Visual Basic

19-Jul-07 23:57

Hi am quite new to programing and would like to know if you can creat a stand alone Data base using tables without the use of SQL and without attaching the front end to an Access table.

Is this possible?

If so has any one got an idea of where to look for some code that i could look at please.

Thank you

Colin Angus Mackay20-Jul-07 0:17

Colin Angus Mackay

20-Jul-07 0:17

JonCox wrote:
Hi am quite new to programing and would like to know if you can creat a stand alone Data base using tables without the use of SQL and without attaching the front end to an Access table.

You can use a database that doesn't use SQL. Although I'm not sure what you'd achieve by that. Why do you not want to use SQL? (It is the standard language for writing queries)

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JonCox20-Jul-07 2:58

20-Jul-07 2:58

Hi there thanks for your reply.

Sorry i was refuring to SQL server. However, my ignorance is apparent, as I do not understand how i would call or instruct an application to use SQL. Also is it a component of visual studio?

Thank you for your time.

originSH20-Jul-07 0:23

originSH

20-Jul-07 0:23

Theres nothing built in that will act as a database for you. You could make something similar using an XML file or some other file based storage, but if your new to programming that might not be the best place to start Wink | ;)

The other alternative is using an external database. Do you want something that is small and file based (best suited for when just one app wants a database) or something bigger and memory based (that can handle alot of connections over a network)?

When you say wihtout the use of SQL do you mean the SQL language or Microsoft Sql Server?

If you don't want to use Access then don't :P theres plenty of other solutions out there,

If you want a memory based solution I'd recommend Microsoft Sql Server 2005 Express[^] sinces it's got the great price of free Big Grin | :-D

It's a solid product with alot of features.

If you want something file based I'd recommend SqLite[^]. It's small, fast and free but it'll take some effort to setup for use.

JonCox20-Jul-07 2:54

20-Jul-07 2:54

Thank you for your reply.

The program i am trying to creat is an update of an app that uses RAF files to store and access the data. However this has proven to be slow and resource heavy. I would like to be able to rewrite the app using a data table to see the speed difference and hopfully improve the programs response time. The problem was that i ended up creating four RAF files that where all being cross refrenced.

I was hopeing to creat a app that can use relationships.....however i failed miserably Cry | :((

lol

Thanks once again for your reply and i will look into it a bit further.

Naji El Kotob20-Jul-07 3:08

Naji El Kotob

20-Jul-07 3:08

Hi,

You can build a dataset/tables on the fly and saving it as XML.

'--Create DataSet (Database)
Dim DS as new dataset
ds.Tables.Add("Table1")

ds.Tables(0).Columns.Add("ID", System.Type.GetType("System.Int32"))
ds.Tables(0).Columns.Add("Col1", System.Type.GetType("System.String"))

'-- Add Data
Dim dr As DataRow
dr = ds.Tables(0).NewRow
dr.Item("ID") = 1
dr.Item("Col1") = "BMW"

ds.Tables(0).Rows.Add(dr)

'-- Check the added data
For Each tmpdr As DataRow In ds.Tables(0).Rows
MsgBox(tmpdr.Item(1))
Next

'-- save data
ds.WriteXml("c:\mydata.xml")

Hope this helps Wink | ;)

NajiCo http://www.InsideVB.NET[^]

It's nice 2b important, but it's more important 2b nice...

JonCox20-Jul-07 4:29

how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

20-Jul-07 4:29

Hi there thank you very much that is exactly what i needed. Big Grin | :-D

MartyK200719-Jul-07 22:47

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

19-Jul-07 22:47

hello,
the questions in the title.
how would I do this. The reason is I am using a panel which has a gradient color scheme and I want to drop the property grid on the panel. But I dont want to ruin the gradient effect.

Any Ideas??

thanks
Martin

life is a bowl of cherries
go on take a byte

Dave Kreskowiak20-Jul-07 7:26

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

20-Jul-07 7:26

You can't do this without making your own PropertyGrid control and ownerdrawing the whole grid. The BackColor property of the PropertyGrid doesn't support Transparent.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

MartyK200722-Jul-07 21:09

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

22-Jul-07 21:09

thanks for that dave,
speaking as a person who has never ever used VB's drawing commands
and as someone who had a play at the weekend and got nowhere -

how would I do that?

any tips, ideas, code???

thanks
Martin

life is a bowl of cherries
go on take a byte

Dave Kreskowiak23-Jul-07 3:29

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

23-Jul-07 3:29

You start with creating your own PropertyGrid class, inheriting from the existing class.

Public Class MyPropertyGrid
    Inherits PropertyGrid
.
.
.

Then you override the OnPaint and/or OnPaintBackground methods and supply your own drawing code to draw everything you need.

