Code Converter: VB6 VB C# PHP Java

Code Converter article focuses on upgrading VB6 to VB.Net and convert C# <=> VB.Net, and listing many other helpful converters, including PHP, Java & others.

Table of consents of Code Converter:

Downloads

• Downloads of VB6 Upgrader
• Downloads of C# & VB.Net Converters Using NRefactory v4
• Downloads of C# & VB.Net Converters Without Using NRefactory v4
• Downloads of C# & VB Helper Library & related code:
• Downloads of PHP to .NET
• Downloads of Java to .NET
• Downloads of C++ to .NET
• Downloads of ColdFusion to .NET
• Before Conversion
• C# & VB.Net
  • SharpDevelop
  • What is a C# that has no equivalent in VB
  • What is a VB code that has no equivalent in C#
• VB6 & VB.Net
  • VB6 Upgrade Companion VBUC
  • VB Migration

Downloads for Code Converter

Downloads of C# & VB.Net Converters Using NRefactory v4:

• C# To VB.Net Converter form download.com
• Visual Studio Addin Code Converter C# to/from VB.NET
• Multi online Converter
• SharpDevelop IDE External Link
• VB.Net to C# Converter
• Convert .NET
• Econ NetVert
• http://converter.telerik.com

Downloads of C# & VB.Net Converters Without Using NRefactory v4:

• Instant VB, Instant C#

Downloads of VB6 Upgrader:

• VB Migration: To get a trial version; you could contact the vendor Website
• External Link: Free VBUC License for MSDN subscribers Version 8 has many new enhancements
• External Link: Delux Software only for Windows XP
• VB6 Microsoft VB6 UW: Included with Visual Studio 2008 or earlier; not included in new versions of Visual Studio
• VB6 to C# Freeware
• External Link: ASP to ASP.NET 1.x Migration Assistant only for Windows XP
• vb2delphi

Downloads of C# & VB Helper Library & related code:

• NRefactory DLL.V4.4.2
• NRefactory Scr V4.4.2
• Download ICSharpCode.NRefactory.v4.2
• Using NRefactory v4 C#
• Using NRefactory v4 VB
• Microsoft Roslyn; A new technique to compile and analyze codes for C# or VB. It could produce a high-quality code converter See also: How to translate from C# to VB using the Roslyn

Downloads of PHP to .NET:

• PHP to ASP.NET 1.x Migration Assistant Windows XP & dot net 1.1

Downloads of Java & .NET:

• Sharpen: Sharpen is an Eclipse plugin created by db4o that allows you to convert your Java project into c#
• Tangiblesoft Converters: Java to C#, Java to VB, C# to Java, VB to Java.
• Java Language Conversion Assistant 2.0
• CSharpJavaMerger Framework
• Java 2 CSharp Translator for Eclipse

Downloads of C++ to .NET:

• C++ to C# Translator
• Tangiblesoft Converters: C++ to VB, C++ to C#, VB to C++, C# to C++.

Downloads of ColdFusion to .NET:

• Migrating from ColdFusion to ASP.NET
• Migrating AnandTech from Macromedia ColdFusion to ASP.NET

Before Conversion:

• Make sure your code can be re-compiled and run well before start converting.
• For C# and VB.Net 100% code conversion maybe get most times but not always. Most times, we need fixing after conversion.
• No converters can guarantee 100% conversion.
• For other language pairs: Make sure the target language supports your project type.
• Please note the VB6 converting is a hard job because the programing language philosophy is not the same. Please see the VB6 section later in this article

C# & VB.Net:

SharpDevelop:

Lots of C# <> VB code converter are available all most all of them are using NRefectory the library from SharpDevelop IDE to make the conversion and then make some useful post-conversion fixing.

The power of NRefactory v4 is parsing the code before the conversion; even if a keyword could take over one meaning, they could convert correctly it because of understanding the code line before the conversion. Another thing that will make the converting is possible in most cases.

About SharpDevelop

• It’s a freeware Open Source Development Environment for .NET
• It could make much useful code conversion.
• SharpDevelop IDE is the mother of NRefactory the version 4 of the library which is the most uses converting library
• The conversion that is done using SharpDevelop IDE is much better.
• It provides a wide range of code conversion C#, VB.NET, Boo, Python, Ruby

About NRefactory v4:

• ICSharpCode.NRefactory is freely available as a part of SharpDevelop IDE version 4.
• It is a parser library for C# and VB.
• It comprises a single Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) that can represent all constructs that are available in C# or VB (unlike System.CodeDom, which only represents constructs common to C# and VB).
• By using the C# parser and a VB output visitor (or vice versa), you can do a code converter.
• After parsing to AST, you can analyze and/or transform the AST and re-create source code from the (changed) AST, then re-insert the comments we saved from the parser into the output
• For more info about NRefactory v4 please see sharpdevelop.net and NRefactory wiki.
• You may try samples\NRefactoryDemo in the SharpDevelop source code to take a look at how the AST parses source code.

