Where to find VB installation? (Office97/Windows 98SE)

[charlotte]

Visual Basic is a separate program. They're telling you how to start it, not that it will be there if you haven't installed it. You can get a copy of the Learning Edition of VB for less than $100, and that's usually the cheapest way to learn. Some books come with a special learning version of VB on the companion CD, but if yours did, it will be clearly marked on the book and on the CD.

[Howard Kaikow]

VB is a separate aplication.
You need to purchase VB 6, or Visual Studio.
You can check for best prices at http://www.pricegrabber.com, but good prices are usually found at http://www.provantage.com.

Do you have a specific need to learn VB 6 and not VB .NET?
If not, I'd suggest getting VS .NET Pro, or higher version, if your system meets the requirements (requirements cvan be found at MSFT's web site http://msdn.microsoft.com/vstudio/default.asp.

Or is your concern with VBA, the lanuguage used for macros in Office 97 and later versions?
If so, see the list of Word VBA books at my URL below.

[SDGardella]

I'm working to learn Visual Basic. The book with which I'm starting, Visual Basic 6 for Dummies, instructs to load VB using the Windows taskbar. I've searched high and low and cannot find a Visual Basic program on my machine. I've used VB within Word, Excel, and Access, but not as a stand alone program. How do I go about getting VB loaded? I've searched my hard drive and, both, my Windows and Office installation disks. Is it even on the Windows or Office installation disks?

[gwhitfield]

Hi Steve,

Charlotteand Howard are right. To learn VB properly, you have to purchase it separately.

But if you're just learning, there is al ot you can in VBA. You'veposted before about trying to do things in Word, You were trying to do some more advanced stuff there- are you wanting to do better stuff in Word (or Excel or Access)? If that's the case, you'll need a book in VBA rather than in Word. But if you want to write a standalone application to distribute, the try to get acopy of VB.

Good luch

[VBNerd]

<img src=/S/hello.gif border=0 alt=hello width=25 height=29>

Do they still sell VS6? I would have figured that you'd only be able to buy VS.NET now.

[SammyB]

A less expensive solution is to buy a VB introductory textbook that includes a CD with the VB Working Model. You won't be able to build a stand-alone exe nor have help files, but it will get you started. Try Programming in Visual Basic 6.0 by Bradley and Millspaugh. If you get it used, be sure to get one with a CD. --Sam

[Howard Kaikow]

Yes, you can still buy VB/VS 6.

It's a good idea to have both VB/VS 6 and VS .NET.
Makes it easier to figure out some things in VS .NET.

[Howard Kaikow]

Ditto for introductory VB.NET.

Unless one has a specific need for VB, or wants to learn more about VB to improve on'es VBA knowledge, VB .NET is the way to go.

[SammyB]

Julia Bradley also has Programming Visual Basic .NET that has the .NET learning edition on a CD. --Sam

[Howard Kaikow]

Do not get the VB .NET Standard edition.
AFAIK, it is very crippled, most importantly, it does not have the VBIDE.

Also, many books, particularly those from MSFT Press include a DVD with a 60 day trial of VS .NET.

Best place to start may be the Visual Basic.NET DELUXE Learning Edition from MSFT.
Less than $60 at http://www.provantage.com. I do not know whether the included software includes the VBIDE.

Price at Provantage is lower than price found via http://www.bestbookbuys.com or http://www.pricegrabber.com.

[Howard Kaikow]

Most importantly:

If you do buy a book that comes with included software, verify whether the software is only a 60 day trial version. If VS .NET software, it most cvertainly be a trial version. If VB .NET, it might be the Standard version, but AFAIK that does not include the MSDE.

[charlotte]

Howard,

If it doesn't come with the VBIDE (or some kind of IDE), then how do you create a project in it? My method of choice for programming .Net would probably be prayer and <img src=/S/crossfingers.gif border=0 alt=crossfingers width=17 height=16>, but I'm sure there's another method. <img src=/S/grin.gif border=0 alt=grin width=15 height=15>

[Howard Kaikow]

THere's been discussions of this in the MSFT newgroups.
I've not paid attention to the details.

Of course, I could be wrong about it not coming with an IDE.

[Howard Kaikow]

The bundled books, by themselves, are insufficient, but it may be the least expensive way to get the software.

If bundled with the standard edition, then I suspect it is the same 60-day trial that MSFT Press bundles with its books.

I really see no point in gettring te Learning/STandard editions anyway, if the goal is to use the critter. (See my PS below)
Might as well fork out the money for VS .NET Pro and selectively buy books.

The VB .NET books from MSFT Press look worthwhile and thet are not so expensive if you buy them from, say, http://www.bookpool.com.

P.S.

Many moons ago, I decided that I would buy the MSFT C/C++ version 5 learning edition to see what I would need to do to write WLL/DLL files. Shortly after purchasing that software, I learned that Office 97 would have VBA, so I said ferget about C/C++ and purchased the VB 5 learning edition, which I found very useful to prepare for Office 97.

So, I wasted my money on the C/C++ learning edition, but I did benefit with the VB 5 Learning Edition because having the VB 5 Learning Edition qualified me for upgrade pricing for VB 6 Pro, which was then upgraded to Enterprise at no cost to me,

AFAIK, the upgrade paths for VS .NET are not as friendly, so there may not be much point in buying the Learning/Standard edition, but check the details yourself to be sure.

[jscher2000]

<P ID="edit" class=small>(Edited by jscher2000 on 13-Nov-02 19:02. )</P>The Learning Editions for VB.Net and C#.Net contain the respective Standard Editions. The bundled books got weak reviews on Amazon. I think this explains why they are so inexpensive.

New stuff 13 November 2002:
<UL><LI>Amazon reviews for Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Deluxe Learning Edition ... positive, on average

<LI>Amazon reviews for Microsoft Visual Basic .NET Standard ... raising a number of compatibility and functionality concerns[/list]Hope this helps, but I fear it all just gets more confusing...