Is Basic4ppc the right application I need?

G

GPJ

New Member
Dear Sirs,

I am an amateur programmer that used to develop several applications for PDAs, for the plant breeding activity. I did that several years ago, but I want to re-edit some of them now, to be used in a HP IPAQ 211 (Windows Mobile 6.0 environment).
Those applications I made were written in QuickBasic, and ran in old handheld computers like HP 95, or 100LX (in a DOS environment).
Despite I am not professional in this matter, I have experience in Visual Basic for Excel (VBA), where I developed huge applications, but very effective.
I noticed that VBA (as an object based language) is very different to the old QuickBasic, however they both have the same logic. Now, I am wondering if I could use the original QuickBasic sources that I developed, as a base source to build similar applications in Visual Basic, through Basic4ppc.
I did not make a decission about what application I would use for that, but I see several advantages on this one, like the supporting documentation, the nice and simple interface, the very affordable cost, and the forum for consultation.
Would you please let me know your advise to my comments and questions? Do you think that Basic4ppc fits my requirements?
Many thanks in advance for your help.
Sincerely yours.
GPJ.
 
C

ceaser

Active Member
Licensed User
Hi GPJ

I have been in a very similar situation than you. I used to program in PowerBasic, Visual Basic and then in Visual Studio. Another platform that I programmed in was OPL. My surveying program was done in OPL. First on the old Organiser and then on the Workabout from Psion.

Then I wanted to port my program to a Windows Mobile platform. First I used NSBasic (what a waste) and then I discovered B4ppc. I have never been sorry that I decided to use B4ppc. My surveying program that used to be in OPL is now written in B4ppc without a hitch. The program that was written in Visual Studio (on the PC) is now also in B4ppc. I have taken parts of the PC version of my program (i.e. plotting of cross-sections, bulk cut & fill volumes, masshaul diagrams, etc) and also ported it to B4ppc in order for it to run on a PDA.

There are some minor syntax differences, but you will quickly come over it.

Another great thing about the people using B4ppc; it's their help and advice. If you have a problem and you put it on the forum, you usually get a answer back the same day!

Use the program, you won't regret it!!

Regards
Michael
 
klaus

klaus

Expert
Licensed User
Longtime User
I am shure that B4PPC is the right application for you.
As you have some experience with Visual Baisc it will be relatively easy to switch to B4PPC.
You cannot port directly Quick Basic programs to B4PPC, you need to change the user interface which is quite different in B4PPC, as it is for Visual Basic, both are event driven. But all calculations and data treatment would be almost the same.
I have ported several programs from VB6 to B4PPC without difficulty.

Now, I am wondering if I could use the original QuickBasic sources that I developed, as a base source to build similar applications in Visual Basic, through Basic4ppc.
Click to expand...
You could use the original QuickBasic sources to port them to B4PPC, with the adaptations above, but B4PPC programs are not Visual Basic programs. You cannot use B4PPC source codes directly in VB.

When I discovered by chance B4PPC, it took me just a few hours to be convived of the quality and power of this product and to buy it.

Best regards and good luck.
 
G

glook

Member
Licensed User
Longtime User
Hello GPJ

I'm not a plant breeder, but a pro gardener with a great interest in plants of all kinds. I produce a general purpose plant encyclopeadia, Deeproot Plant Base, which is available as a PC program, web lookup and Windows Mobile edition.

For the Windows Mobile platform, my honest advice would be - just go ahead and buy Basic4PPC. You will not regret it!

My mobile edition was converted from VB6, not so different to VBA. The Basic dialect is a little different, but straightforward to port. Basic4PPC is easy to learn and fast to write - nothing else I looked at comes close.

My programs are based around a database and I assume this will be essential for you too. The PC database is Jet/Access and converted to SQLite for the mobile amazingly well.

Like the PC edition, this was a major coding task and handles a lot of data - but it works :). Help from Erel and the forum is totally fantastic.

Best regards,
Geoff.
 
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