Cross Ref > Tool Basics

VB.Net 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, VB.Net 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.

 VB.Net Deployment Overview  

C++/CLI 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).

To create a ClickOnce deploy package, search the internet for mage.exe and mageui.exe.

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

Microsoft Visual Basic Express Editions (as in Visual Basic 2008 Express Edition) and the full version of Microsoft Visual Studio.Net are the current primary tools. VB.Net is not compatible with VB Classic.

The only development tool I know that supports C++/CLI at this time is Visual Studio.Net. C++/CLI was introduced in VS.Net 2005 and continued in VS.Net 2008.

Common source code file extensions include:

• .SLN - Solution File. Contains solution specific information such as links to the projects within this solution.
• .VBPROJ - VB.Net Project File. Contains project specific information in XML. When adding a file, it is added to the project file.
• .VB -VB.Net source file.
• .Designer.VB -VB.Net form file (a text resource file).

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

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

  //...

The C++/CLI standard file extensions are the same as standard C++. Important C++ file extensions:

• .CPP = C++ Source file. Your startup source file will have a main() routine.
• .C = C source file (sometimes used for C++ source files too).
• .H = Header include file.

Some important Visual C++ file extensions:

• .SLN = Visual Studio.Net solution
• .VCPRJ = The Visual C++ project file. See Project Files and Makefiles for more information.

 Ref: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/3awe4781(VS.80).aspx

Language Overview: VB.Net is an OOP language (no global functions or variables). You code using a fully OOP approach (everything is in a class).

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

Language Overview: Microsoft's C++ language for .Net Framework development. Was called Managed C++ but the name changed after a major overhaul of the language. C++/CLI is a hybrid language that allows you to use standard C++ (callled native objects) as well as managed C++/CLI objects. Whether a type is native or managed within the same appliction depends on whether you use standard C++ syntax or the new C++/CLI managed code syntax.

Language History: C++/CLI was introducted with VS.Net 2005 and replaced Managed C++ (introduced with VS.Net 2002). C++/CLI was standardized by ECMA-372.

Target Platforms: C++/CLI is suitable for creating .Net Framework applications.

Microsoft includes ReportViewer Starting with Visual Studio 2005. You can even surface this .Net solution in your VB Classic application if you wish.

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 very popular with VB.Net developers because it has been bundled with Visual Basic since VB 3, it's overall popularity, and compatibility with many different development tools.

 VB.Net Report Tools Overview

Use any report writer you are comfortable with but Crystal Reports remains popular for Visual C++ and C++/CLI. For C++Builder, Nevrona Rave Reports remains popular and all editions of C++Builder 2009 come bundled with Rave Reports 7.6 (CodeGear Bundled Edition).