irasmith

Wow, what a deal you got on those books. I looked them both over on amazon and thought I would include a link here to one of them since I can see how a lot of users might want to investigate it. VB6 to VB.NET I realize I shortened the book title by a bunch but I think everyone would be able to follow it. Given all the VB6 code there is out there I can well imagine this would be a helpful guide to have around.

Does anyone know of a public help forum such as the ones here that would be devoted basically to just SQL commands at the SQL leve? I am looking for a question/answer place relating specifically to Transact SQL commands, syntax, and such. Thanks,

Unhandled exception - FIGURED IT OUT Hello one and all, I just began to work with VB.NET Standard edition connecting to my trial SQL copy on my local workstation. I am working with some sample code from a book and here is the code: ' Import Data and SqlClient namespaces... Imports System.Data Imports System.Data.SqlClient Public Class Form1 Inherits System.Windows.Forms.Form Dim myConnection As SqlConnection = New _ SqlConnection("Server=(local);database=pubs;uid=sa;pwd=sa;") Dim myDataAdapter As New SqlDataAdapter Dim myDataSet As DataSet = New DataSet #Region " Windows Form Designer generated code " Public Sub New() MyBase.New() 'This call is required by the Windows Form Designer. InitializeComponent() 'Add any initialization after the InitializeComponent() call End Sub 'Form overrides dispose to clean up the component list. Protected Overloads Overrides Sub Dispose(ByVal disposing As Boolean) If disposing Then If Not (components Is Nothing) Then components.Dispose() End If End If MyBase.Dispose(disposing) End Sub 'Required by the Windows Form Designer Private components As System.ComponentModel.IContainer 'NOTE: The following procedure is required by the Windows Form Designer 'It can be modified using the Windows Form Designer. 'Do not modify it using the code editor. Friend WithEvents grdAuthorTitles As System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid <System.Diagnostics.DebuggerStepThrough()> Private Sub InitializeComponent() Me.grdAuthorTitles = New System.Windows.Forms.DataGrid CType(Me.grdAuthorTitles, System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize).BeginInit() Me.SuspendLayout() ' 'grdAuthorTitles ' Me.grdAuthorTitles.Anchor = CType((((System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Top Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Bottom) _ Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Left) _ Or System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles.Right), System.Windows.Forms.AnchorStyles) Me.grdAuthorTitles.DataMember = "" Me.grdAuthorTitles.HeaderForeColor = System.Drawing.SystemColors.ControlText Me.grdAuthorTitles.Location = New System.Drawing.Point(5, 5) Me.grdAuthorTitles.Name = "grdAuthorTitles" Me.grdAuthorTitles.Size = New System.Drawing.Size(584, 192) Me.grdAuthorTitles.TabIndex = 0 ' 'Form1 ' Me.AutoScaleBaseSize = New System.Drawing.Size(5, 13) Me.ClientSize = New System.Drawing.Size(592, 196) Me.Controls.Add(Me.grdAuthorTitles) Me.Name = "Form1" Me.StartPosition = System.Windows.Forms.FormStartPosition.CenterScreen Me.Text = "Bound DataSet" CType(Me.grdAuthorTitles, System.ComponentModel.ISupportInitialize).EndInit() Me.ResumeLayout(False) End Sub #End Region Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load ' Set the SelectCommand properties... myDataAdapter.SelectCommand = New SqlCommand myDataAdapter.SelectCommand.Connection = myConnection myDataAdapter.SelectCommand.CommandText = _ "SELECT au_lname, au_fname, title, price " & _ "FROM authors " & _ "JOIN titleauthor ON authors.au_id = titleauthor.au_id " & _ "JOIN titles ON titleauothr.title_id = titles.title_id " & _ "ORDER BY au_lname, au_fname" myDataAdapter.SelectCommand.CommandType = CommandType.Text ' Open the database connection... myConnection.Open() ' Now execute the command... myDataAdapter.SelectCommand.ExecuteNonQuery() ' Fill the DataSet object with data... myDataAdapter.Fill(myDataSet, "authors") ' Close the database connection... myConnection.Close() ' Set the DataGrind properties to bind it to our data... grdAuthorTitles.DataSource = myDataSet grdAuthorTitles.DataMember = "authors" End Sub End Class The error I am getting is An Unhandled Exception of type 'System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException occurred in System.data.dll' The error is occurring at the line myDataAdapter.SelectCommand.ExecuteNonQuery() Anyone have a clue as to what is going on or what the book might have wrong or what I might be doing wrong on this? Thanks :) Sorry everyone, just figured out what the problem was. Amazing how a typo can mess things up. For those of you that want to know, the second JOIN line above has author spelled incorrectly and that was the problem. I found it after I did this post and things seem to be working just fine now. :p

