A Framework for Datadriven Forms for VB Dot Net

[Mark L. Breen]

Hello All,

I am currently in the middle of creating a 'Framework' for my latest VB.Net
project.

I have always created such a tool for previous lauguages.

This time I am basing it on n-Tier architecture. I will probably continue
and develop my own version, but have any of you people developed your own
version, or used and 3rd party tools.

What I am referring to is a set of code that can be used for most forms in
the application, they will display data, allow for additions, deletions,
updates, will support record selection, etc.

I typically then add error logging, application logging, and a few other
minor features.

The only problem is it is a little labourious creating all the code for each
layer, and the stored procedures required, and the stored procedures for the
combo's also.

I am attempting to use .Net 2003's data adapter to generate some of the sql
for the updates and deletions, but I still have to hand write a reasonable
amount of the code myself.

Any thoughts?

Thanks in advance

Mark Breen
Ireland

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Mark,

Did you ever look at MS-Access, that is not written and maintained by one
man.

As well was the code for that not supported in a newsgroup.

I hope this gives an idea.

Cor

 

[Senthilkumar]

Hi,

There are atleast 2 third party softwares that come to mind

1. Deklarit - www.deklarit.co,
2. ComponentOne - www.componentone.com - DataObjects.

I have tried both of them, and found componentOne dataobjects very useful.

Hope this helps.

Senthil

 

[Mark L. Breen]

Hello Cor,

I have no idea what you mean with the two lines below, would you clarify if
you do not mind.?

Thanks in advance for your time

Mark

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Mark,

In my idea do you take a to difficult problem to solve.

It looks for me as MS Access, however with building and maintaincing that
product is a large Microsoft team busy.

That code is absolute not for free, people who build that, try to get a
living from that.

That was what I did mean with this.

Cor

 

[Mark L. Breen]

Hello Cor,

Yes, I agree with you, but....

what do we do when we start an application with 25 - 30 forms, most of them
similiar.

I have created (or at least I am in the process of creating) a standard bit
of code that handles this basic form handling,

I acknowledge, that I do not want to rebuild access, of course not. Also, I
acknoweldge that the more sophisticated I make the framework, the more
inflexible it becomes, however, it cannot be that I hand code each and every
form, so I am seeking a happy medium,

What do you think?

Mark

 

[Cor Ligthert [MVP]]

Mark,

For that is the inherited form

Try to do not to much on that however setting things as fontstyles, colors
etc is the least you can do.

You create a form and than you can use that by using the inherited form from
Add Items and it ask you what form should be used.

I tried to find an article for you on MSDN however could not find it fast.
Maybe can you search yourself for that. In fact it is reusing a form.

Cor

 

[Mark L. Breen]

Hello Cor,

Yes, that is something that I am considering, however, I still want to seek
the limitations of such an architecture, I am worried about building my
system with inderited forms and then finding that there is some property
that i wish to override and perhaps I cannot.

Mark