gmBasic: Upgrade Engine
gmBasic is a computer language processor that reads, interprets, and rewrites VB6/ASP/COM systems for the .NET platform (using C# or VB .NET ). Based on feedback from our clients and real-world modernization projects, we continuously improve gmBasic so it will help developers more easily produce cleaner, more correct upgrade results. This distribution,Version 50.05, has several important enhancements.
Improves the Translator as a Service (TaaS) capabilities enabling developers to build and integrate their own custom upgrade features
Adds MoveToTop migration for moving nested local variable declarations to the top of enclosing method
Improves logic that infers array order (i.e., 1D, 2D, etc)
Improves handling optional arguments for all methods in libraries having ImplicitByref=on
Improves SharedFiles consolidation for Forms other complex scenarios
Improves type inference for ControlArray elements
Improves FixType for variants containing ControlArrays
Improves support for conditional compilation
Improves support for GoSub
Improves support for Enum entries initialized with VB6 functions
Improves support for array declarations dimensioned with enum entries
Improves support for constants initialized by other constants
Improves support for VB6's archaic file IO formatting
Improves translating Redim Preserve for 2D arrays
Improves translating code using variables and arrays of type Byte
gmStudio: Upgrade Solution Development Environment
Powered by gmBasic, gmStudio is a platform for analyzing code and developing custom VB6/ASP/COM to .NET upgrade solutions. We are continuously adding functionality to gmStudio and making it easier to use. This distribution includes several enhancements:
Adds option to use Standard Search terms for Source Scan on the Reporting control panel
Adds Semantic Declarations Report to the Reports menu
Adds option to use a user-defined VS Solution File Generator
Improves VS Solution File Generator to allow more flexible format and structure of GenerateSolution.txt files
Improves transition to Reporting-Only mode when Trial license is not valid
Improves updating .NET Build status for custom tasks
Improves ScriptRules error reporting
gmAPI: a .NET API for Developing Advanced Upgrade Solutions
gmAPI is a .NET API for automating our upgrade engine and accessing the semantic models produced by our unique linguistic compilation technology. gmAPI also includes classes for managing complex upgrade rules and integrating external migration tools with gmStudio. We maintain and improve gmAPI and related components to keep them in sync with the platform and add new features.
In this release we introduce an innovative approach for gmAPI integration. The new approach allows .NET developers to define custom features and activate them with user-defined statements in translation scripts. When detecting a user-defined statement, gmBasic will delegate processing to the designated extension DLL. Extension DLLs may use .NET code and gmAPI to automate services that access information in the semantic translation model. The user code may inspect and alter the information model, edit source and generated code, and integrate external information and processes. The new approach seamlessly extends gmBasic making it easier to use custom processing with gmStudio and it also allows much easier debugging extension code in Visual Studio.
We updated many of gmStudio's advanced features to use the new approach.
Shared Files Reporting and Consolidation (gmPL_gmSharedFiles.dll)
Custom Coding Style Transformations (gmPL_gmCodeStyle.dll).
VB6 to WPF Migration (gmPL_WpfSubSystem.dll)
Global Support Framework Generation (gmPL_gmGlobalStubs.dll).
Global Analysis and Reporting (gmPL_gmGlobal.dll)
Advanced Metrics Reporting (gmPL_Search.dll)
Advanced Metrics Reporting
The gmStudio platform includes advanced reporting services that allow you to gather extremely detailed information about your legacy system. The advance reports include Symbol Tables, Symbol References, Symbol Definitions, Model Audits, and more. We maintain and enhance these advanced reporting services to keep them in sync with the model schema and add new features. See Semantic Reports for more information.
In this release, gmMetrics.exe has been replaced by gmPL_Search.dll. gmBasic.exe automatically engages the services of gmPL_Search.dll to handle advanced reporting commands in gmPL scripts.
Adds the Semantic Declarations Report; currently this report provides details on Implements statements in the source code
gmStudio Extensions
gmStudio ships with a collection of sample upgrade rules that can be used to add custom features to your upgrade solution. These XML documents and gmSL scripts are distributed as source that you may modify to fit your unique requirements. The sample rules were updated to reflect the latest product improvements and conventions. See also additions and changes in gmStudio Extensions Repository.
Improves rules to migrate the Windows Common Controls to WinForms controls
gmRTL: Great Migrations Runtime Library
gmRTL is a sample runtime library that contains classes allowing for more readable translations. We continuously improve this framework in during project work. Learn more about gmRTL here.
Sample Upgrade Solutions
Great Migrations publishes several sample VB6/ASP upgrade solutions that illustrate the various upgrade features. The samples upgrade solutions and results were updated to reflect the latest product improvements and conventions. Learn about the Samples here.
Updates all Samples to target VS2022 and Framework V4.8.1
Updates WPF Samples to use gmPL_WpfSubSystem.dll rather than gmPL_WpfSubSystem.exe
Updates FileExplorer sample to demonstrate additional upgrade requirements and use the latest API mapping rules
gmStudio FAQs
Great Migrations publishes FAQ articles and other information to help teams learn and use gmStudio. You can find all of the gmStudio FAQs on the Great Migrations portal. The following "Support Statement" articles were added or updated since the last product update:
Adds Support Statement: Overcome the Limits of AI for Large Scale Software Modernization
Adds Support Statement: Partial Translations
Updates Support Statement: gmSL to move a variable declaration
Updates Support Statement: Override a routine in authortext.gmsl
Updates Support Statement: Stub Replacement