VB 6.0 and Vista

[mrMikee]

I used to do a lot of programming with VB for miscellaneous structural and mechanical engineering problems. For the last two years I have been doing more of this work with Mathematica but still think that there are things better done with a procedural language like VB. I am not a formally trained programmer and have been using Basic since Basica. I have heard that VB 6.0 will not be supported by Microsoft in Vista.

My question is, what does that mean? How long can we expect VB to work?

I'm not interested in upgrading to VB.net because I would really miss the gosub. I know this is a lack of programming sophistication on my part, but I have managed Ok for the type of program I have been doing. Another option could be Power Basic.

Is anyone else in the same situation? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
-Mike

 

[SolidAir]

I started programming with basic on a mainframe computer (dates me doesn't it). I too had to re-adjust (when quickbasic came out years ago) to not using the gosub statement because it was considered "bad form". Replacing the gosub with a separate sub procedure is not that difficult to learn or do. My suggestion is to pick up one of those learn VB in 24 hours books (your local library may have a copy) and read through it.

 

[mrMikee]

SolidAir,

Thanks for the post. Several times I've been tempted go ahead with upgrading to VB.net and just get used to the more structured way of doing things. If my time hadn't been consumed with learning Mathematica I would have probably done something by now. Still, many things are better done in Basic.

Thanks,
-Mike

 

[johnwm]

Although MS will not be supporting VB6 in the future, your programs will continue to run under Vista, and you will still be able to write new stuff. There is still a huge codebase of commercial programs written in VB6 which is not expected to vanish (or be re-written in VB.NET) overnight

Good Luck
johnwm
________________________________________________________
To get the best from these forums read faq731-376 before posting

Steam Engine enthusiasts:

http://www.essexsteam.co.uk

 

[mrMikee]

johnwm,

I'll probably wait and see what happens. I like VB and my programs don't get into anything that would push the limits of the hardware or operating system. As a structural engineer my programs mostly add, substract, multiply, and divide, with a little file handling now and then. Maybe something will come along to catch my eye, or VB.net may start to look more interesting.

Regards,
-Mike