CHAPTER EIGHT

Accessing Data
Processing Databases

8- 2

Introduction
Data is efficiently managed by storing them in
files on disk.
Data files and programs are separate.
The program does not need to be modified when
the data changes.
Different programs can share the same data
sets.

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8- 3

Introduction (cont.)
Most businesses organize their data into
databases.
A database is an organizes collection of data.
A database management system (DBMS) is a
program that is used to create and maintain
databases.
Visual Basic .NET provides tools for developers
to access databases from their programs.

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8- 4

Objectives
Understand and use relational databases.
Understand a subset of the ADO.NET object
model.
Apply the ADO.NET object model within Visual
Basic .NET to access databases.
Use the properties and methods of the DataGrid
control to display record from a DataSet.

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8- 5

Objectives (cont.)
Write SQL Select queries to extract data from a
database.
Bind controls such as TextBoxes and Labels to a
DataSet.
Create Master/Detail DataSets.
Use several tools within Visual Basic .NET to
manage and use databases.

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8- 6

8.1 A Relational Database Primer

Entities and Relationships
Every database contains:
Entities anything of interest to a business.
Relationships real-world associations between
entities.

Database developers often use an entityrelationship diagram (ERD).

To document a databases structure.
Symbols are used to designate relationships
between entities.
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8.1 A Relational Database Primer (cont.)

Relational Database Tables
A relational database stores the data for each
entity in a table with rows and columns.
Compatible with Visual Basic .NET.
A key field guarantees the uniqueness of records.
A combination key is a key field with a
combination of two or more fields.

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8.1 A Relational Database Primer (cont.)

One-to-Many Relationships
Established by placing the key field of the one
entitys table into the many entitys table as a
foreign key.

Many-to-Many Relationships
Constructed by creating a new table with the key
fields from related tables.

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8.1 A Relational Database Primer (cont.)

Normalized Databases
Normalization is a process used to eliminate or
reduce data redundancy.
Designers must determine which tables to place
information in.
A table should be in third normal form.

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8.1 A Relational Database Primer (cont.)

Database Queries
Most relational database systems use a query
language called structured query language
(SQL).
To specify how to combine data in related tables.
To specify how to select only the desired data.

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8.2 An Introduction to ADO.NET

Visual Basic .NET uses ADO.NET to manage

data in a database.
ADO.NET (ActiveX Data Objects) uses an
extensive set of classes to manage data.
This chapter covers the foundations of ADO.NET.
Also we will cover some of the wizards and tools
provided to work with relational databases.

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8.2 An Introduction to ADO.NET (cont.)

An Overview of ADO.NET
A DataProvider object directly interacts with a
database and its DBMS.
A Connection object makes the physical
connection to the database.
A DataSet class holds the actual data.
User interface components work directly with the
DataSet.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

Data Access Using the DataGrid Control
Provides a method of displaying records from a
database in a grid-like manner.
Building the DataAdapter
Create a DataAdapter by a wizard.

Building the DataSet

Follow the procedure to create a DataSet.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Adding the DataGrid
Follow the procedure to add a DataGrid to the
form.
Set the DataGrid properties to connect it to the
DataAdapter and DataSet.
Found on the Windows Form tab in the Toolbox.
Will display fields specified in the SQL Select
statement.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
The DataGrid Control
Designed to display the data stored in a DataSet.
An expander allows navigation from a parent
table to a child table.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Properties
AllowSorting
AlternatingBackColor
BackColor
BackgroundColor
BorderStyle
CaptionBackColor
CaptionFont
CaptionForeColor
CaptionText
CaptionVisible
ColumnHeadersVisible
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CurrentCell
CurrentRowIndex
DataMember
DataSource
Enabled
FirstVisibleColumn
ForeColor
GridLineColor
GridLineStyle
HeaderBackColor
HeaderFont

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Properties (cont.)
HeaderForeColor
ParentRowsBackColor
ParentRowsForeColor
ParentRowsVisible
PreferredColumnWidth
ReadOnly
RowHeadersVisible
RowHeaderWidth
SelectionBackColor
SelectionForeColor

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Methods

Collapse(row)
Expand(row)
IsExpanded(row)
IsSelected(row)
Select(row)
SetDataBinding(dataSourceObject,
dataMemberString)
UnSelect(row)

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Updating a Table
ADO.NET provides support for table update.
Changes in the DataGrid can be relayed back to
the original source data.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Parameterized Queries
Users will often want to specify information that
will determine the results of a query.
A parameter of a query could be a zipcode.

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8.3 Using ADO.NET with Visual Basic .NET

(cont.)
Master/Detail Record Display
Here we examine a DataSet that includes two
tables related to a common field.
A master/detail DataSet is a dataset with more
than one table.
Each master record is related to zero or more
records from the second table.
Parent and child terms may refer to master and
detail records.
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8.4 Additional Visual Basic .NET Database

Tools
We look at using the Server to work with
databases.
We show how to add a data connection to the
server.
The data connection will be used to create a
data adapter and data set.

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Chapter Summary
A database is an organized collection of data
and relationships that describe entities of
interest to a business.
An entity-relationship diagram (ERD)
documents entities and their relationships.
Visual Basic .NET supports the relational
database approach for organizing data.
Normalization is process used to minimize
data redundancy.
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Chapter Summary (cont.)

Visual Basic .NET uses ADO.NET to access and
manage databases.
The DataGrid control is a control that can be
bound to a specific dataset.
Parameterized queries provide for the ability to
determine how records will be selected at run
time.
Many of Visual Basic .NETs controls can be
bound to a dataset and its fields.
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Chapter Summary (cont.)

ADO.NET supports master/detail record
relationships.
The Server Explorer provides access and
management tools for connections and servers.

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