VB6 Desktop and ASP.net application

[Ellie]

Hi,

I'm not sure if the is the place to ask this or even if this is possible but
here goes. I need to have a program run as a desktop vb.net program and have
it as a web application. Right now I have the same program (different code)
running from VB6 exe and another website using VB6 webclasses. Since I need
to re-write to upgrade, is there a way to combine the two so I only have to
write one program. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

 

[Gregory A. Beamer]

Hi,

I'm not sure if the is the place to ask this or even if this is
possible but here goes. I need to have a program run as a desktop
vb.net program and have it as a web application. Right now I have the
same program (different code) running from VB6 exe and another website
using VB6 webclasses. Since I need to re-write to upgrade, is there a
way to combine the two so I only have to write one program. Any help
would be appreciated. Thanks

Write all of the application logic in libraries. You then have to
"skin" the application with a windows and a web skin.

What i would suggest is bite the bullet and learn a testing framework.
You don't necessarily have to learn to write tests first (TDD), although
it is a great skill, as the tests verify requirements. But the tests
will ensure the "app" is working properly.

Then, you will find it relatively easy to write the two front ends, as
your UI is very thin in either case.

i am considering writing a book on this concept, as most books are not
covering it properly. Not sure how the market will react to such a book,
however.

Hope this helps.

peace and grace,

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

My vacation and childhood cancer awareness site:
http://www.crazycancertour.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************

 

[Tom Shelton]

Hi,

I'm not sure if the is the place to ask this or even if this is possible but
here goes. I need to have a program run as a desktop vb.net program and have
it as a web application. Right now I have the same program (different code)
running from VB6 exe and another website using VB6 webclasses. Since I need
to re-write to upgrade, is there a way to combine the two so I only have to
write one program. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

asp.net/desktop app not really possible - though, if you design your
application correctly, then you can easily support both interfaces.
Essentially, don't put any of your buisness or data access logic into the
interface. You want to layer your application.

Another possibility (though, I still advise layering) would to write the app
as a Xml Browser Application (also known as an xbap). There's also
silverlight - and I believe the latest version supports the concept of
tear-off apps (basically, web app outside of the browser). And, seeing how
windows forms is pretty much end-of-the-line tech, you would probably be
better served learning a little wpf in the process

 

[Ellie]

I think I should investigate WPF more. That might be the way to go. Two
interfaces still seems like duplication of effort.

Thanks

 

[Gregory A. Beamer]

I think I should investigate WPF more. That might be the way to go.
Two interfaces still seems like duplication of effort.

If you go the WPF route, you can save a bit of time, but only if you use
the subset of WPF that Silverlight supports and only if you use Silverlight
3.0 (as 2.0 and WPF are still worlds apart).

Ultimately, moving the application code into libraries, regardless of UI
technology(s) used is the wisest way to avoid duplicating coding efforts.

In other words, WPF MAY save you some time, but if you are coding in the
WPF app and then simply moving to Silverlight, you are still mixing UI and
app code.

Peace and Grace,

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

My vacation and childhood cancer awareness site:
http://www.crazycancertour.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************

 

[Ellie]

Thank you for your advice. I will be careful to keep my code separate from
the UI if I can. If not then I'll have to re-evaluate using WPF. I don't
know anything about it yet; I'm still just researching. In any event,
whatever I do, I will definitely write just one set of code.

Ellie

 

[Tom Shelton]

Thank you for your advice. I will be careful to keep my code separate from
the UI if I can. If not then I'll have to re-evaluate using WPF. I don't
know anything about it yet; I'm still just researching. In any event,
whatever I do, I will definitely write just one set of code.

Ellie

There is nothing inherint in WPF that keeps you from writting layered
applications - which is as it should be Just keep in mind that you
basically have two choices with wpf. You can write an application that
switches between and xbap and regular client - depending on the environment.
But, you need to be aware that there are limitations to what can be done in a
browser application - so make sure you research thorougly before committing.

