14 Working with

Databases

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 1
4th Edition
 Chapter Objectives
• Be introduced to technologies used for accessing
databases
• Become familiar with the ADO.NET classes

• Write program statements that use the DataReader

class to retrieve database data
• Access and update databases using the DataSet,
DataAdapter, and TableAdapter classes

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 2

 Chapter Objectives
(continued)
• Be introduced to SQL query statements

• Use the visual development tools to connect to

data sources, populate DataSet objects, build
queries, and develop data-bound applications

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 3

 Database Access
• As data needs increase, text files become less viable
options
• Databases store information in records, fields, and
tables
• A database is an organized collection of data, generally
stored and accessed electronically from a computer
system.

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 4

 Database Management System
• DBMS is the software that interacts with end users,
applications, and the database itself to capture and
analyze the data.
• DBMSs facilitate storage, retrieval, manipulation, and
reporting of large amounts of data
• Example DBMSs include SQL server, Oracle, and
Access
– Many DBMSs store data in tabular format
• Data in tables are related through common data field keys
• They are considered relational databases

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 5

 Database Management Systems
(continued)
• Typically use a query language to program database
access
– Structured query language (SQL)
• Most DBMSs include a query language that can be used
to interact with the data.
• The .NET Framework includes a data access
technology called ADO.NET for accessing data in
databases.
– It is discussed in the next section

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 6

 ADO.NET
• ADO.NET is a data access technology from the
Microsoft .NET Framework that provides
communication between relational and non-relational
systems through a common set of components.
• ADO.NET is a set of computer software components
that programmers can use to access data and data
services from a database.

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 7

 ADO.NET (continued)
• It includes number of classes that can be used to
retrieve, manipulate, and update data in databases
• It offers the capability of working with databases in a
connected or disconnected mode.
– Database table(s) can be retrieved to a temporary file
• meaning the entire database table(s) can be retrieved to a
temporary file or to a local machine
• To retrieve data, you must first connect to the database
• ADO.NET uses a feature called data providers to
connect, execute commands, and retrieve results from a
database
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 8
 ADO.NET Architecture

Database

9
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design
 Data Providers
• ADO.NET architecture encapsulates the details of
differing database structures
– Providing common sets of functionality—connecting to a
database, executing commands, and retrieving results

• Data provider is a set of classes that understands

how to communicate with specific database
management system.

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 10

 Data Providers (continued)

ADO.NET data providers

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 11

 Data Providers (continued)
• Each of the data provider classes is encapsulated into
a different namespace.

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 12

 Data Providers (continued)
• Each data provider includes a collection of classes
used to access a data source, such as a database.
• The following table shows four core classes that make
up each data provider

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 13

 Data Providers (continued)
• Each data provider has its own Connection, Command,
DataReader, and DataAdapter classes
• Each provider uses different names
– The SQL data provider has classes named SqlConnection,
SqlCommand, SqlDataReader, and SqlDataAdapter
– The OLE DB data provider has classes named OleDbConnection,
OleDbCommand, OleDbDataReader, and OleDbDataAdapter

• The four core classes do offer common functionality,

primarily due to interfaces implemented by each of the
core’s base classes

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 14

 Data Providers (continued)
• Additional namespaces used with ADO.NET classes
to access databases include:
– System.Data.Common
• These classes are shared by all of the data providers

– System.Data
• These classes enables you to build components that use data
from multiple data sources

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 15

 Connecting to the Database
(Microsoft Access)
• To access a database created with Microsoft Access,
use classes from the System.Data.OleDb namespace.
– Add using directive
using System.Data.OleDb;
• Instantiate an object of connection class - provide
– Actual database provider
– Data source (name of the database)

string sConnection;
sConnection = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;" + "Data Source = member.accdb";
OleDbConnection dbConn;
dbConn = new OleDbConnection(sConnection); Enclose in
dbConn.Open(); try…
catch block
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 16
 Connecting to the Database
(Microsoft SQL)
• To access a database created with Microsoft Access,
use classes from the System.Data.SqlClient
namespace.
– Add using directive
using System.Data.SqlClient;
• Instantiate an object of connection class - provide
– Data source
– Database name
– Credentials

