need advice: upgrade system of vb6 & access97

[vandoren]

my company currently using VB6, MS Access 97 for barcode system.
few days back, we were discussing on upgrading the systems.
i was thinking to use VB.net 2008 for the language because most my colleagues familiar with VB6 only.
so i think convert to vb.net wont be too hard for them.

**actually my boss was thinking of java, but none of my colleagues familiar with it

for database, my boss prefer oracle. i'm not sure which version is the most suitable? 9i?10g?11g?
the problem is most my colleagues here have limited knowledge on oracle.
except me, i learn oracle 9i pl/sql during my university time.

[akhileshbc]

What about using MS SQL Server...

[akhileshbc]

This thread should be in the General Developer Forum
http://www.vbforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=41

Send a PM to a moderator, to move this thread...

[vandoren]

thanks for reply.
perhaps moving to General Discussion will be better?

let's say setting up a MS SQL SERVER/ORACLE database,
what is the basic knowledge that one should have?
installing database server? create database? and what else?

all i know is some little knowledge on DBA command and some DDL/DML/DCL.. is that enough?

[akhileshbc]

Will this help you...???

http://www.vbforums.com/showthread.php?t=365730

[akhileshbc]

If you have time, go through our Database FAQ section...
You will find lots of info...

[si_the_geek]

Thread moved to the "General Developer Forum" (General Discussion is for non-computer topics)

Send a PM to a moderator, to move this thread...

It would be better if somebody else (because the thread starter doesn't have permission) clicked the "Report" icon to the left of a post - because that lets all of the moderators know, so whoever logs on first can deal with it (rather than waiting for whoever was PM'd).

[akhileshbc]

It would be better if somebody else (because the thread starter doesn't have permission) clicked the "Report" icon to the left of a post - because that lets all of the moderators know, so whoever logs on first can deal with it (rather than waiting for whoever was PM'd).

Sorry, I didn't see that...

[si_the_geek]

Most people don't until we explain it.

..and I notice you've used it on a different thread - thanks

[Jenner]

Yes, I'd highly recommend Visual Basic 2008 and either SQL Server Express of MySQL for your database backend. Get away from Access, it'll cause you nothing but headaches in the long run.

People on this forum would be more than happy to help out your programmers during their transition. Heck, I'll even upload the little barcoding system I wrote for my company's shipping department if you like.

[Shaggy Hiker]

SQL Server Express has the great advantage that there is a free version. Your boss might appreciate that. However, there are different flavors of SQL Server Express, and it is likely that the basic version is not going to be the most useful. You probably want the version with Management Studio Express (still free), or the one with Reporting (also still free) as well as MSE.

[vandoren]

thanks all for the reply, really appreciate that.
VB.net 2010 is releasing soon, maybe i will surf some info on it.
i used SQL Server 2000 before, not sure if it's same with SQL Server Express,
anyway i will surf around the forum and internet to study them.

hi jenner,

are you using vb.net for the barcode system?
will the code differ from vb6?
if you dont mind, i'm very interested to have a look at the code

[akhileshbc]

Yes, I'd highly recommend Visual Basic 2008 and either SQL Server Express of MySQL for your database backend. Get away from Access, it'll cause you nothing but headaches in the long run.

People on this forum would be more than happy to help out your programmers during their transition. Heck, I'll even upload the little barcoding system I wrote for my company's shipping department if you like.

Please upload it....

[si_the_geek]

i used SQL Server 2000 before, not sure if it's same with SQL Server Express,

It is very similar, because Express is basically the same as whatever version is current (2008 at the moment), but without some of the features from the paid editions - even so, the limitations are better than you get with Access.

There have been new features added to SQL Server since the 2000 version (most were in the the 2005 version), but it is debatable if you will use many of them. The management programs have changed too, so there is a slightly different interface - close enough to cause only minimal confusion, but with nice extra features (like tabbed windows).

[Jenner]

Ok, let me clean it up a bit and I'll package it. Possibly the biggest holdup with just posting it is I used a bunch of DevExpress controls on it to make it look pretty. After I change them back to their Windows default equivalents, I'll post it in the codebank.

EDIT: Sorry to disappoint, but cleaning up this code is much more monumental a task than I thought and unfortunately, I don't have that kind of time at the moment. Some of these controls aren't switching over very easily and on top of it all, one of them (the tree-list view) is a commercial one that has no Windows equivalent. Polishing this up for a codebank submission would be the equivalent of rewriting it completely.

I'll also admit, there's a lot of fluff in our barcoding/shipping program for doing things very specific to our business (figuring out model numbers, matching specific customers with private labels, interfacing with our MRP system to get sales orders). It accounts for probably 80% of the program and would be of no use to anyone.

If I get some time, I may just make a sample project with the bare-bones ability to print and read barcodes, but that might not be till sometime next week.

[vandoren]

hi jenner,

please take your time to do it, maybe a simple program of reading and printing barcode would be enough
just wish to see if there's lots of differ with VB6

[Nightwalker83]

I would upgrade you system like others have said! VB6 is around 12 years old and there is easier methods of achieving the same thing in the new version of Visual Basic. As for Microsoft Access I can't think of a harder database to try and deal with in terms of trying to connect to, insert data, etc into it via your own program. As Jenner and others have mentioned SQL would be one of the better choices.

[vandoren]

i have read this artical

any comment on this Firebird database?

[NeedSomeAnswers]

I have a few comments -

Databases

Oracle is unlikely to be a sensible database for your purposes. Do you work for a Bank ? do you need to manage stupid numbers of rows of data ? No then you probably don't need oracle. Also unless you already have it at your company its expensive.

Does anyone in your company have any experience managing databases ? or does anyone have any experience with Open Source databases ?

If the Answer is no then it will be a lot easier for you to use an SQL Server database. SQL Server is a perfectly good database and would be more than adequate for your needs.Also it is very easy to manage. Oracle for instance is not easy at all to manage and you would want a proper DBA to be setup and look after your Oracle DB server.

MySql for instance is a perfectly good database, (and if you were writing a Web application i would recommend it), however it has a steeper learning curve than SQL Server.

I have heard of Firebrand before and it's probably a perfectly good database but again unless you have experience it will be a bigger learning curve then SQL Server.

SQL Server has a very easy to use graphical front end which helps you manage your database server which makes it fairly easy, also it is a natural fit for VB & VB.Net.

Programming Language

VB.Net is like the next version of VB. It is different but if you know VB then it is relatively straight forward to learn.

If you are going to change the language you program in coming from a VB background then you would probably be best going for VB.Net or C#.

[vandoren]

dear all,

i'm able to install VB 2008 Express successfully.
However, I faced problem when install SQL Server Express 2008.

At first, I try to install [Runtime with Advanced Services] with size 515MB from this page

It fails few time in the progress of download using Web Platform Installation.

Then, I try to download offline installer (SQLEXPR_x86_ENU.exe
) from this page

The offline installer installed successfully, but it only have manager configuration console, i have no idea where to write the SQL, something like query analyzer?

anyone can help? i'm too noob to this.

[si_the_geek]

What you want is Management Studio Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

[vandoren]

What you want is Management Studio Express:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

there's 2 version
SQLManagementStudio_x64_ENU.exe
SQLManagementStudio_x86_ENU.exe

which one should i take?

[si_the_geek]

x86 is for 32-bit versions of Windows
x64 is for 64-bit versions of Windows

If you don't know which you are using, go in to "Control Panel" -> "System".