NEW TO VS: Multi Database Forms Referencing Help

85508707 21

I am new to Visual Studio and have the Community version. I'm currently attempting to create my very first database reference application working off a database for my job. I'm trying to make it so when an employee enters a number into one text field it searches 2 different databases and displays the corresponding information in a series of six other text boxes. I also want to create 2 small pie graphs representing our remake numbers on the products we use. This is a home project that I want to develop for possible use at my job if my boss likes it. I'm very new to VS but here is a list of what I have created so far.

VS Basic Forms .NetFramework 4.8 Project
Main Form Created/Scaled/Named
Six different Text Boxes and Labels all named to what they are and all fonts and styling complete
Auto Sized all aspects
Created and loaded 1 of 2 data sources (One is already made and used on a daily basis the other one will be made in this process I believe)
Organized the GUI to standards and all items placed
Added logos and some code options so when you click on the logos it shows info about the logos

This application is experimental and I'm not sure if it will even be used but I want some help on developing the references as I have no experience in creating data references.

The first thing I want to do is when a case number is entered in the first and only editable field by a scan gun acting as a keyboard it references the 2 databases (IE: if a person scans a barcode, the gun already converts it to text and enters it where your cursor is (In the text box that is editable). In this case an employee will scan a barcode that says "2021-1000" and that number will be entered into the text box. Then I want that number to reference info on the two databases and generate responses to the case number and display those in the other text boxes as well as calculate the pie charts.)

If anyone on here would want to help guide me through what all the data references mean and how to link one item to another I would appreciate the help. I'm not asking you to do this for me, just asking someone to help teach a new VS user how to operate and create effective programs for home and small businesses.

FYI: None of my applications I make will be used for monetary gain, I'm just really interested in creating cool applications that are simple and easy to use plus I like computers and never had an opportunity to get into application design.

Any help would be appreciated

Jack J Jun 24,286 Reputation points Microsoft Vendor

2021-11-19T05:32:43.663+00:00

@85508707 , Welcome to Microsoft Q&A,

Then I want that number to reference info on the two databases and generate responses to the case number and display those in the other text boxes as well as calculate the pie charts.)

What is the relationship between your two databases and the number? Can you give an example?

If anyone on here would want to help guide me through what all the data references mean and how to link one item to another I would appreciate the help. I'm not asking you to do this for me, just asking someone to help teach a new VS user how to operate and create effective programs for home and small businesses.

I am not full understand the data references you mentioned. Do you mean that you want some code to connect to the database and get data from the database?
85508707 21 Reputation points

2021-11-19T14:08:31.057+00:00

Jack,

We use case numbers to identify cases and pull information for those cases through a program. That program references the data that it creates against it's own database (like any application does) but the database is also able to be accessed and referenced by other applications such as UPS WorldShip. That allows us to ship these cases and the tracking numbers get written back to the database at the end of each day.

The program we use to reference all the information currently is a program that displays data in a window called case info as well as a series of other windows with other info. Not all of our employees have access to this software because it requires licenses as well as complete computers running windows to run this program.

What I am doing is trying to design a simple program to use on windows based tablets that allows us to enter the case number in a text box (Or other entry field) and the program be used to pull information from the database and display it in a format that our employees can use.

I also want it to be able to reference another database that we will build using the same information but pull info for fields that our current database does not have.

If you would like to talk further I can email or DM you a video of what I have done so far and where I'm at currently.

Please note that I am not a software engineer and I currently do not understand how most things work but I want to learn.
85508707 21 Reputation points

2021-11-19T18:49:38.7+00:00

Jack,

I found additional information online and was able to figure out a few more things. One thing I figured out is that SQL Server Object Explorer from the SDDT plugin was not showing me all my connections and tables or views. I used regular Server Explorer to connect to the database. Once I added the database in that I had to "turn on" the connection and now both Server Explorer and SQL Server Object Explorer show my tables and views. SQL Object Explorer did not show all the tables before. The data I need to reference is not in the tables section like I thought though. The tables section list out the headers for the tables in the program we currently use on a daily basis (The one only certain people have the equipment for) but the information I want to reference is actually in the views folder under various places.

I guess my question now is how do I use a text box input (Case Number: Input the case number via text) on the Form to retrieve the corresponding data from the views fields and display them in different text boxes?

I want to enter a case number in the input text box, then it pull the associated data for that case number and display the data throughout a series of other text boxes.

I tried to attach pictures but it would not let me submit with pictures attached.

Accepted answer

Karen Payne MVP 35,031 Reputation points

2021-11-19T21:19:18.87+00:00

My recommendation would be to use Entity Framework 6 since you are using .NET Framework 4.8. If you were using .NET Core I would then recommend Entity Framework Core 5.

