Data Access (How Do I in Visual Basic)
This page provides links to help about widely used Visual Basic data tasks. To view other categories of popular tasks covered in Help, see How Do I in Visual Basic.
In General
What's New in Data
Provides information and links to new data features for client data applications.Getting Started with Data Access
Provides links to topics on creating applications that work with data, using Visual Studio.Creating Data Applications by Using Visual Studio
Describes the process of creating a data application in Visual Studio.Walkthrough: Creating a Simple Data Application
Provides step-by-step instruction for creating a basic data access application.Object Relational Designer (O/R Designer)
Provides links to topics about how to create a LINQ to SQL object model in applications.LINQ to SQL
Provides information about LINQ to SQL. Includes programming examples.N-Tier Data Applications
Provides links to topics about how to create multitiered data applications.Occasionally Connected Applications
Provides links to topics that describe how to incorporate Microsoft Synchronization Services for ADO.NET into applications that enable synchronization of data between local and remote data.Data Access for Visual Basic 6.0 Users
Describes changes to data access and data toolsADO.NET
Provides links to topics that explain the data access features in the .NET Framework.Local Data Overview
Describes the features in Visual Studio for working with SQL Server Express and Access databases.Using SQL Server Compact 3.5 (Visual Studio)
Provides links to topics about how to manage data by using SQL Server Compact 3.5 with Visual Studio.Object Binding in Visual Studio
Describes the features in Visual Studio for binding data to objects.Data in Office Solutions
Contains links to topics that explain how data works in Office solutions.Working with Data in Managed Device Projects
Describes how to manage data for devices in Visual Studio.
Display Data on Windows Forms
Displaying Data Overview
Describes the process of displaying data on Windows Forms.Data Sources Window
Describes how to create data-bound forms by dragging items from the Data Sources Window.How to: Bind Data to Existing Controls
Describes how to bind an existing control to a specific field of data.How to: Display Data in a Windows Forms DataGridView Control
Describes how to present data in a DataGridView on a Windows Form.How to: Display Data in Individual Windows Forms Controls
Describes how to present data in individual controls on a Windows Form.How to: Display Related Data in a Windows Application
Describes how to present data from related tables in a dataset on a Windows Form.How to: Add a Parameterized Query to a Form in a Windows Application
Describes how to modify an existing Windows Form to include controls to input parameters and execute a query.How to: Set the Control to be Created when Dragging from the Data Sources Window
Describes how to set the control that will be created when dragging items from the Data Sources Window onto a Windows Form.How to: Add Custom Controls to the Data Sources Window
Describes how to modify the list of controls available for items in the Data Sources Window, and how to add custom controls to the list.How to: Open the Data Sources Window
Describes how to open the Data Sources Window in the Visual Studio IDE.Walkthrough: Displaying Data on a Form in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on querying data from a database and displaying the data on a Windows Form.Walkthrough: Displaying Related Data on a Form in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on displaying data from two related tables and displaying the data on a Windows Form.Walkthrough: Creating a Form to Search Data in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on creating a Windows Form that searches for records in a database based on values input by a user.Walkthrough: Creating a Lookup Table
Provides step-by-step details on displaying data from one table based on the data selected in another table.Walkthrough: Passing Data Between Forms in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on passing values from one form to a second form in an application.Walkthrough: Creating a User Control that Supports Simple Data Binding
Provides step-by-step details on creating a custom control with attributes specific to working with Windows Forms databinding.