If you haven't used the drawing methods, or even have a basic understanding of how painting works, you're going to find this a frustrating process. Google for "vb.net drawing" for lots of examples and articles.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

MartyK200723-Jul-07 4:00

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

23-Jul-07 4:00

hi,
I have tried
Public Class myProp
Inherits PropertyGrid

Protected Overrides Sub OnPaintBackground(ByVal pevent As PaintEventArgs)
MyBase.OnPaintBackground(pevent)
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics
Dim gradBrush As System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush
gradBrush = New System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(New Point(0, 0), New Point(Me.Width, Me.Height), Color.Green, Color.Blue)
' g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, 0, 0, Me.Width, Me.Height)
g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, pevent.ClipRectangle)

End Sub
Protected Overrides Sub OnPaint(ByVal pevent As PaintEventArgs)
MyBase.OnPaint(pevent)
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics
Dim gradBrush As System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush
gradBrush = New System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(New Point(0, 0), New Point(Me.Width, Me.Height), Color.Green, Color.Blue)
' g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, 0, 0, Me.Width, Me.Height)
g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, pevent.ClipRectangle)

End Sub

but these dont seem to cover the area where the "view back color" paints. In actual fact they seem to paint on only one or two lines between the text time and the outer rim of the cocontroller area.

thanks
Martin

life is a bowl of cherries
go on take a byte

Dave Kreskowiak23-Jul-07 12:04

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

23-Jul-07 12:04

MartyK2007 wrote:
Protected Overrides Sub OnPaintBackground(ByVal pevent As PaintEventArgs)
MyBase.OnPaintBackground(pevent)
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics
Dim gradBrush As System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush
gradBrush = New System.Drawing.Drawing2D.LinearGradientBrush(New Point(0, 0), New Point(Me.Width, Me.Height), Color.Green, Color.Blue)
' g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, 0, 0, Me.Width, Me.Height)
g.FillRectangle(gradBrush, pevent.ClipRectangle)

End Sub

First, you don't create your own Graphics object. You'll find it in the PaintEventArgs that you're getting when your code is called.

Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics

Your next mistake is that if you want to REPLACE the background functionality, you don't call the base classes OnPaintBackground method. That will paint the background of the control just like you didn't even attempt to make your own version of it.
Third, the Graphics objects to DID create, you didn't Dispose of. This will, most assuredly, run your machine out of resources and your app will eventully crash with an OutOfMemoryException. On top of that, if you didn't create the object, like Graphics, you do NOT Dispose of it.

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

MartyK200723-Jul-07 21:17

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

23-Jul-07 21:17

hey,
this was just sample code and not clean in any way.

Dave Kreskowiak wrote:
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics

er if you look at the snippet - thats exactly what I do
MyBase.OnPaintBackground(pevent)
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics

Dave Kreskowiak wrote:
REPLACE the background functionality

dont really want to replace them as overwrite on top of them thats why I ran this first.
Interestingly enough if I dont run the base classes then I get the same result.

Dave Kreskowiak wrote:
Third, the Graphics objects to DID create, you didn't Dispose of

absolutely - this is a proof of concept , rather that a clean solution. Of course I will dispose of them properly when the solution happens.

My problem is that my color gradient only appears behind the propertygrid ( its its view back color area).Effectively this means a couple of lines at the top of the pG and a couple between the description block and the rest of the PG.

Try it and see what I mean.

I need to change the color of the view back color area to a gradient which is the bit where there is no properties left to display on the PG. Pick a class then use the category view and minimise ecah category - the coloured background at the bottom is what I am after.

thanks
Martin

life is a bowl of cherries
go on take a byte

Dave Kreskowiak24-Jul-07 1:48

Re: how to make viewback color of a propertygrid transparent

24-Jul-07 1:48

MartyK2007 wrote:
er if you look at the snippet - thats exactly what I do
MyBase.OnPaintBackground(pevent)
Dim g As Graphics = pevent.Graphics

My bad! I misread your code! :->

MartyK2007 wrote:
dont really want to replace them as overwrite on top of them thats why I ran this first.
Interestingly enough if I dont run the base classes then I get the same result.

In order to get a transparent background, you have to replace the background drawing code. That's what your original post said you wanted.

MartyK2007 wrote:
My problem is that my color gradient only appears behind the propertygrid ( its its view back color area).Effectively this means a couple of lines at the top of the pG and a couple between the description block and the rest of the PG.

This would mean that the background of each "cell" in the PG is painted by the foreground OnPaint method. You would have to replace the standard OnPaint drawing code with your own. This means that you have to paint the entire control yourself! Is it worth it?

A guide to posting questions on CodeProject[^]

Dave Kreskowiak
Microsoft MVP
Visual Developer - Visual Basic
2006, 2007

MartyK200724-Jul-07 2:19