VB.NET / Access 2000 App

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Guest

I have a sweet application developed in MS Access 2000, but need to
re-develop it in VB.NET to completely hide Access and make it a wee bit more
user-friendly.

I've developed MS Access/VB 5 applications in the past, but this VB.NET is a
whole new beast. How does one gain simple access to the database - other
than that butt-ugly Data Grid? I've been using Wrox's Beginning VB.NET, but
could sure use some suggestions on better reference materials.

Thnaks in advance for advice and kindness!
 
Over the long term, you're best bet is learning SQL (inserts, updates) and
the DataReader. I have yet to see a data-bound control that wasn't more
hassle than it was worth.
 
I've had to stay with and struggle using the DataGrid on more than a few
dozen occasions, but there are third party controls which I'm told are
pretty good. the OP should do a search on this.

I think Cor has used one or two, so he may have some comments on this.

Cheers
 
I can't find reference in VS.Net to the DataReader. Is it like Infragistics
- something extra you have to buy?

It seems quite odd that developers are forced to purchase third party
solutions to what VS.Net can't do by itself. (Or have I completely
misunderstood?)
 
the DataReader is part of ADO.NET
roy_ware said:
I can't find reference in VS.Net to the DataReader. Is it like Infragistics
- something extra you have to buy?

It seems quite odd that developers are forced to purchase third party
solutions to what VS.Net can't do by itself. (Or have I completely
misunderstood?)
Click to expand...
 
well vb 2005 is slightly better.

roy_ware said:
I can't find reference in VS.Net to the DataReader. Is it like
Infragistics
- something extra you have to buy?

It seems quite odd that developers are forced to purchase third party
solutions to what VS.Net can't do by itself. (Or have I completely
misunderstood?)
Click to expand...
 
Roy,

Why use a datagrid when you can use nice controls which you can bind to a
datatable as you want to do it real nice?

You can use for that the labels, textbox, combobox, datetimepicker etc etc.
(Not all).

Here a little sample what has in fact everything in it beside the getting it
from and updating it to the database

\\\needs a combobox and a textbox on a form
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
'This beneath you normally will get using a dataadapter
Dim ds As New DataSet
Dim dt As New DataTable
ds.Tables.Add(dt)
dt.Columns.Add("Id")
dt.Columns.Add("City")
dt.LoadDataRow(New Object() {"1", "Amsterdam"}, True)
dt.LoadDataRow(New Object() {"2", "London"}, True)
dt.LoadDataRow(New Object() {"3", "Paris"}, True)

'Here start the sample
ComboBox1.DataSource = ds.Tables(0)
'This above tells what table is used from the dataset
ComboBox1.DisplayMember = "Id"
'This tells what is displayed in the combobox
Dim cma As CurrencyManager _
= DirectCast(BindingContext(ds.Tables(0)), CurrencyManager)
'this keeps track of the current rows in the table
TextBox1.DataBindings.Add(New Binding("Text", ds.Tables(0), "City"))
'this tells what field of the dataset is used in the textbox.Text
End Sub
///

I hope this helps,

Cor
 
Hi Roy

This is from experience of a similar situation. vb 2003 is not that easy
specially due to a steep learning curve and even when you know it there is a
lot of coding. It just eats into man-hours. What I would strongly suggest is
to wait till vs2005 (expected around sept at the moment). If you can't wait
then start playing with vs2005 beta 2 to learn which you would have to do
anyway with vs2003. Then may be there is another ctp in a couple of months
which is stable enough to be used for actual development.

Regards
 
Precisely what I needed to know!!!

Can you recommend a book to help me learn this in more detail? I found a
book published by Wrox - Beginning VB.Net Databases - that seems to be a
fairly good primer, but my application is fairly advanced.
 
That's a good idea, but unfortunately, I can't afford to upgrade any further
at this time!

I maintain my software levels myself, doing some programming to keep my
hands busy so that one day I can get a job programming again!
 
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