SqlConnection dbConn = new SqlConnection("Data Source=SERVER-NAME; Initial

Catalog=Customerdb; User ID=sa; Password=19@20");
dbConn.Open();

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 17

 Retrieving Data from the Database
• One way to retrieve records programmatically: issue
an SQL query
• Object of OleDbCommand class used to hold SQL
string sql;
// Note the two semicolons
sql = "Select * From memberTable Order By LastName Asc, " + "FirstName Asc;";

OleDbCommand dbCmd = new OleDbCommand();

dbCmd.CommandText = sql; // set command SQL string
dbCmd.Connection = dbConn; // dbConn is connection object

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 18

 SQL Queries
• SQL: universal language used with many database
products including SQL Server and Microsoft Access

• Queries can be written to SELECT, INSERT,

UPDATE, and DELETE data in database tables

• You can use the SELECT statement to retrieve

results from multiple tables by joining them using a
common field

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 19

 SQL Queries
(continued)
• Select * From memberTable Order By LastName Asc,
FirstName Asc;
– Asterisk (*) selects all fields (columns) in database
• Can replace * by field name(s)
– Asc (ascending) returns in ascending order by LastName;
duplicate last names ordered by first name
– Retrieves all rows (records)
• Where clause can be added to selectively identify rows

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 20

 Retrieving Data from the Database
Select StudentID, FirstName, LastName, PhoneNumber From memberTable;

Figure 14-1 Access database table

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 21

 Retrieving Data from the Database
(continued)
• To retrieve a single row or just some of the rows from
the table, you add a WHERE clause
SELECT PhoneNumber FROM memberTable
WHERE FirstName = 'Gary' AND LastName = 'Jones';
• If field has a space, the field name would have to be
enclosed in square brackets [ ]

WHERE (aDate BETWEEN #10/12/2012# AND #10/12/2013#)—Access

WHERE (aDate BETWEEN '10/12/2012' AND '10/12/2013')—SQL Server

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 22

 Retrieving Data from the Database
(continued)
• You can use the SELECT statement to retrieve
results from multiple tables by joining them using
a common field

SELECT memberTable.FirstName, memberTable.LastName,

departmentTable.major_Name
FROM memberTable INNER JOIN departmentTable ON
memberTable.major_ID = departmentTable.major_ID;

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 23

 SQL Queries
(continued)
• Selectively choose the columns
– Primary key is column(s) that uniquely identifies row
– Foreign key is column that refers to a column in another
table (used to link the two tables)

INSERT INTO memberTable

(StudentID, FirstName, LastName, PhoneNumber)
VALUES (1123, 'Kathy', 'Weizel', 2345678);

DELETE FROM memberTable WHERE (StudentID = 1299);

UPDATE memberTable SET LastName = 'Hakim'

WHERE (StudentID = 1234);
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 24
 Processing Data
• You can retrieve one record at a time in memory
– And process that record before retrieving another
• OR you can store the entire result of the query in
temporary data structure similar to an array
– And disconnect from the database
• ADO.NET includes data reader classes (by provider)
– Used to read rows of data from a database

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 25

 Retrieving Data Using a Data
Reader
• OleDbDataReader and SqlDataReader class
– READ-ONLY – Forward retrieval (sequential access)
– Results returned as query executes
• Sequentially loop through the query results
• Only one row is stored in memory at a time
• Useful to accessing data from large database tables
• Declare an object of the OleDbDataReader or and
SqlDataReader class
• Call ExecuteReader( ) method
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 26
 Retrieving Data Using a Data Reader
(continued)
• To position the reader object onto the row of the first
retrieved query result, use Read( ) method of the
OleDbDataReader (or SqlDataReader) class
– Read( ) also used to advance to the next record
– Think about what is retrieved as one-dimensional table
consisting of the fields from that one row
• Fields can be referenced using actual ordinal index
• Fields can also be referenced using the table's field names as
indexers to the data reader object

