Simple Visual Basic like Program Design to make Application and Web-Tool

[maniclion]

I know we have some IT guys here....

I need a quick and easy programming solution as much like VB to build a few applications for Designing Solar electric systems that I could give out as a stand-alone tool and also have on our website. I am very good in VB and don't have the time to sit and learn a whole new language.

I'll barely have time to work with this, but I really want to do it so I can free up some of my time by having my skills in a program that my clients can use to do the work themselves.

I looked at Visual Studio but can't figure out which is the most basic while still giving me enough to build a stand-alone app and a web-app. Any of you familiar with these tools or something similar, but better?


Basically it's going to be a form with drop-down menus or text box inputs. I've done a version in Excel, but many of my customers can't figure out how to use excel spreadsheets properly. I figure a point and click form without all the cells and other stuff will be less confusing.... Once they get the system sized they will be able to email the final result to me as a CSV file that I can import to ours sales system and create an order straight from that....

 

[danzik17]

I've got no idea how complex you need this to be, but I'll bet you can do it relatively easily just with HTML / Javascript ( jQuery ).

People are also more likely to use it if it's a web tool and not something you need to download and install/run.

 

[maniclion]

For my contractors I need a stand alone private version because they get special pricing the general public doesn't need to see, also a lot of these guys live on remote parts of the Islands where Internet connections aren't prevalent even in the coffee shops where most of them call their "office". I will have a basic web option as well for calculating mounting options and quick DIY system sizing with retail pricing.

 

[maniclion]

I've got no idea how complex you need this to be, but I'll bet you can do it relatively easily just with HTML / Javascript ( jQuery ).

People are also more likely to use it if it's a web tool and not something you need to download and install/run.

I also want something with hidden code so our competitors don't steal it and pretend it's a service they provide....

One of them is a German who would do just that....

 

[LAM]

all my experience with VB is as the front end for a DB like ms access , SQL server, etc.

I am lost when it comes to web stuff

 

[NeilPearson]

When it comes to Visual Studio, it's all going to be fairly complex. You kind of need to know what you are doing. You can make a webpage that authenticates though so didn't users have different permissions.

Old VB is pretty much a dead language. Personally, if it was a windows app, I would do it in C# using WPF. If it's a web app, it depends on how custom the graphics need to be. You have lots of options from javascript to Silverlight (if you need a lot of control)

Either way, if your background is VB, there is going to be a steep learning curve to design anything that is really professional.

If it is just a form with a few controls, the easiest would probably be a C# WinForms application. That can do the trick and your VB background would probably have the most in common with it.

 

[danzik17]

I also want something with hidden code so our competitors don't steal it and pretend it's a service they provide....

One of them is a German who would do just that....

Just because it's a desktop app, don't assume your code is hidden. It's trivial to decompile a .NET application using reflector.

Besides, you can implement the heavy logic in a web service / controller and only present the UI portion to the user. That way, your logic/code truly is hidden.

If you *have* to have an offline version, I would make it read some XML or JSON catalog that you provide, that way you can offer updated versions of it either automatically or on your website as your prices adjust.

 

[maniclion]

When it comes to Visual Studio, it's all going to be fairly complex. You kind of need to know what you are doing. You can make a webpage that authenticates though so didn't users have different permissions.

Old VB is pretty much a dead language. Personally, if it was a windows app, I would do it in C# using WPF. If it's a web app, it depends on how custom the graphics need to be. You have lots of options from javascript to Silverlight (if you need a lot of control)

Either way, if your background is VB, there is going to be a steep learning curve to design anything that is really professional.

If it is just a form with a few controls, the easiest would probably be a C# WinForms application. That can do the trick and your VB background would probably have the most in common with it.

I'm going with MS Visual Studio Lightswitch, $200 and I can customize with VB. It can pull part numbers and prices from the SQL db so I don't have to hand enter data, I can create a desktop, web and cloud app, it had authentication with permissions, very simple UI that looks like any other MS Office app. Once I get experienced I could upgrade to the Pro or Premium if we need more advanced functionality or even custom graphics, but this one says it allows customized visual styles....

I'm excited to get started, but also remember how tedious entering all that code can get, lots of red bull and loud music here I come again...

At least I have all my formulas pretty much sketched out...

Like [(width of module + .75)*(number of modules]+.75 = length of rail
Then I divide by 25 if whole number done else drop integer to get whole number subtract from length of rail if 25' rail in stock and start over dividing the remainder by the next size of rail in stock repeat to smallest length of rail.... That's about the hardest equation I can think of being needed... The rest are going to be whole numbers always...