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I got my first experiences with coding back in elementary school in the mid-80s working with the Apple IIe. I continued to dabble through college, working with HTML, VBA, and C++. Unfortunately, I never fully committed, so while I do understand the world of possibilities available to those who code, I am still a novice in most ways.
I would like to get back into this if possible. I am a data analyst and I have the need to write programs that will automate some reporting processes for various web-based data repositories I use. Basically, I would like to write scripts that will automate the processes of downloading data based on set parameters, and then load said data into an Excel-based report template that I create. I would also like to start building my own web-accessible databases. So here's my question: Should I revisit VBA, C++, or just go for learning a new language? If your answer is "new language," which language? Any advice on how to get started with databases?
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I'd suggest C# as a good start: it's a clean, modern language with an excellent user base, and a lot simpler than C++ (which has evolved hugely since the 80's). The basics of language can be picked up in a short time (though the framework it uses will take months to learn thoroughly - but that's the same for every language nowadays) and there are a huge range of books available to help you: Wrox do some excellent ones, as do Addison Wesley. All the books will have at least one section of communicating with databases, and some will cover Excel via ODBC as well.
Bad command or file name. Bad, bad command! Sit! Stay! Staaaay...
AntiTwitter: @DalekDave is now a follower!
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I appreciate the feedback. I will definitely take a look at C#. Cheers!
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I totally agree with the C# advice ... I've coded in 15 different languages with 5 different databases. I would suggest, however, that physical books are passe - fun to look at, not very efficient compared to online tutoring. As for "basic" database learning MS Access can be a pretty good entry.
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To add to this, I would highly recommend getting a Lynda.com or pluralsight.com account. Very easy to follow tutorials.  Good luck!
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+1 for pluralsight.com
Eric
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Quote: though the framework it uses will take months to learn thoroughly
Years.
I was in the same situation about 6 years ago and chose to go with C# over VB.NET. I'm happy that I went in that direction but have yet to really understand the framework. It takes a whole new mind set and thinking process to become proficient in Object Oriented thought processes and getting old doesn't help with that 
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Me too! I started programming for a living with GW-Basic in 1979, and have been teaching myself C# over the last 6 months by Converting my VB6 program (384000 lines of code) To C#.
I started using Rockford Lohtka's Visual Basic Business Objects, several years ago and it was an excellent introduction to object oriented programming.
I still don't understand or embrace all of the OOP concepts as many seem to be aimed at "team programming" (I am a "lone wolf") but I try to use them as best as I know how. 
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Yes, very similar backgrounds and experience although I took up relearning how to program ( from a Fortran/Basic background) as a hobby after I retired in order to keep my mind busy. After about 6 years of C# only now am I getting a inkling as to how interfaces are used. Yea, I'm kind of a slow learner 
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I totally concur. C# really is excellent. I wrote C for years (like 15 or 20). C# extends the concepts learned in C/C++ nicely with less danger of painting yourself into a corner. It was also a natural after spending years with a software component that I had coded in VB.Net - it's extremely consistent (as a language) and easy to write clear, concise code. I've written a dozen applications in it (non-trivial ones) and it always rises to the need.
Did I say I like C#?
Cheers,
-Clockmeister
If you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur! - Red Adair
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BASIC questions allowed?
Not fair! Mods just deleted c# posting
Sin tack
the any key okay
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Not a question about BASIC, the language...a "basic question," as in not complicated or requiring in-depth response.
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To expand on the earlier post, .Net is a good platform to reach your goals. It already has code for reading data from a database and then uploading that data to Excel or making it accessible via the web. Since you have had experience with VBA, I would suggest writing a few programs using Visual Basic since the code structure is identical. It will help you learn the framework, it did for me. Once you have a familiarity with .Net, your C++ background will assist you making the jump to C#.
if (Object.DividedByZero == true) { Universe.Implode(); }
Meus ratio ex fortis machina. Simplicitatis de formae ac munus. -Foothill, 2016
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Member 13153978 wrote: I would like to write scripts that will
I don't think you've described anything that couldn't be done with a bunch of small(-ish) PowerShell scripts, as opposed to a full-blown app, as long as you're okay with the command line and no fancy UI.
OTOH, it's got so many idiosyncrasies that perhaps you might want to learn C# as well after all, especially since PowerShell can use anything from .NET and you'll probably end up relying on some of its objects anyway (PowerShell is very .NET-friendly).
Just so you understand where I'm coming from: I've done C/C++ for 10+ years, then I've been using .NET / C# for the following decade but have only been learning about PowerShell in the last 2 years. Knowing .NET is very handy for PowerShell. And sometimes you can throw together a one-liner PowerShell script that would require a lot more work in a compiled C# utility.
C++ will be complete overkill for what you want.