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 27

 Retrieving Data Using a Data Reader
(continued)
• First call to dbReader.Read( ) retrieves first row
– dbReader[0] refers to 1234
– dbReader[1] refers to "Smith"
– dbReader["FirstName"] also refers to "Rachel"

Field name
must be enclosed
in double quotes
when used as
indexer

Figure 14-1 Access database table

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 28
Retrieving
Data
Using a
Data
Reader
(continued)

Table 14-6 OleDbDataReader class members

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 29
 Retrieving Data Using a Data Reader
(continued)
Member aMember;
OleDbDataReader dbReader;
dbReader = dbCmd.ExecuteReader( ); // dbCmd—
OleDbCommand object
Class constructor –
while (dbReader.Read( )) with string parameters
User
{ // retrieve records 1-by-1...
Defined aMember = new Member(dbReader["FirstName"].ToString( ),
Class
dbReader["LastName"].ToString( ));
this.listBox1.Items.Add(aMember);
}
dbReader.Close( ); // Close the Reader object
dbConn.Close( ); // Close the Connection object
Review DBExample Example
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 30
 Closing the Connection
• This is one of the easiest things to do, but is often
overlooked
• You need to close the reader object and the
connection object.
– By doing this, you unlock the database so that other
applications can access it
• Can enclose close connection in try. . .catch block
• Use Close( ) method to close the connection and
data reader objects

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 31

 Closing the Connection
(continued)
• A special using statement can be added to surround
the entire block of code accessing a database.
– When this is added, it is no longer necessary to call the
Close( ) methods.
– All objects are disposed of when the statements included in
the using block (surrounded by curly braces) go out of
scope.
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 32
 Updating Database Data
• ADO.NET does not require that you keep a continuous
live connection to the database and process one
retrieved record at a time
– There are classes that enable you to connect to the database
long enough to retrieve records into memory
– The data can then be changed and you can reconnect to the
database to update the data
– This is accomplished in .NET using a dataset
• Dataset is a cache of records retrieved from some data source
that may contain one or more tables from the data source

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 33

 Updating Database Data
(continued)
• Several ways to change or update database
– Can write Insert, Delete, and Update SQL statements and then
execute those queries by calling
OleDbCommand.ExecuteNonQuery( ) method

– Can instantiate objects of dataset and data adapter classes

• Use data adapter object to populate dataset object

– Adapter class has Fill( ) and Update( ) methods

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 34

 Using Datasets to Process Database
Records
• Not required to keep a continuous live connection
– Can create temporary copy in memory of the records
retrieved using a dataset
• Interaction between dataset and actual database is
controlled through data adapter
• Each of the different data providers has its own
dataset and data adapter objects
– System.Data.OleDb – Access database

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 35

 Using Datasets to Process Database
Records

Practice

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 36

 Using Datasets to Process
Database Records
• Instantiate a connection object using connection
string See slide 19 –
• Select records (and fields) dbCmd set the
by executing SQL SELECT SQL Select
– SQL statement is packaged in a data command object
• Instantiate object of Dataset class (for a table)
DataSet memberDS = new DataSet();
• Instantiate an object of DataAdapter class
OleDbDataAdapter memberDataAdap = new OleDbDataAdapter( );
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 37
 Command Builder Class
• Class that automatically generates SQL for
updates
– Must set the SelectCommand property of the
OleDbDataAdapter class
private OleDbCommandBuilder cBuilder;
:
cBuilder = new OleDbCommandBuilder(memberDataAdap);
memberDataAdap.SelectCommand = dbCmd;
• CommandBuilder object only used for datasets
that map to a single database table

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 38

 Filling the Dataset Using the
Data Adapter
• After instantiating objects of data adapter, dataset,
and command builder classes
• Using data adapter Fill( ) method to specify name
of table to use as the data source
memberDataAdap.Fill(memberDS, "memberTable");

