Various newbie questions

[cmpython]

Hi, I know nothing about VB.NET and was considering whether to try to
write some application in it. I have some limited programming
experience, but with Python. I was hoping this forum might help me to
decide if this is worth pursuing/possible. I hope I've posted to the
appropriate group.

I have a free version of Microsoft Visual Basic 2005 Expression
Edition. (Ver 8.0.50727.42), and on WinXP. I would like to produce a
cross-platform app but realize this is impossible with VB.NET, and may
have to settle for that for now. My goals are to make an app that has
the following features:

- GUI app (obviously that's possible)
- Connection to a fairly simple database (no need for >100,000
records, ultimately)
- Decent plotting/graphing capabilities (not intense scientific stuff,
just nice looking and customizable)
- timers
- at some point possibly connection to a webserver

I'm sure all of this is available in VB.NET, I just don't know if this
free version, Express Edition, would support this. I see that it is
touted as for "hobbyists", so I'm not sure how far it is intended to
take one. This would be an app that be for use beyond just hobbyism,
but it wouldn't be a huge industrial app either.

Also, could someone point me to a good starting point for learning? I
could Google it, but with the many versions of Visual Basic extant,
and the fact that Microsoft themselves hosts some of the information
makes me hope a few pointers from actual users might be a better
start. I also don't know hard it would be to make the transition from
Python.

Thanks.

 

[Miro]

Take a look at this site:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/express/beginner/learningpath/

Your in the same boat I am - or was...or still am but im paddling slowly
.

..Net Express should have what you need to get you started - at least for
even all the learning curve you will need. By the time that is done, if
by chance there is something you need that is not available in the
..express version, thats when I would go buy a version. By that time
VS.2008 will most likely be out.

All the stuff you mentioned you should be able to do with the express
edition,...the only one I am not sure of because I have not gotten that
far is the plotting / graphing part.

Miro

 

[Cor Ligthert[MVP]]

Cmpython,

The wish for devoloping tools for a cross platform development tool is from
the first start of building computers. In the old days every manufactor had
its own operating software and development tools. However, you can do with
Visual Basic Net AFAIK far more than 90% of the now used computers in the
world because those have Windows software.

There is not any software developing tool, even including C that is able to
do all computers that have ever exist or will exist in future.

For the rest for the advice from Miro and try it, what you ask is possible,
although it need by instance for plotting the right hardware.

Cor

 

[chaelon]

Thanks, Miro and Cor. By the way, I probably shouldn't have used the
word
"plotting" (as in a pen plotter), I simply meant to create charts,
like bar,
line, or pie charts, etc. Maybe I'll post a fresh thread on how that
can be
done with VB.NET.

 

[Jaap Bos]

Thanks, Miro and Cor. By the way, I probably shouldn't have used the
word
"plotting" (as in a pen plotter), I simply meant to create charts,
like bar,
line, or pie charts, etc. Maybe I'll post a fresh thread on how that
can be
done with VB.NET.

With the Express Edition I (as a newbie) had no big problems (with some help
from this group) in creating my own linecharts, although I had to do all the
programming (which was rather fun!).
So, do not expect that if you have a number of percentages you can call some
build-in routine that transform these numbers magically into a pie-chart.
But of course there are third party programs that will do that for you, but
as far as I know these are not freeware :-( .

Succes,

Jaap