LABORATORY 4.

USING XML FILE

Watts A Loan (XML)

Data entry is probably the most important aspect of a database. Without data, there is
nothing to do with a database. In this application, we explore some of the details of
assisting a user with data entry. The various issues include unique values, data types, Page | 1
or default values, etc.

Watts A Loan is a fictitious company that lends money to individuals. The amounts
can be small to cover cash need or higher for car purchase. The money can be given
directly to a customer or through a store (furniture store or musical instrument store,
etc.).

Practical Learning: Introduction to the Application

1. Start Microsoft Visual Basic and create a Windows Application

named WattsALoan1
2. To create a new form, in the Solution Explorer, right-click WattsALoan1 ->
Add -> Windows Forms...
3. Set the Name to LoanAllocations and click Add
4. From the Data section of the Toolbox, click DataSet and click the form
5. Select the Untyped Dataset radio button and click OK
6. In the Properties window, change the following characteristics:
DataSetName: LoanAllocations
(Name): dsLoanAllocations
7. Click Tables and click its ellipsis button
8. To create a new table, click Add and change the properties as follows:
TableName: Loan
(Name): tblLoan
9. Click Columns and click its ellipsis button
10. Click Add 10 times and change the properties as follows:

ColumnName (Name)
DateAllocated colDateAllocated
LoanNumber colLoanNumber
PreparedBy colPreparedBy
PreparedFor colPreparedFor
Principal colPrincipal
InterestRate colInterestRate

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LABORATORY 4. USING XML FILE

Periods colPeriods
InterestEarned colInterestEarned
FutureValue colFutureValue
MonthlyPayment colMonthlyPayment
Page | 2
Practical Learning: Controlling the Uniqueness of a Column

1. In the Members list, click LoanNumber

2. In the Properties list, double-click Unique to change its value to True

Practical Learning: Applying Data Types on Columns

1. In the Members list, click Principal

2. In the Properties list, click DataType, click the arrow of its combo box and
select System.Double
3. In the same way, change the data types of the following columns:

Member DataType
DateAllocated System.DateTime
LoanNumber System.String
PreparedBy System.String
PreparedFor System.String
Principal System.Double
InterestRate System.Double
Periods System.Double
InterestEarned System.Double
FutureValue System.Double
MonthlyPayment System.Double

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LABORATORY 4. USING XML FILE

Practical Learning: Applying Data Types on Columns

1. In the Members list, click Principal

2. In the Properties list, click DefaultValue and delete <DBNull>
3. Type 0.00 Page | 3
4. In the same way, change the default values of the following columns:

Member DefaultValue
Principal 0.00
InterestRate 8.75
Periods 36

Practical Learning: Creating Expressions on Columns

1. In the Members list, click FutureValue

2. In the Properties list, click Expression and type Principal + InterestEarned
3. In the same way, change the data types of the following columns:

Member Expression
InterestEarned Principal * (InterestRate / 100) * (Periods / 12)
FutureValue Principal + InterestEarned
MonthlyPayment FutureValue / Periods

Practical Learning: Nullifying a Column

1. In the Members list, click DateAllocated

2. In the Properties list, double-click the value of the AllowDBNull field to set it
to False
3. In the Members list, click LoanNumber
4. In the Properties list, double-click the value of the AllowDBNull field to set it
to False
5. Click Close and click Close
6. To create a new form, in the Solution Explorer, right-click WattsALoan1 ->
Add -> Windows Forms...
7. Set the Name to Employees and click Add
8. From the Data section of the Toolbox, click DataSet and click the form
9. Select the Untyped Dataset radio button and click OK

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10. In the Properties window, change the following characteristics:

DataSetName: Employees
(Name): dsEmployees
11. Click Tables and click its ellipsis button
12. To create a new table, click Add and change the properties as follows: Page | 4
TableName: Employee
(Name): tblEmployee
13. Click Columns and click its ellipsis button
14. Click Add 5 times and change the properties as follows:

AllowDBN DefaultVa Expressi Uniq

ColumnName DataType (Name)
ull lue on ue
EmployeeNu colEmployeeNu
False True
mber mber
FirstName colFirstName
False LastName colLastName
LastNa
me + ', '
FullName + colFullName
FirstNa
me
Title colTitle
System.Dou
HourlySalary 8.75 colHourlySalary
ble

15. Click Close and click Close

16. Design the form as follows:

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Page | 5

Control Text Name Other Properties

DataSource: dsEmployees
DataGridView dgvEmployees
DataMember: Employee
Button Close btnClose
Data Grid Columns