Connect Applications to Data
Connecting to Data in Visual Studio Overview
Provides information about connecting your application to data with design time tools, and ADO.NET connection objects, using Visual Studio.Data Source Configuration Wizard
Provides information on connecting to data, and creating data sources, by running the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Save a Connection String
Describes how to save connection information in your application.How to: Edit a Connection String
Describes how to edit existing connection information previously saved in your application.How to: Connect to Data in an Object
Describes how to databind to property values in objects using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Connect to Data in a Database
Describes how to create a connection between your application and a database using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Connect to Data in a Web Service
Describes how to create a connection between your application and the data returned from a web service using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Connect to Data in an Access Database
Describes how to create a connection between your application and an Access database using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Connect to Data in a SQL Server Express Database
Describes how to create a connection between your application and a SQL Express database using the Data Source Configuration Wizard.How to: Create Connections to SQL Server Databases
Describes how to create connection strings to SQL Server databases.How to: Create Connections to Access Databases
Describes how to create connection strings to Access databases.How to: Create Connections to Oracle Databases
Describes how to create connection strings to Oracle databases.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a database.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a SQL Server Express Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a SQL Express database.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a Web Service
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a Web service.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in Objects
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and the properties of an object.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in an Access Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and an Access database file.Connecting to a Data Source (ADO.NET)
Describes the ADO.NET Connection object and how to use it to connect to a data source.
Modify Data
How to: Add Rows to a DataTable
Provides the steps to create DataRow objects and add them to a data table.How to: Edit Rows in a DataTable
Provides the steps for editing an existing row of data in a data table.How to: Delete Rows in a DataTable
Provides the steps to remove specific rows of data in a data table.How to: Turn Off Constraints While Filling a Dataset
Provides details for temporarily disabling constraint checking in a dataset.How to: Commit Changes in a Dataset
Provides information and details for accepting changes that have been made to data in a dataset.How to: Check for Changed Rows
Provides the steps to determine if data has been changed in a dataset.How to: Retrieve Changed Rows
Provides details for returning rows of data that have been changed since last accepting any changes.How to: Locate a Specific Row in a DataTable
Provides details for finding data in a data table using either a primary key value, or a column value.How to: Get Specific Versions of a DataRow
Provides details for returning specific rows of data using the DataRowVersion enumeration.How to: Locate Rows that Have Errors
Provides details for finding data in a data table that has been marked with an error.
Save Data
Saving Data Overview
Provides links to topics explaining how to send updated data from an application to the database.Hierarchical Update
Provides links to topics that provide details about incorporating TableAdapterManager components that save data in related data tables.How to: Save Dataset Changes to a Database
Provides details on sending updated data back to a database using TableAdapters, and DataAdapters.How to: Update Data by Using a TableAdapter
Provides details on sending updated data back to a database using TableAdapters.How to: Insert New Records into a Database
Provides details on creating new records in a database.How to: Update Records in a Database
Provides details on sending modified records back to the database.How to: Delete Records in a Database
Provides details on removing records from a database.Walkthrough: Saving Data to a Database (Single Table)
Provides step-by-step details for saving modified data in a data table to the underlying database.Walkthrough: Saving Data from Related Data Tables (Hierarchical Update)
Provides step-by-step instructions about how to create an application that has related data tables and save the data by using the TableAdapterManager.Walkthrough: Saving Data in a Transaction
Provides step-by-step details for saving data using the System.Transactions namespace.
Work with TableAdapters
TableAdapter Overview
Explains what TableAdapters are and the tools available to create them.TableAdapterManager Overview
Explains what a TableAdapterManager is and provides descriptions of the TableAdapterManager code that is generated by the Dataset Designer.TableAdapter Query Configuration Wizard
Describes how to run the wizard and provides details for each wizard screen.How to: Create TableAdapters
Provides the steps to create a new TableAdapter.How to: Edit TableAdapters
Provides the steps to edit existing TableAdapters.How to: Create TableAdapter Queries
Provides the steps to add a query to an existing TableAdapter.How to: Edit TableAdapter Queries
Provides the steps to edit existing TableAdapter queries.Working with Null Values in TableAdapters
Provides the steps for enabling null values in TableAdapter parameters.How to: View the Queries in a TableAdapter
Explains how to view the existing queries in a TableAdapter.How to: Create Parameterized TableAdapter Queries
Provides the steps to create TableAdapter queries that accept parameters.How to: Add Global Queries to a Dataset
Provides the steps to create a TableAdapter with a query that returns a single value.Walkthrough: Creating a TableAdapter with Multiple Queries
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a TableAdapter and adding a query to it.
