newby sample vb.net application

[Tony Epton]

I'm coming from MS access and trying to get started in
vb.net.

I have been searching and searching for a simple complete
sample database application with source code - eg a very
simple accounting package or asset register - something
with a few input screens, menu and some reports - so I can
maybe skip over a few cycles of trial and error - and
start producing reasonably professional code immediately -
ie good naming conventions, good coding practices.

Al the sample I have found so far are very specific little
snippets - eg how to use a data grid.

Can anyone point me to a good comprehensive sample please.
Many thanks in advance - Tony.

 

[One Handed Man [ OHM ]]

Tony,
The best newsgroup to help you on this is the
microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.adonet ng.

ADO.NET is part of the .NET framwork and handles the access to SQL/Access
databases etc. Essentially, there are several elements to this connection.

The Connection Class ( in your case OLEDBConnection )
The OLEDBDataAdapter ( That which interfaces between the DataSet you pull
the data into/out of
The DataSet ( The repository which holds dataTables and Relationships etc.

The DataSet is then bound to the DataGrid by setting its datasource thus.

This is a tough one to get your head around at first, but you need to play
with it and experiement. I suggest you look on the MSDN library, there are
several topics on it. Also I recommend you go out and buy a book and read up
on the concept. You will spend HOURS AND DAYS AND WEEKS messing about with
this before you get it locked down.


Good Luck

 

[Tony Epton]

The best newsgroup to help you on this is the
microsoft.public.dotnet.framework.adonet ng.

Thanks - I'll go and ask the same question there

I guess what I am thinking of is something like the "Northwind"
example in MS Access or even the "Application Wizard" - that build a
simple but complete Asset register application for example.

Normally I don't use wizards in MS Access - I prefer to hand code and
understand what I'm doing - but these wizards generate applications
that are quite robust, show some good coding standards and are a
starting point for more sophisticated applications. I've maintained
quite a few simple MS Access applications written by other programmers
where it was pretty obvious that this was their starting point - they
were cheap and cheerful and did the job well.

Also they pull together about 30 or 40 different coding concepts and
presented them as a coherent whole.

What I am finding when I search for examples in VB.net is handy little
snippets for, say, binding a datagrid to an SQL table.
But nothing that presents an entire application with several input
forms, a menu and some reports.
I'm not afraid of doing all this work myself - but the other day I
found a tutorial on about 12 different ways of opening and closing
forms ... If there are that many permutations of an element as basic
as opening a form - how many total permutations will I go through
before reaching something that is commercially solid ?
Ah well - I guess I'm in for a long haul ;-)

Also I recommend you go out and buy a book and read up
on the concept.

Yes - I'm thinking it's time I lashed out and spent the money on a
book - maybe I can find one with a nice example of a complete
commercial application on the CD. Can anyone suggest a good book like
this ?

You will spend HOURS AND DAYS AND WEEKS messing about with
this before you get it locked down.

Yes - I know I am facing a huge learning curve here.
Thanks a lot for the reply

Tony

My counsellor told me I must learn to live in the present.
Well I'm halfway there - I can't remember what I did yesterday.