• To show contents of table, presentation user

interface layer is needed
– Grid control works well

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 39

 Adding a DataGridView Control
to Hold the Dataset
• Place DataGridView control object on Windows
Form
– Structure divided into rows and columns
– Able to navigate around in data grid
– Can make changes by editing current records
– Can insert and delete new records

dataGridView1.DataSource = memberDS;
dataGridView1.DataMember = "memberTable";

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 40

 Updating the Database
• Additional SQL statements needed are
automatically generated if you instantiate objects of
command builder class
• Load the database into a DataGridView object and
make changes
• Flush the changes back up to live database using the
Update( ) method of DataAdapter class
memberDataAdap.Update(memberDS, "memberTable");

Review DataSetExample Example

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 41
 Updating the Database (continued)

DataGridView
object enables
you to delete
or insert new
records (rows)

Figure 14-3 Output from DataSetExample after database is loaded

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 42
 Updating the Database (continued)

• Several changes made

– Inserted Charlene
Boswick
– Deleted Gary Jones
and Colleen Bennett
– Changed Ralph Abbott
to Ralph Adams

Figure 14-4 Updated database records

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 43
 Data Source Configuration Tools
• Data configuration tools
– Makes it easier to develop applications that access data
– More drag-and-drop development – code is
automatically generated
• Wizards that automatically:
– Generate connection strings
– Create dataset and table adapter objects
– Bring data into the application

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 44

 Data Source Configuration Tools

Data Source
Configuration wizard
simplifies connecting
your application to a
data source
Figure 14-5 Data Sources window
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 45
 Add New Data Source
• Add new data source to application
– Open Data Sources window (from Data menu)
• Data Sources window visually shows the dataset
objects available to the project
– Datasets represent the in-memory cache of data
– Datasets mimic the database from which they are
based
– First prompted to choose a data source type

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 46

 Choose a Data Source Type

Figure 14-6 Connect to a Database

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 47
 New Connection
• Connections that are already established (attached)
are available from the drop-down list

Follow same
steps for
SQL Server,
Oracle, or
Microsoft
Access
databases

Figure 14-7 Add a New Connection

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 48
 Add
Connection
Refresh
button should
be pressed
after the server (LocalDB)\v11.0 is
name is default server name
entered

Figure 14-8 Select the

data source
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design Test Connection 49
 SQL Server Databases
• Create new SQL Server Databases
– Display Server Explorer Window (from View menu)
– Right-click on Data Connection
– Select Create new SQL Server database
• Create new tables
– Right-mouse click on Tables node
– Select Add new Table
• Administrative permissions on the local machine
needed to create or attach to a SQL Server using
Visual Studio
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 50
 Create
SQL Server
Database Right-
mouse
(continued) click to
reveal pop-
up menu

Figure 14-9 Server Explorer window

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 51
 SQL Server Database Tables
• Store Data in Tables
– Use the Server Explorer window
– Right-mouse click on a table, select Show Table Data
to store data
– Type the data in the table
– Table saved on exit
• Modify the structure
– Select Open Table Definition (right-mouse click in
Server Explorer window)
– Set primary keys
• Right-mouse clicking on the key row

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 52

 Adding a Connection
• Right-click on Server Explorer, select Add
Connection option
– Here you specify the data source, database filename,
and test the connection
– Also add the connection using the Add New Data
Source option from the Data menu

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 53

 Testing the Connection

Figure 14-10 Locate and test the connection

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 54
 Local Copy of Your Database
First time you establish a
connection to the database for
your application

Figure 14-11 Copy database file to your project

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 55
 Connection String Created

Figure 14-12 Save connection string

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 56
 Dataset Object
• Identify
database
Select full
objects that
tables or
you want to specific
bring into your columns –
application DataSet created
– Chosen objects from this!
become
accessible
through the
dataset object

