The purpose of my evaluation to
the Visual Basic Internet Libraries is to acquire a better understanding on how the
software works and relate to the user in terms of user-friendliness, efficiency and
productivity. Upon evaluation, I will select the most preferred library and use it to
create the mini-project entitled 'Web Validator'. 'Web Validator' is a program that is
constructed by using Visual Basic and the chosen Internet library. Its task is to
automatically validate the present existence of the numerous links in a particular
website. This mini-project also acts as a test of my ability in understanding in
utilizing the Visual Basic domain.
 IP*Works!
A software packages available for developing high
performance applications for the Internet. For more information please visit this site: http://www.vbonline.com/vbonline/devsoft/vb/
 HTTP Client Control
Can be used to retrieve and post documents on the World Wide Web.
The URL property specifies what document to receive. It is fairy easy to use and
efficient.
FTP Control
The FTP control can be used to transfer files to and from FTP
servers using the FTP Protocol. The FTP file is quite easy to use, the file to download or
upload is specified by a check function and first-time user just need to fill in the
necessary information in the empty spaces by following the instructional labels beside the
empty spaces. Of all those interesting and user-friendly functions, I still prefer the FTP
software known as ‘Ws_FTP’ as it is more straight forward, especially for
beginners like me.
 Overall Comments
This tool is easy to use and is very user-friendly. At the same
time, the controls are very easy to use, with a uniform and intuitive design. It has good
and easy-to-follow user-interface. The sample examples are all useful and working
efficiently, although some of them are not working properly and cannot be used due to
errors.
Distinct
Visual Internet Toolkit 32-bit
The power of Distinct
32 Bit Visual Internet Toolkit™ is simply unsurpassed. More OLE Custom Controls. More
protocols. More sample code. More documentation. Which makes job easier and leaves the
competition behind. For more information please visit this site: http://www.distinct.com/
HTTP Control
The Hypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP) is an application that can
transfer hypertext and hypermedia easily. The Distinct HTTP control implements the Secure
Sockets Layer (SSL) and user authentication, providing a secure way to transfer files over
LANs and WANs using the RSA standard encryption methods. The file delivered to me by my
supervisor has some bugs as there are some missing components. I used the one that I
downloaded (trail version) from the Internet.
FTP Client Control
The File Transfer Protocol (FTP) is the standard protocol for
copying files to and from
remote servers ormachines. It is an efficient and fast method of transfering file to and
from the server. For example an application could automatically retrieve customer
information from the server when you enter a customer name or identification number.
Firewall proxy (SOCKS 5, FTP) support is embedded in this component to enable its use
across intranet firewalls to limit the number of user visiting the site.
Overall Comments
We really can take
advantage if we use this software. The area we can take advantage on is on the programming
side. As this software tool utilities the OLE Custom Controls, we can just
drag-and-drop the ole objects and let the program takes over the job, in other words, let
Distinct's Visual Internet Toolkit™ do the programming work for us. It is a simple
and easy tool to use and I quite like it. Eventhough I did not fully explore this
software, I have a feeling that this software is useful for beginners like me. I have
chosen this software to be my second choice, if there is any trouble in the software of my
first choice.
Crescent Internet ToolPak 4.0
A comprehensive collection of controls that provide Visual Basic
programmers with a powerful and efficient tool for building applications and utilities for
use in the Intranet and the Internet. There are about two dozen sample programs, and good
documentation that provide step-by-step actions through creating applications that exploit
the Internet. Individually, each control adds powerful communications functions to VB
applications. If these functions are fully utilized, it can help me create sophisticated
applications and utilities. For more information please visit this site: http://www.hallogram.com/crescent/features.html
HTTP Control
This HTTP control helps to implement hypertext Transfer Protocol
(HTTP) client applications. It can retrieves text from or write binary data and send text
to a Web server. (more like a web editor to me). The function that I like in this software
is that it can acquire information about a Web page, thus if I can program it in such a
way that it will provide me with the number of links, the number of usable links and the
number of unusable links a particular website has. This will be of good help to me. This
control tool can also send HTTP commands that is not implemented in the control, more
likely the same as the FTP control.
FTP Control
This FTP control helps in building FTP client applications which
can copy any file to and from FTP servers easily and efficiently. The best part of it is
that it is able to retrieve directories and other information from an FTP server with one
line of programming code. It is also able to send FTP commands that is not implemented in
the control.
Overall Comments
The Crescent Internet ToolPak consists of a collection of Visual
Basic controls to be used in the Internet, some examples would be building some
applications that access HTTP or FTP servers to deal with files. All controls have a
simple programming interface in which it is easy by just setting property values and call
methods to perform the desired tasks. The interface is more like the Windows Explorer
interface, which is very familiar to me. I have decided to choose this software for my
mini-project development.
QuickPak VB/J ++ 1.0
QuickPak VB/J++ is the most comprehensive toolset of ActiveX
components for developing applications using Microsoft Visual Basic and/or Visual J++.
Built on the foundation of QuickPak Professional, one of the top selling Visual Basic
application development tools of all time, QuickPak VB/J++ harness the power of the latest
advances in ActiveX component techniques to dramatically improve your productivity. For
more information please visit this site: http://crescent.progress.com/crescent/qpvbj++.html
HTTP Control
The HTTP Control are quite easy
to use and there are some sample application given illustrating its usage and functions.
There seemed to be some errors when I use the samples, leading to unsolved errors and
finally I decided not to continue using the software as there are some missing components
in the software, maybe during the electronic transfer of the software through the
Intranet.
FTP Control
The FTP control did basically
what other software does, which is transfer and fetching files to and fro from servers. I
did not get to try the control as there are missing components in the transferred
software. But what I know from the documentation that this control is very user-friendly.
Overall Comments
This software incorporate Internet
functionality into my applications using any of the over 100 new 'Internet based'
routines. It also increase productivity and simplify coding using properties and methods
included in each ActiveX component. One thing I like about this product is that it shorten
the learning curve with on-line html based documentation, which is very vital to me as I
do not have much time in learning new softwares during this attachment period. This
software is very user-friendly and easy, but due to the missing components, I did not use
it. If the software is complete, I may choose this software to be my first choice. |
