VB resources

[Xa0z]

Finding the right answers on your questions about VB is often very difficult. There are several webpages which have loads of samples but the right one is hard to find. Or you are trying to find how to use a certain API which isn't documented in API-Viewer. Then you could of course download API-Guide from .www.winapi.com.

I was wondering if there are people here willing to build a program that manages a database. This database should contain samples sorted by category, handy usercreated functions which you can add quickly and a documentation on functions in dll's. These samples and the documentation should have the ability of beeing updated so that new Librairies can be documentated too. In this way the samples can be ordened too which is very handy. On PSC there are a million versions of TicTacToe, 100.000 calculators. 10.000 snake games and so on. In this way, we choose the best one and add it to the database. Cause these are better sorted then on the sites you will be able to quickly find samples. Plus you can add your own created functions to the database (or upload them) so that they too will be there when you need them.

Anyone interested?

[amitabh]

There was a lot of discussion earlier also in this regard. People on this forum were thinking of creating a FAQ site of this forum where questions frequently asked by the users were stored. These would be then rated by a select group of users. But this then never took off from the concept stage. If few people do get in, I think we can try our hands.
If you wish, I have the ideas discussed earlier with me. I can post it here.

[Xa0z]

Seems a good idea to me. Plz post them here

Tnx

[amitabh]

I will post them when i reach home.

[amitabh]

Proposal for a FAQ site based upon www.vbforums.com (VBF)
The idea is as follows:
To create a site for codes that is frequently asked and has been answered several times, with the same code repeating again and again. Some examples which can be seen are, “Sending mail through VB”, “How to play audio through VB” etc. Now, I know that several such repositories exist on the net, but here it will mostly deal with the questions posted in the forums, though it may expand later.
The code repository will be based mainly two things: ratings by a selected group and keywords. I know that the immediate questions that comes up to our mind is the why not have the ratings by all users, but that I think is already provided by many sites, and keeping it to a small group would be much more easier. The code could be on the site itself, which would be in files, or it could be a link to another site. Each code submission will be rated by the group, which will then be displayed alongside the code. For the user to search the code, he will have to enter the keywords related to his question which would then be searched against our database. All the results found will be displayed in order of their ratings.
There has been some resistance to this effort by some VBF members who say that it would not give them a chance to increase their post count. This matter is to be judged by each member individually.
The problem here would be to determine the members of the ratings group. Most of us would like to be a part of this group, but somewhere along the line, we will have to draw a line. Also, we will need to ensure that experienced members (not to be based solely on post count) should be present in the ratings group. Of course, every forum would be having its own rating group, except for some.
The matter has been discussed several times, some of which I have been a part, but till date nothing has come out of it. One of the reasons for this has been the wayward project expectations that people start to assume. The projects start well, but somewhere along the line, the To-Do lists grows so big and wild that it becomes impossible to bring out even the first version. One has to remember that most of the people contributing here are not in a position to contribute full time into such a collaborative project. Mind you, we will have to make a working copy before we even think of getting those experienced members onboard. I would myself like a low key approach first, until we have a skeleton of a working project ready. No need to go in for heavy graphics or tons of features first, just the skeletal working copy.
Technical details like database structure, scripting language, hosting and domain name can be discussed if enough people get on to the concept.

[Xa0z]

I would prefer a downloadable executable which is accessible without a connection to the internet. But why don't do both. If it is possible to create a model for a database, then we should be able to access it either trough a website or download it and view it with a program.

My idea of the database would be something like this:
-API documentation: An simple overview based on MSDN but with the ability to add undocumentated functions. Besides the normal documentation, a Code Snippet can be linked to the API so that it will be used as a sample for that specific API.

-Classified Tutorials: Many good tutorials where we will only accept one per subject so that finding will be easier. The users will be able to add comments to that one Tutorial which will make it better and better. The author of the tutorial is resposible for what to do with the comments

-Code snippets: Instead of the big mess on PSC we will again allow only one piece. These code snippets aren't big programs full of nice graphics. Just loads of small functions neatly classified which U often use, and are in this way easily accessible so that you don't have to rewrite them each time.