DataPropertyName HeaderText Width

EmployeeNumber Empl # 65
FirstName First Name 65
LastName Last Name 65
FullName Full Name 120
Title 110
HourlySalary Salary/hr 60

17. Right-click the Employees form and click View Code

18. Above the Public Class Employees line, import the System.IO namespace
Imports System.IO

Public Class Employees

End Class

19. In the Class Name combo box, select (Employees Events)

20. In the Method Name combo box, select Load and implement the event as
follows:

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Imports System.IO

Public Class Employees

Private Sub EmployeesLoad(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles Me.Load Page | 6
Dim Filename As String = "employees.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsEmployees.ReadXml(Filename)
End If
End Sub
End Class

21. In the Method Name combo box, select FormClosing and implement the event
as follows:
Private Sub EmployeesFormClosing(ByVal sender As Object,
ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs)
Handles Me.FormClosing
dsEmployees.WriteXml("employees.xml")
End Sub

22. In the Class Name combo box, select btnClose

23. In the Method Name combo box, select Click and implement the event as
follows:
Private Sub btnCloseClick(ByVal sender As Object,
ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles btnClose.Click
Close()
End Sub

24. Return to the form

25. Under the form, right-click dsEmployees and click Copy
26. Display the LoanAllocations form
27. Right-click it and click Paste
28. To create a new form, in the Solution Explorer, right-click WattsALoan1 ->
Add -> Windows Forms...
29. Set the Name to Customers and click Add
30. From the Data section of the Toolbox, click DataSet and click the form
31. Select the Untyped Dataset radio button and click OK
32. In the Properties window, change the following characteristics:
DataSetName: Customers

(Name): dsCustomers

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33. Click Tables and click its ellipsis button

34. To create a new table, click Add and change the properties as follows:
TableName: Customer
(Name): tblCustomer
35. Click Columns and click its ellipsis button Page | 7
36. Click Add 5 times and change the properties as follows:

AllowDBNull ColumnName Unique (Name)

False AccountNumber True colAccountNumber
False FullName colFullName
EmailAddress colEmailAddress
PhoneNumber colPhoneNumber

37. Click Close and click Close

38. Design the form as follows:

Control Text Name Other Properties

DataSource: dsCustomers
DataGridView dgvCustomers
DataMember: Customer
Button Close btnClose

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Data Grid Columns

DataPropertyName HeaderText Width

AccountNumber Account # 65 Page | 8
FullName Full Name 120
EmailAddress Email Address 120
PhoneNumber Phone # 90

39. Right-click the Employees form and click View Code

40. Above the Public Class Customers line, import the System.IO namespace
Imports System.IO

Public Class Customers

End Class

41. In the Class Name combo box, select (Customers Events)

42. In the Method Name combo box, select Load and implement the event as
follows:
Imports System.IO

Public Class Customers

Private Sub CustomersLoad(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles Me.Load
Dim Filename As String = "customers.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsCustomers.ReadXml(Filename)
End If
End Sub
End Class

43. In the Method Name combo box, select FormClosing and implement the event
as follows:
Private Sub CustomersFormClosing(ByVal sender As Object,
ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs)
Handles Me.FormClosing
dsCustomers.WriteXml("customers.xml")
End Sub

44. In the Class Name combo box, select btn Close

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45. In the Method Name combo box, select Click and implement the event as
follows:
Private Sub btnCloseClick(ByVal sender As Object,
ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles btnClose.Click Page | 9
Close()
End Sub

46. Return to the form

47. Under the form, right-click dsCustomers and click Copy
48. Display the LoanAllocations form
49. Right-click it and click Paste
50. Design the form as follows:

Control Text Name Other Properties

DataSource: dsCustomers
DataGridView dgvCustomers
DataMember: Customer
Button Close btnClose

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LABORATORY 4. USING XML FILE

Data Grid Columns

DefaultCellStyle
DataPropertyName HeaderText Width
-> Format
Date Page | 10
DateAllocated Date Time
Allocated
LoanNumber Loan # 65
ColumnType:
DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
Prepared
PreparedBy 110 DataSource: dsEmployees
By
DisplayMember:
Employee.EmployeeNumber
ColumnType:
DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
Prepared
PreparedFor 110 DataSource: dsCustomers
For
DisplayMember:
Customer.AccountNumber
Principal 70 Currency
InterestRate Rate (%) 65 Numeric
Prd
Periods 65 Numeric
(Months)
Interest
InterestEarned Currency
Earned
Future
FutureValue Currency
Value
MonthlyPayment Pmt/Month Currency