About AST and Parsing:

The following example shows a simple parsing process.

SharpDevelop IDE and C# VB Code Converter:

What is a C# code that has no equivalent in VB?

• C# Fixed-size buffers and fixed statement has no equivalent in VB:

  private fixed char name[30]

• C# fixed block has no equivalent in VB:
  Enter the fixed keyword. When used for a block of statements, it tells the CLR that the object in question cannot be moved, and thus, it ends up pinning the object. Thus, when pointers are used in C#, the fixed keyword is used pretty often to prevent invalid pointers at runtime.
• C# Generic indexers and properties have no equivalent in VB:

  public T this[string key] { 
  	get { /* Return generic type T. */ } 
  }
  public T GetItem<T>(string key) { 
  	/* Return generic type T. */ 
  }

• C# Generic operators have no equivalent in VB:

  public static T operator +<T>(T a, T b)	{
  // Do something with a and b that makes sense for operator + here
  }

• C# #undef has no equivalent in VB.
• C# volatile/checked/unchecked/stackalloc has no equivalent in VB:
  Using the unchecked statement with constant expressions, Overflow is unchecked at compile time or runtime and the return value be differs
• C# unsafe block has no equivalent in VB:

  unsafe static void FastCopy ( byte[] src, byte[] dst, int count ){
  // unsafe context: can use pointers here
  }

• C# extern alias has no equivalent in VB:
  It can sometimes be necessary to reference two versions of assemblies that have the same fully qualified type names, for example, when you need to use two or more versions of an assembly in the same application. By using an external assembly alias, the namespaces from each assembly can be wrapped inside root-level namespaces named by the alias, allowing them to be used in the same file.
  To reference two assemblies with the same fully qualified type names, we must specify an alias on the command line:

  /r:GridV1=grid.dll
  /r:GridV2=grid20.dll

  This creates the external aliases GridV1 and GridV2. To use these aliases from within a program, reference them using the extern keyword. For example:

  C#

  Copy Code

  extern alias GridV1; 
  extern alias GridV2;

• C# overloading ++ or — operator in has no equivalent in VB: ++ & — can convert easily but overloading is not.
• C# ?? operator has no equivalent in VB

What is a VB code that has no equivalent is C#?

• VB parametrized properties have no equivalent in C#

  Public Property MyProperty(ByVal A As String) As String
      Get
          Return 2 * A
      End Get
      Set(ByVal value As String)
          A = value / 2
      End Set
  End Property

• VB Numeric labels, On Error, Resume Next, Continue, and Err object has no equivalent in C#
  VB

  Sub Test()
      On Error Resume Next
      Err.Raise(1000)
      On Error GoTo 0
      Err.Raise(1001)
      On Error GoTo -1
      Err.Raise(1002)
      On Error GoTo EH
      Err.Raise(1003)
      Exit Sub
  EH:
      MsgBox(Err.Description)
      Resume Next
  End Sub

• VB IIf is some who defer than if in C#.

  A = IIf(E, B, A)

• VB ReDim Preserve has no built-in equivalent in C#

  ReDim Preserve A(9)

• VB Select Case: switch is not as flexible as Select Case, and we can not convert many VB Select Case blocks cannot to switch
  VB

  Select Case A
      Case 1 To 10
          '
      Case Is < 2 * A
          '
      Case Is > 30
          '
  End Select

• VB Procedures local static variables have no built-in equivalent in C# but class-level private variable may use.

  Sub Test()
      Static InUse As Boolean = False
      If InUse Then Exit Sub
      'Run Once code
      InUse = True
      '
  End Sub

• VB With has no equivalent in C#.

  With Me
      .Width = 10
      .Top = 0
  End With

• It does not support VB Import Shared Class member in C#

  Imports WindowsApplication1.Form1

• VB Exit try
• VB Exit statements that not matching the immediately enclosing block.
• VB Member names can be the same as their enclosing type but in C# can’t.
• VB #Const can be set to any value but in C# accept constants only

  #Const C = 2 * A

• VB MyClass has no equivalent in C# (sometimes using this is OK)
• In C#, an object cannot reference itself in its class-level declarations: You cannot use this in class-level declarations in C#.
• In C#, an object cannot reference its base class in its class-level declarations: You cannot use base in class-level declarations in C#.
• Numeric labels: C# does not allow Numeric labels, You must change the label to be a standard C# identifier.
• VB &O has no equivalent in C#
• VB When has no equivalent in C#
• VB has some operator that is not present in C# and we can’t be overload it in C# in any way such as(integer division (VB \), Like, exponentiation (VB ^))
• VB Method with the same name as the Class name: C# used class name for constructor in C# and can’t use for naming any other method or property in C#.
• VB integer casts convert ‘True’ to -1, but System. Convert methods convert ‘True’ to 1.

