Entering The Java Jungle...

[Code Doc]

... for cross-platform development. Is it worth it and can it even be done for current high-level VB6 applications with sophisticated 3rd-party controls?

A sponsor is pushing hard for both Windows and Mac support. I'm getting mixed-bag advice on this. Most say it is virtually impossible today to build complex applications that do the same thing with the same look and feel on both machines. Does Java even have similar VB6 controls?

In somewhat serious mode, what say you?

Note to Mods: Please move thread if appropriate. I may have misjudged the salience.

[abhijit]

... for cross-platform development. Is it worth it and can it even be done for current high-level VB6 applications with sophisticated 3rd-party controls?

A sponsor is pushing hard for both Windows and Mac support. I'm getting mixed-bag advice on this. Most say it is virtually impossible today to build complex applications that do the same thing with the same look and feel on both machines. Does Java even have similar VB6 controls?

In somewhat serious mode, what say you?

Note to Mods: Please move thread if appropriate. I may have misjudged the salience.

That's the same thing that's happening to the shop where I work. Everything is being switched away from Microsoft technologies.

To cut a long story short, you can do everything in Java, that you can in VB6.
There is a steep learning curve.

[Pradeep1210]

I doubt you would get the exact same look and feel from Java as you get from VB. Both have been developed from a different base.

(NB: I'm not criticizing which one is better or worse.)

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved to 'General Developer' forum

[Code Doc]

I doubt you would get the exact same look and feel from Java as you get from VB. Both have been developed from a different base.

(NB: I'm not criticizing which one is better or worse.)

My concern is that the sponsor is heavily entrenched in text files loaded with character attributes, embedded images, tables, charts, etc. and I have found few controls anywhere that can handle this. I have seen nothing in Java that even comes close. The backbone control that I use for VB6 in TxText by The Imaging Source, and that is unavailable for Java.

To satisfy this need in the past, I always wrote code in two languages--Pascal for the Mac and VB6 for Windows. However, that's not what they want. They want one program that works on both platforms. I think that's virtually impossible.

Is there any language besides Java that could be used? If not, I will notify the sponsor accordingly.

[Pradeep1210]

I've heard of a few tools that can convert VB code to Java and vice-versa; never used though. But I doubt they would be ever successful for big things. Maybe you could give a few of them a try before coming to a final decision.

[rjv_rnjn]

I think you should take a look at Mono. The other day I skimmed through a headline that said you can now develop .Net applications for iPhone and the base was Mono.
I have not delved deep into it, but think it may help you.

eDIT: mono page: http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

[Code Doc]

I've heard of a few tools that can convert VB code to Java and vice-versa; never used though. But I doubt they would be ever successful for big things. Maybe you could give a few of them a try before coming to a final decision.

However, converting the VB6 code to Java is only the first step. Even if that were by some miracle successful, then you have to make sure that the Mac will swallow all of it.

Not to mention, I cannot find anywhere a decent text control that runs in the Java environment and even begins to replicate the power of TxText.

[Code Doc]

I think you should take a look at Mono. The other day I skimmed through a headline that said you can now develop .Net applications for iPhone and the base was Mono.
I have not delved deep into it, but think it may help you.

eDIT: mono page: http://www.mono-project.com/Main_Page

I have two problems with this, which may not be problems, but could be severe. First, Mono has to be able to handle VB6 code in addition to VB.Net. Otherwise, I have to first translate all my VB6 Apps to VB.Net and make sure that they run before I even start. That could take months all by itself.

Second, Mono has to be able to handle 3rd party controls, and the backbone of my Apps are TxText--a powerful text box control that handles all character attributes, embedded images, tables, and lots of other features. The .dlls surrounding it are extensive.

I have written Novell and await their response. If you have any insight into this, please advise.

[rjv_rnjn]

I am not sure but I doubt it will support VB6.0. Mono was meant for .Net porting. I know in corporate environments re-doing an existing application will never be approved but if you are going to write it for multiple platforms you'll have to adapt to the newer tools/technologies that help in that {try talking to managers in the language they understand; it's quite interesting a day after the conversation is over }.

If TxText is written for .Net platform it will work with Mono. For testing the adaptability of applications with Mono you may want to try http://mono-project.com/MoMA