51. Right-click the Employees form and click View Code

52. Above the Public Class LoanAllocations line, import the System.IO namespace

Imports System.IO

Public Class LoanAllocations

End Class

53. In the Class Name combo box, select (LoanAllocations Events)

54. In the Method Name combo box, select Load and implement the event as
follows:

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LABORATORY 4. USING XML FILE

Private Sub LoanAllocationsLoad(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles Me.Load
Dim Filename As String = "employees.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsEmployees.ReadXml(Filename) Page | 11
End If

Filename = "customers.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsCustomers.ReadXml(Filename)
End If

Filename = "loans.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsLoanAllocations.ReadXml(Filename)
End If
End Sub

55. In the Method Name combo box, select FormClosing and implement the event
as follows:

Private Sub LoanAllocationsFormClosing(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs)
Handles Me.FormClosing
dsLoanAllocations.WriteXml("loans.xml")
End Sub

56. In the Class Name combo box, select btn Close

57. In the Method Name combo box, select Click and implement the event as
follows:

Private Sub btnCloseClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles btnClose.Click
Close()
End Sub

58. To create a new form, in the Solution Explorer, right-click WattsALoan1 ->
Add -> Windows Forms...
59. Set the Name to Payments and click Add
60. Display the Employees form
61. Right-click dsEmployees and click Copy
62. Display the Payments form

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63. Right-click it and click Paste

64. Display the LoanAllocations form
65. Right-click dsLoanAllocations and click Copy
66. Display the Payments form
67. Right-click it and click Paste Page | 12
68. From the Data section of the Toolbox, click DataSet and click the Payments
form
69. Select the Untyped Dataset radio button and click OK
70. In the Properties window, change the following characteristics:
DataSetName: Payments
(Name): dsPayments
71. Click Tables and click its ellipsis button
72. To create a new table, click Add and change the properties as follows:
TableName: Payment
(Name): tblPayment
73. Click Columns and click its ellipsis button
74. Click Add 6 times and change the properties as follows:

AllowDBN ColumnNam DefaultVa Expressi Uniq

DataType (Name)
ull e lue on ue
PaymentNum colPaymentNu
False True
ber mber
System.DateT colPaymentDat
False PaymentDate
ime e
False ReceivedBy colReceivedBy
False PaymentFor colPaymentFor
PaymentAmo System.Doubl colPaymentAm
False 0.00
unt e ount
System.Doubl
Balance 0.00 colBalance
e

75. Click Close and click Close

76. Design the form as follows:

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Page | 13

Control Text Name Other Properties

DataSource: dsPayments
DataGridView dgvPayments
DataMember: Payment
Button Loans... btnLoans
Button Close btnClose
Data Grid Columns

DefaultCellStyle
DataPropertyName HeaderText Width
-> Format
PaymentNumber Pmt # 55
PaymentDate Pmt Date 70 Date Time
ColumnType:
DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
Received
ReceivedBy DataSource: dsEmployees
By
DisplayMember:
Employee.EmployeeNumber
ColumnType:
DataGridViewComboBoxColumn
Payment
PaymentFor DataSource: dsLoanAllocations
For
DisplayMember:
Loan.LoanNumber
PaymentAmount Pmt Amt 70 Currency
Balance 80 Currency

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77. Right-click the Employees form and click View Code

78. Above the Public Class Payments line, import the System.IO namespace

Imports System.IO
Page | 14
Public Class Payments

End Class

79. In the Class Name combo box, select (Payments Events)

80. In the Method Name combo box, select Load and implement the event as
follows:

Private Sub PaymentsLoad(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles Me.Load
Dim Filename As String = "employees.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsEmployees.ReadXml(Filename)
End If

Filename = "loans.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsLoanAllocations.ReadXml(Filename)
End If

Filename = "payments.xml"

If File.Exists(Filename) Then
dsPayments.ReadXml(Filename)
End If
End Sub

81. In the Method Name combo box, select FormClosing and implement the event
as follows:

Private Sub PaymentsFormClosing(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.Windows.Forms.FormClosingEventArgs)
Handles Me.FormClosing
dsPayments.WriteXml("payments.xml")
End Sub

82. In the Class Name combo box, select btnLoans

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83. In the Method Name combo box, select Click and implement the event as
follows:

Private Sub btnLoansClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Page | 15
Handles btnLoans.Click
Dim frmLoans As LoanAllocations = New LoanAllocations
frmLoans.Show()
End Sub

