Learning VB

[Paige]

I've been learning VB 6 and using it in Excel. But due to the current
economic situation, am fearing for my job and want to start learning/taking
classes in what is the most marketable form of VB so-to-speak. There is VBA,
VB net, VB Studio, etc. and I don't understand the difference between them
and what is used for what basically. Can someone advise re the VB
differences and their opinion on what area is likely to be more in demand? I
realize no one knows for sure and this is opinion only - will definitely not
hold anyone responsible for their feedback, of course, but some guidance
would be of real help to me in going forward. Thanks....

 

[Harald Staff]

Hi

Very broadly speaking from Norway Europe, where this discussion is
everlasting:
VB6 is old as in old. Unsupported for like 10 years. The only place where it
is used is in maintenance of older projects, and as VBA, the Office
programming language. None of these in a resume will get anyone a job.

VB turned dotnet (and broke backwards compatibility) together with the new
language C# (Csharp), presented to me as "Java but it works" back then. Net
is used for standalone programs, websites and lots of things. There are
plenty jobs out there for VB.NET and C#.

So my advice #1 from a market view would be C#
http://www.microsoft.com/express/vcsharp/
buy a book, download for free, work and learn. C# is what everybody asks
for. #2 is VB.Net
http://www.microsoft.com/Express/VB/
likewise, buy a book, download for free.

And leave it to us elderly to write and maintain VBA and VB6. We work for
coffee and a free t-shirt.

Best wishes Harald

 

[JLGWhiz]

If you have been using VB6 then you should be able to adapt to any VB based
product. The differences are basically related to the software of the other
products. It would be similar to using VBA with Excel and then trying to use
it with Word or Power Point. The constants may vary and there might be some
terminology to get used to, but the basics remain the same. But if I were
doing the interview, I would be looking for someone who understood the logic
and and how to get the desired output from the available input. I don't know
that I would be that concerned with whether it was VB.Net or VBA or VB6.

 

[Paige]

Thanks guys! I'm one of the "elderly", but hope my brain is still able to
learn something new. Will definitely check into both C # and VB.net and see
where to go from there. Appreciate the links Harald!