Different net framework versions and errors

[andy_wanderer]

Hello.How do you do?
I recently built applications on my computer using vb .net and the netframework version 1.Everything worked fine.I ran my applications on another computer with the netframework version 2 installed and got
an error.Now the thing is,this error is easy enough to fix,but how does one go about accomadating all the different framework versions if this is the case?
It seems stupid to me.Should I rewrite the aplication completely in version 2?What about version 1 etc.
I'm confused.Any help appreciated.

[randem]

Did you create a deployment package or you just copied the exe?

[andy_wanderer]

Hi!I just copied the exe.My logic is do just that without using the windows installer,that way theres less file size to download.It certainly could be I'm wrong.
I'm wrong most of the time.

[randem]

Indeed you are wrong in this case also. VB is not a stand-alone exe language. You need to install supporting files also. You need to create an installation package for your program. You can use PDW (Yuch!!) or one of the other installation packages such as Inno Setup combined with **********.

Please read the FAQ at the beginning of the Application Deployment Forum.

[techgnome]

If the app is .NET 1.0, you'll need the 1.0FW installed.... if the app is .NET1.1, you'll need 1.1FW installed. If you used .NET2.0 then you'll need the 2.0FW.... And that's the way it works. It also depends on which version of VB.NET/VS.NET you used to develop the app.

-tg

[andy_wanderer]

Doesn't having to have a specific netframework version installed to match our
application limit our functionality.I mean running my applications,if there were no netframework installed at all,You get a message notifying you of that when you try running it.This message mentions nothing about a specific framework version.
The average person downloading your applicatiopn knows nothing about the
netframework either.3 new netframeworks from microsoft in 5 years is a lot
to handle.I pity people using vb 6.
I don't think Microsoft ever provides enough provisions for programmers really.

[RobDog888]

Honestly, its not really about deploying the FW here. The issue is that you have developed your app using a particular FW version so that version needs to exist on the system or higher or it should install that FW. Now you enter a whole different set of issues if your app is not forwards compatible with whatever FW is already installed.

For ex. if you developed the app in 1.1 and on the system it has 2.0 or even 3.0 then there may be features/functions that have been discontinued. So now your app will not function correctly.

Are you using ClickOnce or a Setup Project? What version of .NET did you write the app in? 1.0 or 1.1?

[randem]

Basically you should test before deploying... Not many people quite get this idea :(

[RobDog888]

Yes, but with .net it compounded by having different framework engines or a multiple of frameworks present on a system instead of just the specific one your app was developed on. Oh and dont forget that Vista currently comes with all four frameworks preinstalled. Then factor in the fifth framework (3.5) which should be out late this year and then we will realy be having fun if its breaks backwards compatibility.

[randem]

Ok, SO what make Vista the OS to have?

What improvements are outstanding?
What happens to older software that one has?
Are Vista users going to be forced to upgrade most of their apps to take advantage of the OS?

[RobDog888]

A bit off topic, but security, performance improvements, workflow improvements, GUI improvements, etc. Probably best to go over some of the latest threads on Vista for more info/links.

[randem]

Ooops, typed in wrong tab...

[andy_wanderer]

Thanks for the replies everybody.You know,I wrote three applications.Two of them with the netframework 2 and one with the net framework 1.I mistakingly
rebuilt the first two applications with the 1st fw.
Anyway.I think I'm sorting out the problems.I just ran one of the apps on another computer,the net framework 1 was already installed and my app worked perfectly.So I'll stick with the fw1 for all three apps.
I have a link somewhere,for a free download from microsoft regarding something that works in conjunction with the windows installer and detects which framework is running and does the nescessary installation.I'll have to find it.
The whole point is trying to make a seamless instalation for the users who don't know a net or framework from a baseball bat,Hopefully I can find the link
today and post it,or if anybody else knows of something like it,if they could post it.
Thank you.

[RobDog888]

Not to throw a wrench into your process but ...

If the workstation already has Framework 2.0 or 3.0 then the 1.1 app will run under the more advanced framework. Framework 2 broke backwards compatibility so you may get errors in your app from being on a more advanced framework.

The link you mean is the Boootstrapper plugin/addin.