You're really asking: "What's the difference between VB6 and VB.NET?"
There's a lot of difference. VB.NET is, essentially, a new language because you will have to become familiar with the .NET framework in order to use VB.NET. Much of the familiar VB6 syntax is in place - and for compatibility with VB6 language elements it will still host many methods and functions just like VB6. For example you can still use:
MyString = Left(OrgString, 6) 'you cannot use LEFT$
But the "DotNet Way" is
MyString = OrgString.Substring(0,6)
The daunting part is gaining familiarity with the framework classes. It's a lot like learning to ski. The first several hours you honestly wonder if it is even possible - that no human could actually do this. After a couple of hours you begin to feel the groove and BY GOLLY you're SKIING!
With .NET it's much the same - except it's several days or even weeks. Once you do "feel the groove" you actually begin to like it and you begin to see the power and flexibility. Considering VB6 is going away eventually, and that nothing new will be added - this is your only true course...
There are some nice things.
Declaration and setting a value in one:
Dim MyString as String = "this is mystring"
Incrementing is easier:
I += 1 'increments the value of I by one
Overall speed is quite good.
Deployment is easy - but unduly large as you should always include the .net framework. This means a "Hello World" application is at about 30+ megabytes.
MS still has a ways to go to make the language fit the mission of "Visual Basic" though. Given almost any assignment - I can code something up in VB6 in half the time. C'est la vie...
Des
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