4 Critical VB Migration Steps

By Imran Salahuddin | March 8th, 2021 |

VB6 Migration Methodology

Migrating your VB6 application to the .NET environment should be handled after considering two design approaches.

1. Build from scratch thereby taking full advantage of the .NET platform.
2. Fit the existing code base to run on the .NET framework.

However, the second method typically suits better as building the application from the ground up on the .NET platform assures the total functionality fit properly. Most customers prefer to have the full application features available and Visual Basic is updated to the next generation of web applications.

Visual Basic is now a true object-oriented language. Some unintuitive and unreliable features such as GoSub/Return and DefInt have been removed from the language.

Because of VB enhancements the result is a galvanized Visual Basic, which will go on to be the most dynamic tool for creating Windows-based applications. It is now positioned to be the best tool for creating next-generation Web sites.

The right way to VB migration of any Visual Basic 6.0to .NET requires a few important steps as follows:

1. Execute an assessment based on project collection guidelines.

Using tools like VB6 Bulk Analyzer and Microsoft VB6 Upgrade Assessment Tool gives the migrations team a better idea on how to approach the entire project plan. These tools can generate detailed reports on individual components such as code metrics, types of libraries, ActiveX controls, and the individual VB6 features which might require some extra efforts from the migrations team during the development process.

2. Complete changes based on pre-migration recommendations.

As mentioned in a previous blog, the most important part of any migration is to maintain the business functionalities. It is important each feature is available in the .Net platform as well. As equal to the migration technology, the business functionalities must take the center stage.

3. Upgrade the Visual Basic 6.0 application to .NET.

When it comes down to planning the migration, it is important to achieve total functional equivalence.  Even so, before that developers need to code ActiveX controls since VB6 does not support ActiveX. Quality assurance will be done parallelly to the development activities, the idea is to reach the zero-compilation-errors and zero-runtime-errors stage without compromising the business functionalities of the original program.

4. Perform alterations based on post-migration references.

Here the migrations team has reached the achieved functional equivalence with the original VB6 code. Now the .Net codes needs to be optimized. The optimization process is done so that the program becomes both faster and more scalable.

Remember, when making a VB migration you will see what features the upgrade wizard does not upgrade from 6.0, and that will set you on your way to a complete project plan for the upgrade.

Imran Salahuddin

VP of Technology & Migration Services at Macrosoft Inc

Imran serves as Macrosoft’s VP of Technology & Migration Services. With two decades of industry experience, Imran continues to demonstrate his ability to ensure seamless migrations. Imran works with Project Managers, sales/strategy teams, and clients to ensure the successful migration of legacy applications. Moreover, Imran exhibits effective communication skills and an eye for quality service.

As a Microsoft Certified and PMI Project Management Professional, Imran can migrate a myriad of difficult technologies. Most recently, he migrated a VFP legacy application which communicated to networking equipment. Testing the application without detailed knowledge of the domain was the real challenge.

Imran also dedicates his time to IoT (Internet of Things), as well as Online Sales, and looks to improve upon all of Macrosoft’s existing verticals.