Advice Wanted -- VB6 vs .NET For Project

[WSMeehan]

I am looking for practical advice from VB developers about whether VB6 or .NET would be the “best” choice to use for a project...

I have both “Visual Studio 6 Pro” and “Visual Studio .NET 2003 Pro” available. I am an expert/certified Lotus Notes/Domino Developer, but I have not worked with VB for the past 6-7 years (since VB4). Since I will have to work thru a learning curve for either version, I’d like to focus my time and effort on the most appropriate solution. (Note: This is being done as a “freebie” for a non-profit organization, so purchasing additional software and/or 3rd party add-ons or installers is not an option.)

The following is a high-level summary of the main features/issues of the application that I have been asked to build:

• The program will record and compute the scoring and awards during competitions. The data will be written to a back-end database. (The program itself can use any DB format/connection – as long as it is compatible with and/or can be formatted for import into Access. When the data file is returned to HQ after the competition it will be managed in Access.)
  
• Many of the users will be “technically challenged”, so the program must have a very user-friendly interface for both the installation and data entry: competition and judges information, the entrant information, and individual scores (10-12 per entrant). The program will also need to provide the following on-screen and printed reports: 1> Individual entrant summaries (one entrant per page), 2> a spreadsheet style listing of all entries (with each of the individual scores, total, and awards), and 3> the final results for the awards presentation (sorted by class, then by place – with the total scores and awards).
  
• This must be a stand-alone Windows app – it will be distributed (via CD), and installed locally on the users’ PCs. I expect that most users will be running a current version of Windows (XP or 2000) -- but the program needs to be compatible with older versions (95/98/ME) as well. The users will not have an Internet connection available when the program is being used -- and they may not have a connection when they are installing the app.

From what I’ve read, my inclination is that .NET would probably provide more options and flexibility for the application -- but I’m very concerned about the issues with deployment of the .NET framework...

Any advice, suggestions, and/or warnings/”gotchas” would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Wendy

[techgnome]

This must be a stand-alone Windows app – it will be distributed (via CD), and installed locally on the users’ PCs. I expect that most users will be running a current version of Windows (XP or 2000) -- but the program needs to be compatible with older versions (95/98/ME) as well. The users will not have an Internet connection available when the program is being used -- and they may not have a connection when they are installing the app.

That right there made the decision for you. .NET isn't going to work well (if at all) on 98, and certanly not on 95. If you need it to work on those two, you'd better use VB6.

TG

[nexguy]

Agreed, VB6 has all the options you need. It can generate fairly small and quick apps and the runtimes are microscopic for today's large drives.

Chris

[Wokawidget]

Since you have developed in VB4 then VB6 shouldn't be to hard to pick up. It's identical, but with more features. Where as .NET is well...Hmmm, lets say VERY different, and it's much harder to learn
If it MUST run on 95/98 then the fact that .NET isn't compatible means that you will be forced to use VB6 regardless.
Also, you have to take into acount that you may want to develop the app further. You may not want to, but if it's a long term thing then maybe you may want to consider .NET.

But I would say 8/10 you should use VB6

Woka

[jas4th]

Just to clarify the .NET redistributable will run on all but win 95 (NT needs patch 6a). See this link for further details:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/netframewo...s/default.aspx