C# and VB Language Equivalents and Comparison:

1. Language Equivalents
2. Comparison of C# and VB
3. Complete Comparison for VB.NET & C#

Using SharpDevelop as a code converter:

1. Run SharpDevelop IDE
2. From the file, menu select open – project/solution and open the project to be converted
3. From the View menu select projects
4. In the project, the window selects the project to be converted
5. from the project, menu choose the convert and then choose the target language
6. This will convert the entire project
7. We can do the conversion could by right-clicking the project icon in the project window then choose convert

SharpDevelop Points of Interest

How to convert C# code:

I convert the code using ICSharpCode.NRefactory.ParserFactory class:

Converter code in VB:

Imports ICSharpCode.NRefactory
Imports ICSharpCode.NRefactory.PrettyPrinter
Imports System.IO

Public Class CS2VB

    Public Overrides Function ConvertCode(ByVal sourceCode As String) As String        
            
            Dim specials As IList(Of ISpecial)
            Dim result As Ast.CompilationUnit
            Dim Parse_errors = ""
            Using parser As IParser = ParserFactory.CreateParser( _
                 SupportedLanguage.CSharp, New StringReader(sourceCode))
                parser.Parse()
                'this allows retrieving comments, preprocessor directives, etc. 
                '(stuff that isn't part of the syntax)
                specials = parser.Lexer.SpecialTracker.RetrieveSpecials()
                'this retrieves the root node of the result AS
                result = parser.CompilationUnit
                If parser.Errors.Count > 0 Then
                    Parse_errors = parser.Errors.ErrorOutput
                End If
            End Using

            'Now you can analyze and/or transform the AST.
            'Should you want to re-create source code from the (modified) AST, 
            'use an output visitor: 
            're-insert the comments we saved from the parser into the output
            
            Dim outputVisitor As New PrettyPrinter.VBNetOutputVisitor
            Dim astViewUnit = result
            Using SpecialNodesInserter.Install(specials, outputVisitor)
                astViewUnit.AcceptVisitor(outputVisitor, Nothing)
            End Using
            Dim outputCode = outputVisitor.Text
            'By using the C# parser and a VB output visitor (or vice versa), 
            'you can build a code converter. Of course, 
            'the real Code Converter in SharpDevelop also transforms the AST to fix cases 
            'where C# and VB semantics differ.

            Return outputCode   

    End Function
End Class/pre>

Converter code in C#:

using ICSharpCode.NRefactory;
using ICSharpCode.NRefactory.PrettyPrinter;
using System.IO;

public class CS2VB
{

    public override string ConvertCode(string sourceCode)
    {
        //var names and format is as in http://wiki.sharpdevelop.net/NRefactory.ashx

        //ICSharpCode.NRefactory is a parser library for C# and VB.
        //It consists of a single Abstract Syntax Tree (AST) 
        //that can represent all constructs that are available in C# or VB 
        //(unlike System.CodeDom, which only represents constructs common to C# 
        //and VB).
        //Please try samples\NRefactoryDemo in the SharpDevelop source code 
        //to take a look at the AST
        //To parse source code, use: 
        IList specials;
        Ast.CompilationUnit result;
        object Parse_errors = "";
        using (IParser parser = ParserFactory.CreateParser(SupportedLanguage.CSharp, new 
                StringReader(sourceCode))) {
            parser.Parse();
            // this allows retrieving comments, preprocessor directives, etc. 
            //(stuff that isn't part of the syntax)
            specials = parser.Lexer.SpecialTracker.RetrieveSpecials();
            // this retrieves the root node of the result AST
            result = parser.CompilationUnit;
            if (parser.Errors.Count > 0) {
                MessageBox.Show(parser.Errors.ErrorOutput, "Parse errors");
            }
        }
        //Now you can analyze and/or transform the AST.
        //Should you want to re-create source code from the (modified) AST, 
        //use an output visitor: 
        //re-insert the comments we saved from the parser into the output
        PrettyPrinter.VBNetOutputVisitor outputVisitor = new 
                PrettyPrinter.VBNetOutputVisitor();
        object astViewUnit = result;
        using (SpecialNodesInserter.Install(specials, outputVisitor)) {
            astViewUnit.AcceptVisitor(outputVisitor, null);
        }
        object outputCode = outputVisitor.Text;
        //By using the C# parser and a VB output visitor (or vice versa), 
        //you can build a code converter. Of course, 
        //the real Code Converter in SharpDevelop also transforms the AST 
        //to fix cases 
        //where C# and VB semantics differ.

        return outputCode;

    }
}

Demo conversion:

We can not make a partial code conversion. the code should be in class and the method.