Classification should be done by adding the API, Tutorial, Code snippet to a general subject like registry, file management and add a couple of search terms.

The whole idea of this is that we have an easy, quick to use reference for VB programmers. This should be their first source when they have questions. If this won't give them the answer, then they should pay a visite to this forum which is the greatest I've seen. I'm not saying that the current methods are bad. I'm just saying it can be improved.

If anyone is interested in this idea and wants to help us (yeah you will help yourself with it, it's gona be freeware ;)). If this idea will make it, we're gonna need some good DBprogrammers.

Tnx in advance,
Merlin

[amitabh]

application idea is good, but I would rather suggest to stick to the website for the moment. This will let us finish the work fast. Once we are through with the website part, we can expand it with the application also. I am more inclined towards the site part, as anyway we will have to create a online database.

[Xa0z]

If we made the database so, that it can be used for the .exe and for the site then that would be really cool. Then anupdate option for the .exe would be a cool thing to make 'cause you only want to download the latest changes in the DB and not the whole DB. I can make sites but I'm not so good in creating sites working with DB's. I'm a good programmer however, and the .exe wouldn't be a problem for me, but I think it's much cooler to do it in a team and we will need a host for the website and as download place too. We can indeed start with the website only, and if the database gets a bit bigger, then launch the project to create the .exe (let's think of a good name ;) (for the site too), the .exe sounds weird).

Btw, I've asked to move this thread to VB questions again because I think this solution helps us all, so a little effort from anyone there is welcome too.

[amitabh]

Okay, so for the hosting, I would prefer to test waters for a short period first. What are you prficient in ASP or PHP? I am comfortable in ASP, and have just started learning PHP. If its ASP, I think we can handle the coding part, but I am afraid not the designing part.

[Xa0z]

ASP = VBscript isn't it? If that's a bit like VB I'll learn it fast enough. But we two are probably good enough to make the program and the site, it's the database I'm worried about. This database should be created by someone who really is a professional because I don't want a changing format of the DB all the time. It has to be good in one shot. I know plenty of people able to make nice sites, so that won't be a problem.

[amitabh]

If you know VB, it won't take you more than a couple of days to understand how ASP works. It should be fairly easy.

[amitabh]

I am afraid I too am not very good at database programming, but I think we can make a simple start. As for changing the database structure, I think we will have good people in out team once we are able to so them something has been done. I am afraid that this topic has been discussed so many times that most of them are a bit skeptical about the idea. So I think we could go in for a small structural site first. We might have to change afterwards, but that I think is likely in any case.

BTW, I do have fair amount of exposure at DB, though nowhere near an expert at it.

[Xa0z]

Okay, I've started searching for a good domainname. www.vbresource.net seems good to me and I can register it for $9/year so I can afford that :p. I'm gonna start now with creating a structure class for the database in the way I think it's good. Any comments on it would be very welcome.

[amitabh]

Don't worry about the domain name. I am able to do it for $7:D . We might have to look into web hosting.

[amitabh]

It seems there is a site by name www.vbresource.com. Anyway, domain name can be discussed over a period. We first need to have a database structure. I have one, but not at work place. I will post it once I get home.

[Xa0z]

Yep, I think you're right. I would like to have a fast server which supports ASP/PHP.

[amitabh]

I will see if I can get one for ASP. I don't have big money, but I think I can have access to a good servers.

[amitabh]

Originally posted by Xa0z
Or you are trying to find how to use a certain API which isn't documented in API-Viewer. Then you could of course download API-Guide from www.winapi.com.


Just to clear things, the actual site is www.allapi.net.

[amitabh]

There is a site on www.vb-world.net, which does more or less the same thing. I think you should have a look at it first.
http://216.26.168.92/vbworld/codebank.aspx