Converting Visual Basic (VB) to C# or to VB.NET -- Smart Client Applications
Applications written in VB6 are native to the Windows platform, but they are not
designed (or suitable) for Internet deployment. Many businesses look to
PCA Consulting Services to help them convert legacy applications in VB to C# or
to VB to VB.NET because Microsoft .NET provides a more powerful, maintainable and
efficient solution for business-critical applications than does VB6. In
addition to native Internet access, converting from VB6 to C#.NET or VB.NET
lowers maintenance costs due to substantial developer productivity improvements
that Visual Basic .NET
and Visual Studio .NET environment provide. Converting to C#.NET or VB.NET also will gain significant improvements in application performance.
Using a remote access layer (e.g. Terminal Services, GoToMyPC, Citrix, etc.) is a common
work-around to Internet-enabling legacy VB applications. Depending upon the
number of end users and the complexity of the application, you may quickly discover
the expenses associated with this work-around grow over time,
and are measured in various forms: additional licensing fees, slow application performance,
and limited concurrent user access.v>
C#.NET or VB.NET Smart Client Capabilities
The
Microsoft .NET Smart Client Platform combines the best capabilities of Desktop Applications
with the power and reach of the Internet — and offers a number of distinct advantages
versus traditional VB applications or Browser-based applications.
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Microsoft Desktop Application Experience
.NET Smart Client applications look and perform just like standard Microsoft
Office Applications. They are less expensive to develop, and overcome many of the well-known functional
and usability deficiencies of Browser-based applications. Converting VB6
applications to .NET Smart Client applications
provide a hi-fidelity end-user experience by taking full advantage
of all that the Microsoft® Windows® platform and the Internet has to offer. |
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Utilizes Local PC Resources & Data
.NET
Smart Client applications are installed on the End Users' PC, which allows
the application to fully utilize the hardware and software resources available to
that PC i.e. the local CPU, graphics processor, memory (RAM) and disk storage, and therefore require substantially
fewer server resources. A dual-CPU
Server and Standard MS SQL Server 2008/2012 can easily support hundreds of concurrent
end users. Microsoft .NET Applications can also connect to local devices e.g. VOIP, bar-code and RFID readers, scanners, etc., as well as software resources available to that PC, including
seemlessly exchanging
data with MS Excel, MS Word and MS Outlook applications. |
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Shared Database + Web Services
Our customized .NET Smart Clients connect to a centralized SQL Server database to store the data and
control the functionality and business logic that drive the business application, with centralized
application security. Our custom .NET Smart
Client applications are always part of a distributed, networked solution.
Custom .NET Applications can connect directly with any data resources or web services
available on the Internet e.g. Google Earth, D&B database. |
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Centralized Security in SQL Server
All PCA-designed Smart Client applications employ a role-based security model that
provides Admin the ability to assign business roles and configure role-specific
application- and data-level access privileges. Application security privileges
can be modified at any time, and all Users that are members of that Role will automatically
inherit the new privileges. Two-tier role-based security allows a SuperAdmin
to enable Admin privileges, who in turn manage their own group's security privileges.
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Off-line Capable Web Client
One of the key benefits of Smart Client applications is they can be used off-line,
when a connection to the Internet is unavailable. When re-connected, Smart Clients
automatically synchronize all off-line changes with the central SQL Server database,
completely transparent to the End User.
Smart Client applications work exceptionally well, connected or not. For traveling
and field-based professionals, being able to work while disconnected is not a "nice
to have," it is essential. |
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Intelligent Installation & Seemless Web Client Updates
The Smart Client installation
and maintenance (update) process is completely automated. No I/T support required.
Like a webpage, everyone automatically gets the latest version of the application
with the most current set of data.
The PCA Smart Client "Mobilizer" automates application installation and
updates, so deploying an application to 10 users or 10,000 users is the same: simple
and straightforward. PCA's Smart Client approach eliminates the traditional headaches
and expenses associated with maintaining distributed business applications. |
The process of migrating a VB application to .NET can vary considerably, depending upon the quality and completeness of the source VB application. For example, for a poorly-coded VB applicatios, or a VB application with lots of deprecated to 'dead
code,' it is usually much more cost-efficient to build the replacement .NET application
from scratch. Without too much effort, our experienced engineering staff can
determine to best approach to get the most out of the VB application investment
and .NET migration project budget.