Design and Display Reports
- Creating Reports (with Crystal Reports)
Provides detailed information about using the embedded Crystal Reports Designer within Visual Studio.
Fetch Data
Filling Datasets and Querying Data Overview
Describes how to load data into datasets, and how to execute stored procedures, and execute queries against a database.How to: Fill a Dataset with Data
Provides details for loading data into datasets using TableAdapters, and DataAdapters.How to: Create and Execute an SQL Statement that Returns Rows
Provides details for creating and executing SQL statements that return rows using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Create and Execute an SQL Statement that Returns a Single Value
Provides details for creating and executing SQL statements that return single values using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Create and Execute an SQL Statement that Returns No Value
Provides details for creating and executing SQL statements that return no value using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Execute a Stored Procedure that Returns Rows
Provides details for executing stored procedures that return rows using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Execute a Stored Procedure that Returns a Single Value
Provides details for executing stored procedures that return single values using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Execute a Stored Procedure that Returns No Value
Provides details for executing stored procedures that return no value using TableAdapter queries, and Command objects.How to: Set and Get Parameters for Command Objects
Provides details for assigning values to parameters in queries and stored procedures, and reading values in parameters returned from executed commands.
Validate Data
Data Validation Overview
Provides an overview of events that can be used to analyze data before being committed to the dataset.How to: Validate Data During Column Changes
Describes how to validate data during the ColumnChanging event.How to: Validate Data During Row Changes
Describes how to validate data during the RowChanging event.Walkthrough: Adding Validation to a Dataset
Provides step-by-step information for adding validation code to a dataset.Walkthrough: Adding Validation to Entity Classes
Provides step-by-step information about how to add validation code to LINQ to SQL classes.Walkthrough: Adding Validation to an N-Tier Data Application
Provides step-by-step information about how to add validation code to a dataset in an n-tier application.
Work with Datasets
How to: Create a Typed Dataset
Explains how to create a typed dataset using design tools in Visual Studio.How to: Extend the Functionality of a Dataset
Explains how and where to place code when extending the functionality of a typed dataset.How to: Create DataTables
Provides the steps to create a new DataTable with the Dataset Designer.How to: Add Columns to a DataTable
Provides the steps to create a new DataColumn in an existing DataTable.How to: Set the Data Type of a DataColumn
Explains how to set or change the data type property of a DataColumn.How to: Change the Caption of a DataColumn
Explains how to set the caption of a DataColumn to either the column name or something else.How to: Set the Default Value of a DataColumn
Provides details for setting the initial value for a new DataColumn.How to: Restrict a Data Column to Contain Unique Values
Explains how to set a DataColumn so it cannot contain duplicate values.How to: Set a Data Column as the Primary Key
Explains how to set a DataColumn to be the primary key in a DataTable.How to: Create Data Columns that Display Expressions
Explains how to set a DataColumn to display a calculated value.How to: Create DataRelations with the Dataset Designer
Explains how to use the Dataset Designer to add a DataRelation object to a dataset.Walkthrough: Creating a DataTable in the Dataset Designer
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a DataTable and defining the DataColumns that make up its structure.Walkthrough: Creating a Dataset with the Dataset Designer
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a typed dataset without the help of the Data Source Configuration Wizard.
Manage Multiple Users and Conflicts
Introduction to Data Concurrency in ADO.NET
Provides an overview of the different methods of concurrency control.How to: Handle Concurrency Errors
Describes how to use the DBConcurrencyException object to identify concurrency exceptions and the actual record that caused the error.Walkthrough: Handling a Concurrency Exception
Provides step-by-step instructions for identifying and resolving a concurrency error.
