Cross Ref > Tool Basics

VB applications require the VB runtime DLL (for version 6, it's VB600.DLL) plus any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports, ActiveX controls, and DLLs.

You can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

C# projects require the .Net framework and any additional dependencies you've added such as Crystal Reports.

In Visual Studio.Net, you can create a Setup and Deployment project by using any of the templates available on the New Project dialog (Other Project Types).

In addition, C# projects also support ClickOnce which brings the ease of Web deployment to Windows Forms and console applications. To get started, right click on your solution in the Solution Explorer, click Properties then select the Security tab. 

In addition, you can use any of the many free and commercially available installation packages.

 C# Deployment Overview

Microsoft Visual Basic 1...6. VB Classic is not compatible with VB.Net.

Microsoft Visual C# and the full version of Microsoft Visual Studio.Net are the current primary tools. CodeGear does have C#Builder but it's not a primary tool currently and development on the tool has slowed in recent years.

• .BAS = VB source code file.
• .CLS = VB class file (one class per file).

Common source code file extensions include:

• .SLN - Solution File. Contains solution specific information such as links to the projects within this solution.
• .CSPROJ - C# Project File. Contains project specific information. When you add a file containing one or more classes, it is added to this file.
• .CS - C# source file.
• .Designer.CS - C# form file (a text resource file).

//Sample code snippet from the .csproj project file:

<ItemGroup>
  <Compile Include="Cyborg.cs" />
  <Compile Include="Cyborg600.cs" />
  <Compile Include="Form1.cs">
    <SubType>Form</SubType>
  </Compile>

  //...

Language Overview: Class based language. Although you can create classes, VB Classic is not fully OOP. It is a traditional language with a few OOP extensions. You code in a traditional approach using functions, procedures, and global data, and you can make use of simple classes to help organize your reusable code. It also supports one-level abstract class to implemented class using the Implements keyword.

Target Platforms: Microsoft Visual Basic 6 is most suitable for creating Win32 Windows desktop applications that use the VB600.DLL runtime DLL within Microsoft Windows.

Language Overview: C# is an OOP language (no global functions or variables) and is type-safe. You code using a fully OOP approach (everything is in a class).

Target Platforms: C# is most suitable for creating .Net Framework applications. This includes desktop business application using WinForms and websites using WebForms.

Crystal Reports was very popular with VB Classic developers and came bundled with Visual Basic 3 through 6. VB6 offers both Crystal Reports and the new Microsoft Data Report Designer.

For WebForm applications the client target is the browser (a document interfaced GUI), a common solution is to simply output an HTML formatted page with black text and a white background (not much control but it does work for some situations).

For WinForm applications, Crystal Reports is still a popular choice with C# developers because it has been bundled with many Microsoft products, it's overall popularity, and compatibility with many different development tools.

 C# Report Tools Overview