I would overall agree with Wyrd's post. Not every one of us learns the same way by the same presentation and so you have to search out that which allows you to learn the best. I am relatively new to VB.NET myself and am still finding resources to help me learn my way around. I will provide you with the information here just so you can see what is available. After looking the books over that I could find on line at Amazon.com, I selected Beginning VB.NET as it seemed for me to be the best all around book to get me started. I had not programmed in VB at all before and this book doesn't presume that you have, so there is no comparison of VB6 to VB.NET or anything like that. You might want a book that does the comparisons though if you are a VB6 programmer wanting to make the transition to VB.NET. I am also finding the VB.NET Resource Kit to be of great help to me. You can find a link to it here at this posting. I am also finding the VB.NET area of the microsoft site to be of a big help as well. Here is just one of the many links with information that can be of use to learning VB.NET Hope this helps you out

I'll look into your suggestions. Running short on time this evening, however most of my research type time is spent on weekends when not at the office. As far as programming in general per say, some of the object oriented concepts I'm still picking up on. I've programmed for quite a few years now in varying languages and VB.NET is just another one I'm picking up. So I'm more in search of the particulars of it overall and think your suggestion will help along with just taking the time to go through some of the on line articles at the locations you mentioned. The initial appeal of the book I originally mentioned was that it seemed to deal with classes and at this point in time I can see the vantage of developing VB.NET class libraries as that is a very powerful thing to be able to do. In many ways as a developer I'd prefer to develop the libraries and let other developers who are more prone to do user interface work use the libraries in their windows app or in their web asp.net app. I rather see class libraries as a way to develop for both worlds and let the asp writer or the 'final app' writer tap into the libraries I've created. Thanks for your input, Ira

Thank you for the advice, it is well noted. I must get in the habbit of searching msdn more. The book you suggested is at this point a bit over my head, at least for what I am wanting to do. Just getting my feet web in VB.NET at this point. So I'll save the higher level stuff for a bit later when I am to that point. Ira

Anyone familiar with this book Class Design Handbook ? There seems to be a number of varying topic books in this series but none of them seem available for immediate order. Wasn't sure if they were outdated or what so thought I would ask the advice here. Thanks, Ira

I'm just working on learning VB.NET for the moment, purchased VB.NET Standard about two weeks ago and am having fun with it and enjoying learning this cool language. Is there an announced date when 2004 will be out? Any discount on the price of VS.NET for those of us who have VB.NET Standard? Thanks, Ira

Thank you for clarifying things for me. The trial version of SQL I obtained from the downloads area of the MS site is Release A, which is noted to have the updated alread contained in it for the slammer worm matter. Yes, I will hold onto the sql2kdesksp3.exe file for future use. I do like the idea of being able to re-distribute a desktop version of it with a VB.NET application that has need for a small database to store its data in tables. I had often wondered how I would accomplish that task and this seems to be the tool that will allow me to do it. I won't go into questions now of how to do it, I'll let my studies get me to that point first and then post questions if I have them. Thanks, Ira :)

I also thank you for your reply and feedback. I will admit I was somewhat confused yesterday when I first began the journey into these waters. I had originally downloaded the sql2kdesksp3.exe file and went through the install steps. It seemed to install just fine giving me the normal icon on my task bar that I have grown accustomed to seeing when SQL is installed locally. But I did not seem to be able to locate the Enterprise Manager or Query Analyizer like I normally would on the list of programs. I also could not seem to get it started when I would click on the icon as it would indicate it was not started. This morning I uninstalled it with the Add/Remove programs. I then downloaded the 120 day trial version of SQL and installed that. This provided me with the things that I am used to seeing and working with and was able to see and query things like the Northwind database. I don't object to acquiring the $40 odd dollar developer edition of SQL as I can see uses I will have for it as I go deeper with VB.NET. The thing I think I am confused about is this, and if you can help me understand this better I would appreciate it. Does SQL come in a 'personal' edition such that if I had a VB.NET app that say acted as a name/address book that app could use a 'personal' SQL that is only loaded on the workstation that the app is in which to store the data in some small simple tables? Is this what the 'desktop' version of SQL is that I have seen referenced by the sql2kdesksp3.exe? Since I have downloaded and successfully installed the 120 trial version of SQL, do I still need to install sql2kdesksp3.exe also? Sorry for asking this, however at times I can get confused and this is one of those times. Ira :cool:

Thanks for your input on my question. I am sorting through my own confusion as I learn more. I am going to start off with the 120 day trial version of SQL and get an order going for the Developer Edition of SQL in the meantime. Thanks, Ira

Do I need to buy the SQL Developer Edition to do VB.NET development on my machine which I need to have access SQL databases? I am learning VB.NET on my XP Pro machine here at home. I want to do programs that use database connectivity. I had initilaly just downloaded sql2ksp3 as per the VB.NET Standard instructions and went through it's install. The install went fine but after that the SQL icon on my toolbar doesn't show green or red, but blank white. I can't find any instructions on configuring it. I did see on the Microsoft site though information that sql2ksp3 needs to be applied atop the developer edition once it is installed. So I guess my question is, do I need to acquire the developer edition of SQL and install it before I can connect to a SQL database here on my machine and work on programming or is the sql2ksp3 download enough to do what I want? Thanks, Ira