84. In the Class Name combo box, select btn Close

85. In the Method Name combo box, select Click and implement the event as
follows:

Private Sub btnCloseClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles btnClose.Click
Close()
End Sub

86. In the Solution Explorer, right-click Form1.vb and click Rename

87. Type Central.vb and press Enter twice to display the form
88. Design the form as follows:

Control Text Name

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Button ... btnPayments

Label Loan Payments lblPayments
Button ... btnAllocations
Label Loan Allocations lblAllocations
Page | 16
Button ... btnCustomers
Label Customers lblCustomers
Button ... btnEmployees
Label Employees lblEmployees
Button Close btnClose

89. Right-click the form and click View Code

90. Create the following events:

Public Class Central

Private Sub PaymentClick(ByVal sender As Object,
ByVal e As EventArgs)
Handles btnPayments.Click,
lblPayments.Click
Dim frmPayments As Payments = New Payments
frmPayments.ShowDialog()
End Sub

Private Sub LoanAllocationsClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As EventArgs)
Handles
btnLoanAllocations.Click,
lblLoanAllocations.Click
Dim frmLoans As LoanAllocations = New LoanAllocations
frmLoans.ShowDialog()
End Sub

Private Sub CustomersClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As EventArgs)
Handles btnCustomers.Click,
lblCustomers.Click
Dim frmClients As Customers = New Customers
frmClients.ShowDialog()
End Sub

Private Sub EmployeesClick(ByVal sender As Object,

ByVal e As EventArgs)
Handles btnEmployees.Click,
lblEmployees.Click
Dim frmStaff As Employees = New Employees
frmStaff.ShowDialog()
End Sub

Private Sub btnCloseClick(ByVal sender As Object,

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ByVal e As System.EventArgs)
Handles btnClose.Click
End
End Sub
End Class

Page | 17
91. Execute the application
92. Click the Employees label and create the following records:

Employee # First Name Last Name Title Salary/hr

7973-45 Bernard Wallow Account Manager 24.85
2497-94 Justine Bogley Sales Representative 12.75
2930-75 Nestor Rosenblatt Sales Representative 14.25

93.

94. Close the form

95. Click the Customers label and create the following records:

Account # Full Name Email Address Phone Number

937-497 Joan Fairbanks fairbie1288@hotmail.com (301) 937-5888
293-759 Ernie Lipps ernie.rowdie@comcast.net (703) 506-0000
502-850 Christopher Owens owenchris@yahoo.com (202) 529-6100
520-840 Ann Rowdy rowdiant@msn.com (301) 855-2090
602-475 Sarah Thompson lolitta448@yahoo.com (301) 870-7454

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Page | 18

96. Close the form

97. Click the Loan Allocations label and create the following records:

Date Prepared Prepared Rate Prd

Loan # Principal
Allocated By For (%) (Months)
08/18/06 52-9739-5 2497-94 937-497 6500 16.25
10/26/2006 20-5804-8 7973-45 602-475 3260
02/06/07 77-3907-2 2497-94 502-850 25605 12.50 60
03/20/07 92-7495-4 2930-75 293-759 14800 48

98.

99. Close the form

100. Click the Loan Payments label and create the following records:

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Payment
Pmt # Pmt Date Received By Pmt Amt Balance
For
1001 10/25/06 2497-94 52-9739-5 268.58 9400.17
1002 11/30/06 2930-75 52-9739-5 268.58 9131.59
1003 12/24/2006 7973-45 20-5804-8 114.33 4001.42 Page | 19
1004 12/28/06 2497-94 52-9739-5 268.58 8863.01
1005 01/26/07 2497-94 20-5804-8 114.33 3887.09
1006 01/31/07 2930-75 52-9739-5 268.58 8594.43
1007 02/20/07 2497-94 20-5804-8 114.33 3772.76
1008 03/02/07 2930-75 52-9739-5 268.58 8325.85
1009 03/25/2007 2930-75 20-5804-8 114.33 3658.43
1010 04/25/07 7973-45 92-7495-4 416.25 19563.75
1011 04/28/07 2497-94 77-3907-2 693.47 40914.66
1012 04/28/07 7973-45 20-5804-8 114.33 3544.10
1013 05/01/07 7973-45 52-9739-5 268.58 8057.27
1014 05/26/07 2497-94 77-3907-2 693.47 40221.19

101. Close the forms and return to your programming environment

Prepared By: Darwin Vargas