Demo1:

class Class1{void sub1(){
    //your code starts
    int x =0;
    //your code ends
}}

The result in VB

Class Class1
    Sub sub1()
        'your code start
        Dim x As Integer = 0
        'your code end
    End Sub
End Class

namespace WindowsFormsApplication1{
    partial class Form1
    {
        private System.ComponentModel.IContainer components = null;
		private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox textbox1;
        private System.Windows.Forms.TextBox textbox2;

        
        protected override void Dispose(bool disposing)
        {
            if (disposing && (components != null))
            {
                components.Dispose();
            }
            base.Dispose(disposing);
        }

        private void InitializeComponent()
        {
            this.textbox1 = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.textbox2 = new System.Windows.Forms.TextBox();
            this.SuspendLayout();
            // 
            // textbox1
            // 
            this.textbox1.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(30, 30);
            this.textbox1.Name = "TEXTBOX1";
            this.textbox1.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(80, 20);
            this.textbox1.TabIndex = 0;
            // 
            // textbox2
            // 
            this.textbox2.Location = new System.Drawing.Point(30, 60);
            this.textbox2.Name = "textbox";
            this.textbox2.Size = new System.Drawing.Size(80, 20);
            this.textbox2.TabIndex = 1;
            this.textbox2.TextChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.textbox_TextChanged);
            // 
            // Form1
            // 
            this.AutoScaleDimensions = new System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F);
            this.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font;
            this.ClientSize = new System.Drawing.Size(284, 262);
            this.Controls.Add(this.textbox2);
            this.Controls.Add(this.textbox1);
            this.Name = "Form1";
            this.Text = "Form1";
            this.ResumeLayout(false);
            this.PerformLayout();

        }
        
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }

        private void textbox_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            string x = "";
            string X = "";
        }
    }
}

Namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
	Partial Class Form1
		Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer = Nothing
		Private textbox1 As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox
		Private textbox2 As System.Windows.Forms.TextBox


		Protected Overrides Sub Dispose(disposing As Boolean)
			If disposing AndAlso (components IsNot Nothing) Then
				components.Dispose()
			End If
			MyBase.Dispose(disposing)
		End Sub

		Private Sub InitializeComponent()
			Me.textbox1 = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
			Me.textbox2 = New System.Windows.Forms.TextBox()
			Me.SuspendLayout()
			' 
			' textbox1
			' 
			Me.textbox1.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(30, 30)
			Me.textbox1.Name = "TEXTBOX1"
			Me.textbox1.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(80, 20)
			Me.textbox1.TabIndex = 0
			' 
			' textbox2
			' 
			Me.textbox2.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(30, 60)
			Me.textbox2.Name = "textbox"
			Me.textbox2.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(80, 20)
			Me.textbox2.TabIndex = 1
			AddHandler Me.textbox2.TextChanged, New System.EventHandler(AddressOf Me.textbox_TextChanged)
			' 
			' Form1
			' 
			Me.AutoScaleDimensions = New System.Drawing.SizeF(6F, 13F)
			Me.AutoScaleMode = System.Windows.Forms.AutoScaleMode.Font
			Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(284, 262)
			Me.Controls.Add(Me.textbox2)
			Me.Controls.Add(Me.textbox1)
			Me.Name = "Form1"
			Me.Text = "Form1"
			Me.ResumeLayout(False)
			Me.PerformLayout()

		End Sub

		Public Sub New()
			InitializeComponent()
		End Sub

		Private Sub textbox_TextChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs)
			Dim x__1 As String = ""
			Dim X__2 As String = ""
		End Sub
	End Class
End Namespace

this.textbox2.TextChanged += new System.EventHandler(this.textbox_TextChanged);

AddHandler Me.textbox2.TextChanged, New System.EventHandler(AddressOf Me.textbox_TextChanged)

Sub Test()
    If Not NP.File.Exists("C:\Temp.txt") Then NP.File.Create "C:\Temp.txt"
    NP.File.Move "C:\Temp.txt", "C:\Temp2.txt"
    NP.File.Copy "C:\Temp2.txt", "C:\Temp.txt"
    NP.File.Delete "C:\Temp2.txt"
    NP.Shell "C:\Temp.txt"
End Sub

Public NP As New VBAExtend.NP
Sub Test()
    If Not NP.File.Exists("C:\Temp.txt") Then NP.File.Create "C:\Temp.txt"
    NP.File.Move "C:\Temp.txt", "C:\Temp2.txt"
    NP.File.Copy "C:\Temp2.txt", "C:\Temp.txt"
    NP.File.Delete "C:\Temp2.txt"
    NP.Shell "C:\Temp.txt"
End Sub