I am just now getting to the point of wanting to have SQL installed locally so I can begin to work with VB.NET accessing a SQL database. I had noted from my initial install of VB.NET standard that it suggested I install sql2ksp3. I had bookmarked the address of the download so I could go back to it later. I have since done the download. I then clicked on the exe file so it would extract the files. I then did as it suggested and opened up a command window and typed in the command line to perform the setup using an sa password of my choosing. That all went well and I received a message that to complete things I should restart my computer. I did that. Now in my taskbar at the bottom of the screen I have the normal icon you have when SQL is installed. My problem is that I can't get it to run. There is no server or services listed in the drop downs when I click on the icon. The icon has the circle showing blank white when normally you have either a red or green indicator to indicate it is either working or stopped. I am stuck at this point as I don't know what steps I need to do next to compelte its configuration and I haven't been able to find anything on the download site to indicate what I should be doing next. Can someone get me started again in the right direction? Sorry for another 'basic' type question but I have worked with SQL a long time but it has always been on a system that was already set up. Thanks, Ira :) I seem to be unable to delete this post so please refer to the other post I just made in the Database/SQL area please.

I think you have to have IIS because this seems to be asp based, using the .net version of asp. I do not know if other webservers have plugins that handle asp or not. I am doing this on my home machine and I just acquired back in the summer an XP Pro machine for the home. It replaced my Win95 machine that I was using. I don't recall during the install of Visual Basic.NET Standard version if IIS was already installed on my machine or not. I seem to think it was not and the install media that I received when I purchased Visual Basic.Net had to install IIS for me. If you have any of the .NET versions I would think it would be on there, you might give that a try. I discovered after the install of this resource kit that there is a readme file in rft format, and in that file is a lot of information about installing and troubleshooting the install. It even documents how to get asp.net active on your machine so that the resource kit can run. Hope this helps. Ira

Thank you very much, your suggestion worked great. Guess I was just too tired after a long day of work to it out that late at night. On to the good stuff for now :) Ira

I have done some searching and haven't been able to figure this one out on my own, so I am posting this question for some help. I have gotten to the point of needing to get a ComponentOne control onto a form in order to perform the registration of my copy of ComponentOne that I obtained with the installation of the resource kit. I have not figured out how to get a control from the ComponentOne to add to my toolbar so I can drag it to a form. How do you do that? I'm just following the instructions ComponentOne's site emailed me with the license key, but they don't say how to get the control onto the toolbar. Thanks, Ira

Had a bit of trouble initially getting it going after install, but digging through some of the information found I didn't have asp.net running. So far looking great. This is awesome.:) Ira

Thank you for the input and clarification on that. I have made a note of it for when I get to the class libraries portion of my studies. Ira

Perhaps I should have put this posting in a separate thread, so if I should have please forgive me as I'm still very new here and just learning my way around. I do have a question in seeking some advice. One of my goals in learning VB.NET is to write class libraries that can be used by other applications. I realize in VB.NET you complile class libraries to a file. I have not gotten that far yet in my studies, so I do not know if the file takes on the form of an exe file or not. But is it possible to use an obfuscator on a class library and would you suggest using one? I mean no disrespect to anyone by asking this and acknowledge all that has been said so far in this thread. I am not seeking an absolute solution here as I realize that nothing, no matter what it is, is absolutely secure. If someone is determined enough to get something then it will happen. Thanks, Ira

I am using Beginning VB.NET and am finding it to be very good. Ira

Thank you so much for the information. At this point in my early VB.NET efforts I have not had to resort to debugging to find issues with the short simple code I am playing around with. As for incremental linking, well that is a concept I have yet to get to so for the moment I will not worry about that one. Thanks, Ira

I have been working with Visual Basic Standard and done some 'bunny' programs just to learn by. When I do the Build Solution option, it creates an exe file which seems to run just fine. But in the \bin directory where the exe file is placed there is also a pdb file. What does this file do and is it necessary to distribute it along with the exe? Thanks, Ira

Thank you for the helpful suggestion. I just acquired this WinXP pro computer in June, it came loaded with McAfee. I have used Norton in the past but have not done any scripting work so did not know Nortons abilities in that area. For the present time I can live with clicking the 'let script continue' message, either that or just shut it off when I go to work on VB.NET. I'm still in the learning stages of VB.NET but am progressing nicely and will be coding a lot in it once I get up to speed. Thanks, Ira

I see your point. I have located the option you spoke of and will give that a try. I'll sort of play around and figure out for me which is best, shut it off while developing, live with it as is and just keep on checking the run button, or your way. I appreciate the input. I am still having tons of fun working with and learning VB.NET. :) Ira

First off I'd really like to say how impressed I am with Visual Basic.NET and its IDE. WOW! I've got a general question that I can't seem to figure out a way around short of shutting my anti virus software off so I thought I would post the question here and see if anyone has a workaround. I use McAfee antivirus on my WinXP Pro machine. I have the VB.NET Standard loaded on the same machine. When I go to create a new project, part way through the creation process the system does before opening up the form screen, I get a message from the antivirus software saying suspicious scripting activity has been stopped. I have to select the allow entire script to run option to get things moving again. Is there somewhere in McAfee that I can set to avoid this or do I just need to shut it down when using VB.NET IDE? Thanks, Ira