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Tips for Converting Between VB & C#

Even though much of the conversion process between VB and C# seems clearly defined, there are a few insidious and subtle differences between VB and C# - here are just a few examples:

  1. You use the upper bound to initialize arrays in VB; whereas, you use the number of elements in C#.  Instant C# and Instant VB correctly adjust all array initializations.

  2. The ending condition of a VB "For" loop is only tested once, on the first entry to the loop; while a C# "for" loop tests the ending condition on every iteration. Instant C# inserts temporary variables set to the ending condition when the ending condition is not constant.

  3. The "Not" operator in VB has significantly different operator precedence than the "!" operator in C#.  So, just substituting one for the other will often produce incorrect code.

  4. The following set of translations shows how keyword overlap can be confusing:
    • The VB phrase "x Is y" translates to "x == y"
    • The VB phrase "TypeOf x Is y" translates to "x is y"
    • The VB global method "GetType(x)" translates to "typeof(x)"
      ("x.GetType()" remains "x.GetType()" since this is a .NET intrinsic object method).

  5. Calls to the VB "IIf" function can't be always reliably replaced by the "?" operator and vice versa since the "?" operator uses short-circuit logic (resolving only the required return value) and calls to the "IIf" function do not (since "IIf" is a function, both possible return values are resolved even though only one is ever required).  The "If" ternary operator in VB9 and above behaves identically to the C# ternary operator.

  6. VB still allows assigning method return values to the method name (using the method name as a temporary variable).  These values are returned by the method upon exiting the method even though a return statement may not have been executed.  Further complicating this situation is the fact that VB allows mixing return statements and assignments to the method name.  Instant C# correctly converts these to coherent C# code.

Use Instant C# and Instant VB to convert between VB.NET and C#.     

Additional resource: VB.NET and C# Equivalents

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