Work with SQL Server 2005
SQL Server Projects
Provides an overview of what SQL Server projects are, and the different items that can be created in one.Advantages of Using Managed Code to Create Database Objects
Provides a brief explanation of the benefits of using a .NET language to create SQL Server database objects.Attributes for SQL Server Projects and Database Objects
Provides information on the different attributes used in SQL Server projects.How to: Create a SQL Server Project
Provides detailed steps in creating a new SQL Server project.How to: Deploy SQL Server Project Items to a SQL Server
Provides detailed steps for deploying a SQL Server project to the database.How to: Create and Run a CLR SQL Server Stored Procedure
Provides detailed steps for creating a stored procedure in managed code.How to: Create and Run a CLR SQL Server Aggregate
Provides detailed steps for creating an aggregate in managed code.How to: Create and Run a CLR SQL Server Trigger
Provides detailed steps for creating a trigger in managed code.How to: Create and Run a CLR SQL Server User-Defined Function
Provides detailed steps for creating a user-defined function in managed code.How to: Create and Run a CLR SQL Server User-Defined Type
Provides detailed steps for creating a user-defined type in managed code.
Debugging SQL Server 2005
How to: Debug a SQL CLR Stored Procedure
Demonstrates how to debug stored procedures on a SQL Server.Walkthrough: Debugging a SQL CLR Trigger
Demonstrates how to step from a stored procedure into a trigger when it fires.Walkthrough: Debugging a SQL CLR User-Defined Aggregate
Demonstrates how to step into a User Defined Aggregate.Walkthrough: Debugging a SQL CLR User-Defined Scalar Function
Demonstrates how to step into a User Defined Scalar Function.Walkthrough: Debug a SQL CLR User-Defined Table-Valued Function
Demonstrates how to step into a User Defined Table-Valued Function.Walkthrough: Debugging a SQL CLR User-Defined Type
Demonstrates how to step into a User Defined Type.Walkthrough: SQL Server CLR Database Debugging
Describes how to debug CLR database objects.How to: Debug a Transact-SQL Stored Procedure
Demonstrates how to debug stored procedures on a SQL Server.How to: Debug a Transact-SQL Trigger
Demonstrates how to step from a stored procedure into a trigger when it fires.How to: Debug a Transact-SQL User-Defined Function
Demonstrates how to step from a stored procedure into a User Defined Function.Walkthrough: Transact-SQL Database Debugging
Describes how to debug Transact-SQL database objects.
Data Walkthroughs
Walkthrough: Adding Validation to a Dataset
Provides step-by-step information for adding validation code to a dataset.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a database.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a SQL Server Express Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a SQL Express database.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in a Web Service
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and a Web service.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in an Access Database
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and an Access database file.Walkthrough: Connecting to Data in Objects
Provides step-by-step details for creating a connection between your application and the properties of an object.Walkthrough: Creating a Dataset with the Dataset Designer
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a typed dataset without the help of the Data Source Configuration Wizard.Walkthrough: Creating a DataTable in the Dataset Designer
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a T:System.Data.DataTable and defining the T:System.Data.DataColumns that make up its structure.Walkthrough: Creating a Lookup Table
Provides step-by-step details on displaying data from one table based on the data selected in another table.Walkthrough: Creating a Relationship between Data Tables
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating two data tables with the Dataset Designer and adding a relation between them.Walkthrough: Creating a TableAdapter with Multiple Queries
Provides step-by-step instructions for creating a TableAdapter and adding a query to it.Walkthrough: Creating a Form to Search Data in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on creating a Windows Form that searches for records in a database based on values input by a user.Walkthrough: Creating a User Control that Supports Simple Data Binding
Provides step-by-step details on creating a custom control with attributes specific to working with Windows Forms databinding.Walkthrough: Displaying Data on a Form in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on querying data from a database and displaying the data on a Windows Form.Walkthrough: Displaying Related Data on a Form in a Windows Application
Provides step-by-step details on displaying data from two related tables and displaying the data on a Windows Form.
Samples
- Data Samples
These samples demonstrate the use of data in Visual Basic applications.