ANN: vb2Py 0.2 - VB to Python Conversion

[Paul Paterson]

Version 0.2 of vb2py has been released.

What is vb2py?
==============

vb2py is a toolkit to aid in the conversion of Visual Basic projects to 
Python. The aim of the conversion is to match, as closely as possible, 
the original VB applications both in terms of code and form behaviour. 
Version 0.2 comprises a basic layout converter (converting to 
PythonCard) with a comprehensive code translation. The project roadmap 
(http://vb2py.sourceforge.net/roadmap.htm) shows the project's 
development timeline.

Converting VB to Python turns your VB projects into cross platform 
developments and allows full access to all Python's extensive library of 
modules.


What's new in v0.2
==================

The key development in v0.2 is the inclusion of the full VB code parser 
and converter. Whereas v0.1 was just a form layout converter, v0.2 
parses all the VB code and translates it to the equivalent Python code. 
All major code constructs from VB are covered (Sub, Fn, If, While, For, 
Select, With, Classes, Properties, Types, etc) and most instrinsic 
functions and constants are implemented as Python equivalents.

The other major addition to v0.2 is the inclusion of a GUI to enable the 
progress of the conversion to be monitored and tweaked using the options 
system. The GUI is a PythonCard application running on top of the main 
vb2py library. The GUI is not required to convert VB code, a fully 
functioning command line alternative is available.

Linux is now supported (this was badly broken in v0.1!)


Limitations of v0.2
===================

- Form layout translation is still at the v0.1 level. (target v0.3)
- Control event mapping is still primitive (target v0.3)
- Error handling, ByRef argument passing, Iterable classes are not 
currently supported (target v0.4)


Getting the Software
====================

* The main website: http://vb2py.sourceforge.net
* Download this version: http://vb2py.sourceforge.net/downloads.htm
* Documentation: http://vb2py.sourceforge.net/documentation.htm


Requirements
============

* Python 2.2 or greater
* PythonCard (0.7 or greater), wxWindows
* simpleparse (2.0.1a2 or greater), mxTools
* Visual Basic is *not* required (although it would help if you had some 
VB code ...)


Licence
=======

vb2py is released under the BSD licence.


Release History
===============

0.1    (July 9, 2003) - The first release from the project - a basic 
form layout translator
0.1.1  (August 1, 2003) - A bugfix release for 0.1
0.2    (September 8, 2003) - This release


Contributors Welcome
====================

This project would not be possible without the help and support of many 
people. Anyone who wants to get involved is more than welcome to 
participate in coding, testing, giving advice, etc. Some particular 
areas of interest right now are,

- testing on large VB projects
- testing on Mac
- testing out with VBScript, VBA

In the meantime I would like to thank all those who supported and 
contributed towards the v0.2 release.

----

Paul Paterson

vb2py :: A Visual Basic to Python Conversion Toolkit
http://vb2py.sourceforge.net