 

[Gregory A. Beamer]

There is nothing inherint in WPF that keeps you from writting layered
applications - which is as it should be Just keep in mind that you
basically have two choices with wpf. You can write an application
that switches between and xbap and regular client - depending on the
environment. But, you need to be aware that there are limitations to
what can be done in a browser application - so make sure you research
thorougly before committing.

I would be careful with XBAP if you mean the browser application (and not
that some Silverlight files can be called XBAP). I am just a bit leery of
this, as MS is not heavily touting this option any more. If one needs the
full set in WPF and not the Silverlight subset, it is perhaps the "only"
option.

Peace and Grace,

--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

My vacation and childhood cancer awareness site:
http://www.crazycancertour.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************

 

[Tom Shelton]

I would be careful with XBAP if you mean the browser application (and not
that some Silverlight files can be called XBAP). I am just a bit leery of
this, as MS is not heavily touting this option any more. If one needs the
full set in WPF and not the Silverlight subset, it is perhaps the "only"
option.

They may not be talking it up as much - though it seems to me they never
really talked it up all that much any way.... I think I learned about it
from a book But, they have made several improvements and lightned some of
the restrictions as of 3.5sp1 - so it seems it's still being developed...

Anyway, I'm not discounting silverlight - it really depends on the needs of
the app.

 

[Gregory A. Beamer]

Anyway, I'm not discounting silverlight - it really depends on the
needs of the app.

I am not completely discounting XBAP either. I just heard something from
one softie about shying away from it. As he is not in the development
group, I would take it with a grain of salt, of course.

Overall, I would not add the weight of XBAP (esp. with the warning) unless
needed.

Peace and Grace,


--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

My vacation and childhood cancer awareness site:
http://www.crazycancertour.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************

 

[Tom Shelton]

I am not completely discounting XBAP either. I just heard something from
one softie about shying away from it. As he is not in the development
group, I would take it with a grain of salt, of course.

Overall, I would not add the weight of XBAP (esp. with the warning) unless
needed.

Peace and Grace,

The only reason I thought of it really is that the OP wanted to write an
single app that could run both on the web and the desktop - until recently,
xbap would be the only choice for a .net client. I believe though, the newest
silverlight MAY also have a form of this capability - though, I haven't
checked myself. I just heard it through the grape-vine as it were

 

[Gregory A. Beamer]

The only reason I thought of it really is that the OP wanted to write
an single app that could run both on the web and the desktop - until
recently, xbap would be the only choice for a .net client. I believe
though, the newest silverlight MAY also have a form of this capability
- though, I haven't checked myself. I just heard it through the
grape-vine as it were

it is not quite to Silverlight 3 == WPF, but the feature set is much
closer. In all reality, it will never be 100% the same feature set as
there are some things that just bloat the mini-framework installed with
Silverlight for a very few users. But it is closer.

Regardless, if the application is treated as business libraries and the
UI simply a faceplate, it does not take too much time to add additional
UIs. That is a major paradigm shift for most people, however.

Peace and Grace,


--
Gregory A. Beamer
MVP; MCP: +I, SE, SD, DBA

Twitter: @gbworld
Blog: http://gregorybeamer.spaces.live.com

My vacation and childhood cancer awareness site:
http://www.crazycancertour.com

*******************************************
| Think outside the box! |
*******************************************

 

[Tom Shelton]

it is not quite to Silverlight 3 == WPF, but the feature set is much
closer. In all reality, it will never be 100% the same feature set as
there are some things that just bloat the mini-framework installed with
Silverlight for a very few users. But it is closer.

Regardless, if the application is treated as business libraries and the
UI simply a faceplate, it does not take too much time to add additional
UIs. That is a major paradigm shift for most people, however.

I agree - and to be honest, I probably would just support separate UI's
myself.

 

[Ellie]

Wow, go away for a day and look what happens. I will definitely explore
this and keep in mind that I don't want another VB 6 webclasses scenario. I
may go with separate ui's if I can keep it simple. Thanks for a very
informative discussion.