microsoft languages such as C#, J#, etc. This makes VB.NET eligible for the back-end programming language of ASP.NET applications as well. The following are some of the basic differences between Visual Basic and Visual Studio.

VB 6 vs VB. Net

1. NET uses .NET Common Language Runtime while VB 6 used VB-Runtime.
2. NET is a strongly typed or type-safe language while VB 6 is not strongly typed.
3. NET is a compiled language while VB 6 is an interpreted language.
4. While VB.net is an object-oriented and modern etymology, VB 6 is the predecessor and as of today, is not actively functional
5. VB 6 has had up to 6 versions after which (the 7^th version), was launched with the name Net 1.0, also known as VB.Net.
6. .NET is a language tool that is bolstered under its parent’s suite, called Visual Studio.Net. based on a novel programming variant than the VB 6, VB.Net is most popular amongst its users whilst the classic VB is no longer in use. This contains the basic Visual Studio and Visual Basic difference orients.
7. While VB.Net is an assembled language (a compilation of multiple forms), VB 6 was originally used as a transcriber constructed language, before it finally got discontinued.

If we look at the nitty-gritty of the migration of VB 6, we realize that at the fundamental level VB 6 migration can be summarised into two broad points. These are as follows:

1. Microsoft has not developed any specific course for migration particularly for the conversion of VB 6 to VB.Net since both of these assemblies have different language barriers and varying syntax structures. Resources like ‘VB6 to VB.NET Upgrade Guide’ and ‘VB6 to VB.NET Upgrade Webcast’ are two of the main pivotal migration properties that are offered and presented for unadulterated practices and useful advice.
2. For the good part of this structure, Microsoft also delivers an updating wizard for the code of VB 6. This has been integrated into the VS (Visual Studio) model of 2005 and 2008. This is most helpful for migrating codes where conflicts between structural differences cannot be resolved automatically.

A whopping 80% of the code migration is premised on regulating the code queries and testing them for future usability. This is mere because multiple variants of the VB 6 have been deprecated. Along with this, VB.Net has a whole set of structures, which is bolstered on the network of .Net.

The users should be aware that the migration of the query is being done either by the developmental team or between the client and the Microsoft services. Services and advisory is a vital aspect of migration and is feasible mostly after the migration process, though the involvement of hands-on tasks is not involved initially.

VB.Net also is inclusive of something known as a “Conversion Wizard” that has the role of converting a subcategory of the VB 6 code to the VB.Net code.

The majority of the professionals in this field advise the programmers to accomplish a series of manual groundwork so that it proves helpful to adjust any differences that are found in the language arena.

This step is basically prior to the actual usage of the conversion tool. Parallel to popular belief, it is considered better when research is done frequently and thoroughly, implying the minimizing number of errors that will need to be fixed in the output post-conversion.

The agenda that is involved in the process of preparation is proven to be very helpful in clarifying some very vital alterations between VB.Net and VB 6. The types of data and information from VB 6 needs to be adjusted and fit into for VB.Net, especially the variant of the data that accepts data input in any form whatsoever.

All in all, this article was all about vb 6 vs vb net. Some might say that this kind of structure makes the process of coding look easy since it does not need a stern classification of listing out the variables. But in all fair actuality, this is not feasible in VB.Net where the variant is replaced by the object.

In between all of these formations, searching for a code of VB 6 for utilities of replacing other stalwartly noted variables and objects is a step that should be carried out prior to using the Conversion Wizard.

Migrating code from VB 6 to VB.NET

The following are some of the blogs and articles that explain the process of converting VB 6 programs to VB.NET.

MSDN

https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ff648898.aspx

StackOverflow

http://stackoverflow.com/questions/683918/best-strategy-for-moving-from-vb6-to-net

CodeProject

http://www.codeproject.com/Articles/31960/Upgrading-VB-to-VB-NET

VisualBasic.About.Com

http://visualbasic.about.com/b/2011/01/24/converting-vb6-to-vb-net.htm

   

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