.NET migration of a VB6 application
Migration of a VB6 application to an ASP.NET web application
On behalf of Warmbier + Kegler GmbH, eWorks migrated the VB6-based desktop application "PGT® 2000 Manager" to VB.NET and subsequently ported the functionality of the WinForms application to an ASP.NET web application.
The "PGT® 2000 Manager" and "PGT® 2000 Viewer" software packages are used for the administration and evaluation of "PGT® 2000" devices, which the client sells for measuring electrical personal leakage resistance with wrist and / or footwear earthing. Both software solutions were originally programmed and further developed by the client himself on the basis of Microsoft VisualBasic 6, Crystal Reports and Microsoft Access. Over the years, the need for a redesign of the applications arose due to the continuous extensions, which was further intensified by the discontinuation of manufacturer support for Visual Basic 6 in 2008. Due to the increased importance of the World Wide Web (WWW) in the meantime, there was also a desire to offer customers an Internet-compatible version of the software. eWorks was commissioned to develop and subsequently implement a concept to solve these problems.
eWorks ported the "PGT® 2000 Manager" to .NET, using VB.NET instead of C# because of its similarity to VB6, in order to make it easier for the client to understand the modernized source code. During the upgrade, the source code was refactored by eWorks to make future maintainability more secure and cost-effective. The Crystal Reports report generation was retained as part of the migration, but brought up to date. eWorks ensured that the migrated code continued to provide the same functionality and interoperated with the interfaces of all "PGT® 2000" devices in circulation to enable the client's customers to update the software smoothly.
The web front-end was developed using ASP.NET WebForms in order to increase the efficiency of a common technological platform and to enable device users to maintain the software via intranet or internet and VPN. To enable high-performance data access, particularly in a multi-user environment, the database was migrated from Microsoft Access to Microsoft SQL Server 2008. The user administration of the web application was re-implemented in close consultation with the client after designing an authorization concept for the requirements of remote access.
eWorks carried out the migration of the Windows application and the development of the web application on its own responsibility and handed over both software solutions, including two installation programs, to the client. VB6 library functions that no longer existed were replaced by successors or alternative functions, the object model was restructured and the source code was documented in detail. At the end of the process, around 90,000 lines of .NET source code were created within 12 months of development. Following the handover of the software and manual to the client, eWorks supported the client in rolling out the updates to its customers.