There are many benefits to Entity Framework (any version) but also will take time to get the hang of it. The best thing is once you have configured Entity Framework using database first with code is if anything changes in the tables from table names to column names to data types you can regenerate the models (models = tables),

Going another path, using data providers rather than Entity Framework is a possibility yet I would not go in that direction unless you really understand how to code with data providers. I've done both and after Entity Framework find if hard to go back to data providers.

Concerning searching two databases, if on the same server with same configurations that is easy while if data is different between the two databases, still easy but a tad more coding (and we here all like coding)

Regarding I can email or DM you a video that is unwise to share your email here. If you happen to know how to use Visual Studio Live Share than that is a better option.

In regards to showing information in TextBox and other controls there is data binding.
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85508707 21 Reputation points

2021-11-19T22:10:58.17+00:00

Karen,

I am not familiar with Entity Framework or data entry of any kind. I'm actually brand new to this type of stuff. I have always messed with computers and software in a very basic way but never anything like designing, coding and building software.

Currently there is only 1 database {Evolution Database} which gives me the case information such as case number, doctor name, patient name, ship date, due date and product information for what they want on that case but I have no idea how to reference that information. I can see the tables and the actual info in data view but how to get it to display where I can see it is what's confusing me. I have tried binding but my problem now is that I need to be able to control the bound data and be able to switch from one case and info on that case to the next one by entering the case number in one text box and displaying the results in different ones as well as labels. I switched to labels on a couple things and binding shows some data but not all my binds show up/show data.

I'm aware of Visual Studio Live Share and have a session going right now just to see if it works. It does and I have a link currently generated so that is very helpful. I hope that maybe someone will be kind enough to show me what I'm missing at some point.

I also installed Entity Framework 6 using the NuGet Package Install Method.

I greatly appreciate your help. If you would like to help further in collaboration I would definitely appreciate it but you do not have to. You have helped greatly already.

Thank you again Karen

Karen Payne MVP 35,031 Reputation points

2021-11-19T22:29:22.453+00:00

Not being familiar with data entry of any kind means you need to take a step back out of code.

Your first task is to learn how to work with SQL, if using SQL-Server get SQL-Server Management Studio (if MS-Access you need to get away from it) and learn how to work with tables and queries. If you bypass this and stay with code I guarantee this will not go well (knowing this from helping developers for over 20 years).

In regards to binding, without a code sample to give you (because it may be with no disrespect may be appear complex to you yet with experience will become super simple).

What you are trying to do should start off with small practice project, learn a section at a time rather than in your project and learn how to write unit test also.

If you would like to help further in collaboration

I don't have time to get into this, tomorrow I'm moving and time is limited over the next week.

85508707 21 Reputation points

2021-11-20T02:15:46.327+00:00

Karen,

While I appreciate your willingness to consider helping me, I should have been more clear and I apologize for that. I did not mean to imply helping me right then or there or even at all. I do appreciate you being willing to think about it though. Thank you!

Yes you are correct. I do need to learn the basics first and I knew I would have trouble going into this. If you have any suggestions for good reads or videos (I am more of a visual learner) I would appreciate them.

I am currently in the process of downloading and installing SQL-Server Management Studio as you suggested. Thank you for that.

While I do have the Microsoft 365 suite I do not use access or at least I haven't yet. As per your experience and suggestion I will steer clear of it as well.

Do you have any examples of what working with sections and small projects would be like? I have found several tutorials online for relations and database projects using text box referencing but they all seem to use c# or JavaScript coding more than any queries and relations building in a visual environment.

Karen Payne MVP 35,031 Reputation points

2021-11-20T03:18:00.497+00:00

In regards to samples, browse through my 200 plus repositories. None of them are to be considered complete applications but instead each one targets a specific topic.

Some random samples

https://github.com/karenpayneoregon/NorthWind-2020

https://github.com/karenpayneoregon/efcore-datagridview-ToBindingList

https://github.com/karenpayneoregon/ef-core-findall-cs

https://github.com/karenpayneoregon/data-binding-win-forms

For visual learning check out Pluralsight, it happens to be free today through Sunday so I highly suggest check it out, great tools for learning.

Saurabh Sharma 23,671 Reputation points Microsoft Employee

2021-11-30T19:19:01.7+00:00

@85508707 Please let us know if you find above reply useful. If yes, do click on 'Mark as answer' link in above reply. This will help other community members facing similar query to refer to this solution. Thanks.
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NEW TO VS: Multi Database Forms Referencing Help

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