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You hit the nail on the head. I am not at all concerned with the look of the interface. I just want to be able to automate some of my work. So I will take a look at the options you mentioned.
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Bonus: Typically, with scripts, you focus on a single task, so if you can automate a few things with a number of single-purpose scripts, you'll probably feel like you're making a lot more progress more quickly than trying to write one compiled utility that tries to do it all.
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I would also advice you to C# because it is a more modern language with some really nice and high level features, but also the possibility to interact really smooth with MS Excel (example) but also with other CLI languages .
It is the first choice of today in the trade off between power and comfort. 
Google for some tutorials 
Press F1 for help or google it.
Greetings from Germany
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That sounds good. I am definitely familiar with learning through these type of forums and YouTube videos. So that is definitely in my future.
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Of course you mileage may vary depending on your native skills and determination, but I was a long term VB coder and prior to that did a lot with BASIC. I'd also dabbled with C but never got very far when I was working with UNIX years ago. Found then that I was much more comfortable building shell scripts and such to accomplish my goals.
In the last year I determined that it was time to move on from VB to 'something else' and that something else ended up being C#. I haven't looked back with any regrets whatsoever.
As others have mentioned C# is clear and flexible. Your biggest hurdle will be dealing with syntax but as you learn the basics the world opens up to possibilities quickly so I have to say in my personal experience the investment in understanding and utilizing the language has a very fast reward curve that you benefit from.
I can't speak outside of comparatives from my experience to adopting C# as my core language of preference and I will say that I'm interested in picking up a secondary, ternary, or stacking some other languages in my basket of tools. But even with the short forays that I've made into other things like Java Script and such, I've found myself coming back quickly to C# when I was really needing to get the job done in short order.
So I concur with a lot said here. Wish you the best!
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Java and C# are very similar so I suggest C# since Java is also used heavily in web development.
BTW, I also started on an Apple IIe back in 1983.
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I have written an article in three parts, which though targets young ladies who are interested in a career in software development, is appropriate for anyone.
You can find the articles at my TECH NOTES site here... https://blackfalconsoftware.wordpress.com
The articles are entitled...
<<<
Common Sense Software Engineering: Letter to a Young Woman (Part I)
Common Sense Software Engineering: Letter to a Young Woman (Part II)
Common Sense Software Engineering: Letter to a Young Woman (Part III)
<<<
The articles provide links and resources for the topics discussed.
Because these article parts comprise around 35 typed pages, there is also a downloadable PDF available at the beginning of the first article as well...
Steve Naidamast
Sr. Software Engineer
Black Falcon Software, Inc.
blackfalconsoftware@outlook.com
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If you're going to put data into an Excel-based report template using code in Excel itself, you might have to use VBA for that, but, if you are going to commit to C# (a great language), there are libraries available to be able to do it outside of Excel without VBA. I don't recommend VBA if you can possibly avoid it. The language is untrendy and the code would be broken up into scattered pieces that are difficult to manage later.
If you are going to build your own web-accessible databases, you are probably going to choose between SQL Server Express or MySQL and will need to choose a platform and a language to go with it. If you choose SQL Server Express, you would do best to stay with Microsoft and C#. If you choose MySQL, you could host it anywhere on any OS and program to it using any language. For my own home-grown web programs, I do it in PHP (not such a great language, but with advantages) and MySQL on a shared host Linux server, because that is the quickest, cheapest, most accessible and portable option, and I like being independent of vendors and free to use free open source software.
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absolutely not C#
the only correct answers are VBA, Python or R
R is built for data analysis,
you can grab stuff from databases and the web with it, you can manipulate Excel files with it
it is an ugly language, but very powerful
Python has become a strong contender for data analysis and is also used as the backend for web servers
and just like R you can grab stuff from databases and the web with it, you can manipulate Excel files with it
VBA is also great -- it is so easy to get data from databases and put them into Excel -- not so great for web stuff
I recommend Python
you will be up and running with Python much faster than with C#
watch this to get a basic idea of python
[^]
search youtube, google and amazon for python tutorials
there and tons of them
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I'd like to suggest you have a look at Python, ideally Python 3.6. Even if you decide to go for C#, knowing Python is useful.
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Several very good observations from other posters, but why make this project any harder than it needs to be? KISS!!!!!!
You seem to already know VBA. Why not write a VBA add-in for Excel to import the data, and then do the analysis/consolidation using Excel macros. Excel generates good graphs and can do high level statistics including multiple regression with an inexpensive add-in such as WinStat. http://www.winstat.com/
IMNSHO learning a new language just for this task is gross over-kill. After you extract the data, you will still need to format and analyze. Most likely you will have to use another program/language such as “R”on top of one of the dialects of C. What exactly will one of the new “hot” languages do that VBA or even Quick Basic won't?
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