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Last Updated: Wednesday 23rd July 2008

I have been playing with C# to Visual Basic converters. There are a few around and I have included the best I came across. However right now there is one clear winner if you want to work with the new language features introduced in Visual Studio 2008 – that is Instant VB from Tangible Software.

Notes:

• I have only had a quick play with these – enough to know they have a place in helping move code over from C#
• I have ruled out a few others I found as they looked very dated
• Most DO NOT understand the new language features (such as LINQ) included in .NET Framework 3.5
• Tangible Instant VB does understand the new language extensions. I am using the demo install with decent results
• I hope SharpDevelop 3 will also support the new language extensions
• IMHO – we should include a converter “in the box” integrated into the IDE … ho hum…

Commerical

• Tangible Software - download
  • Instant VB http://www.tangiblesoftwaresolutions.com/Product_Details/Instant_VB.htm
    • Demo allows 100 line code snippet
  • Instant C# http://www.tangiblesoftwaresolutions.com/Product_Details/Instant_CSharp.htm 
• Octopus .NET Translator http://www.remotesoft.com/octopus/
  • This one needs your code to compiler first
  • Online demo for code snippets – but not as useful as others

Online Converters

• DeveloperFusion – based on converter in SharpDevelop
  • C# to Visual Basic http://www.developerfusion.com/utilities/convertcsharptovb.aspx
  • Visual Basic to C# http://www.developerfusion.com/utilities/convertvbtocsharp.aspx
• ASP Alliance  http://www.aspalliance.com/aldotnet/examples/translate.aspx
• Kamalpatels converter http://www.kamalpatel.net/ConvertCSharp2VB.aspx

Downloadable

• SharpDevelop is a free IDE for C#, Visual Basic .NET which includes two way conversion http://www.icsharpcode.net/OpenSource/SD/Default.aspx
  • Currently V3 is in Beta for .NET Framework 3.5
  • V2 is available for .NET Framework 2.0
• Kamalpatels converter http://www.kamalpatel.net/Downloads/ConvertCSharp2VB_Offline_Tool.zip (one exe and dll to xcopy)

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