Moving from Access to VB

[naiku]

Hi, I am new here and have a quick question. For a few years now I have been creating custom databases in MS Access. However I am now at a point where a database I want to create would be so much easier to deploy as a standalone program (The people who would be using it are scattered nationwide, and most do not have access to Access).

A while back I had started some training in VB, but to be honest never got anywhere with it (lack of time). But for this database I think VB may be the way to go, so my main question is........... how much of a jump is it from MS Access to Visual Basic? I realize they are completely different, but would my experience in Access give me any advantage in learning (and then using) VB? or am I likely to be in the same position as someone who had never used either program?

Thanks.

[si_the_geek]

Welcome to VBForums!

Some of your knowledge is useful.. like how a database works and how to link tables etc (which can be a big problem for many), and also the VB code is often similar.

Unfortunately the ways of working with (and showing) data are a bit different, but you should be able to understand them. See the ADO Tutorial link in my signature for a good example/explanation.

There are differences in the way you work with forms and controls too - but you are going the "better" way, as Access VBA uses more awkward methods than VB does.

[RobDog888]

Users do not need to have Access installed if you change to VB 6 or VB.NET as only the runtimes are needed and allowed to be distributed via MDAC. MDAC is a free download from the MS site. Now when you say switch to VB are you meaning VB 6 or VB.NET? VB 6 will be hard to find as its no longer sold by MS and not supported anymore either.

[naiku]

Thanks both for the replies, RobDog888 it looks like I will be using VB.NET (I did not know VB 6 was no longer sold/supported) as I don't have much experience it would make more sense for me to learn the current product than an old one.

Thanks again.