Figure 14-13 Choose dataset objects

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 57
 Data Sources

Solution Explorer window

shows Dataset –
(StudentDataBaseDataSet.xsd)
is created

Figure 14-14 Data Sources and Solution Explorer windows

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 58
 DataGridView Control
• Placeholder control for displaying data on form
– To instantiate DataGridView control, drag a table from
Data Sources window to form
• Specify how data is formatted and displayed
– DataGridView – customizable table that allows you to
modify columns, rows, and borders
• Freeze rows and columns for scrolling purposes
• Hide rows or columns
• Provide ToolTips and shortcut menus

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 59

 Placing DataGridView Control
Table dragged
from Data
Sources window
to the form;
DataGridView
Control created

Added benefit:
DataSet, BindingNavigator,
AdapterManager,
TableAdapter, and
BindingSource objects Figure 14-15 DataGridView
automatically instantiated control placed on form
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 60
Customize the DataGridView Object
Use smart tag

Figure 14-16 Customizing the DataGridView control

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 61
 Editing Columns
(continued)

Figure 14-17 Edit DataGridView Columns

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 62
 Editing
Columns
(continued)

Table 14-7 ConfigToolsExample property values

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 63
 Editing Columns

Figure 14-18 Example using Configuration Tools output

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 64
 Formatting DataGridView Cells

Can also
define
custom
formats
for a cell

Figure 14-19 Formatting DataGridView cells

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 65
 BindingNavigator Control
• One of the five objects added to the component
tray at the bottom of the form when the table from
the Data Sources pane is placed on form
• Provides a standardized way to move through and
process the data
• Much functionality is automatically programmed
into the tool strip
– Code was also automatically generated

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 66

 BindingNavigator Control
(continued)
Standardized
controls
included to
move
through and
process data

Figure 14-20 BindingNavigator and BindingSource objects

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 67
 Adding Update Functionality
• Data adapter and dataset used to update data using
disconnected architecture
• Data adapters and/or table adapters read data from
a database into a dataset
– Interaction between the dataset and the actual database
is controlled through the methods of the data adapter or
table adapter objects
• To write changed data from the dataset back to the
database – SELECT, INSERT, DELETE, and
UPDATE SQL statements used
– SQL statements set through properties of data
adapters and/or table adapters
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 68
 TableAdapterManager
private void studentBindingNavigatorSaveItem_Click (object sender,
EventArgs e)
{
this.Validate( );
this.studentBindingSource.EndEdit( );
this.tableAdapterManager.UpdateAll
(this.studentDataBaseDataSet.Student);
}
• TableAdapterManager extremely useful when an
application pulls data from two or more tables
– Uses the foreign-key relationships

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 69

 TableAdapters
• Data adapter on steroids
• Update( ) method has to have SQL SELECT,
INSERT, DELETE, AND UPDATE commands
• Configure TableAdapter to update data
– Select TableAdapter object in component tray to view its
properties
– Set the SQL query for the CommandText for
SelectCommand, InsertCommand, UpdateCommand,
and DeleteCommand properties
• Use the DataSet Designer to view and modify
CommandText for these properties
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 70
 DataSet Designer
• Create and modify data adapters and table
adapters (and their SQL statements)
• To start the designer, double-click on dataset in
Solution Explorer window or right-click the
dataset in the Data Sources window
• Visual representation of the dataset and table
adapter is presented

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 71

 Dataset Designer (continued)

TableAdapter
object

Figure 14-21 Dataset Designer opened

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 72
 Reviewing the TableAdapter's
Command Properties

Figure 14-22 Updating the SelectCommand

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 73
 Query Builder (continued)
• CommandText property holds the SQL statement
• Open the Query Builder by clicking the
CommandText value box ( . . .)
– First prompted to select the table
– Can type the SQL statement into the SQL pane or use
the Diagram pane to select columns you want to
update
– Grid pane in the center can be used to filter and enter
parameterized expressions
– Results pane can be used for testing query (Located at
bottom of the Query Builder)
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 74
 Query Builder (continued)

Figure 14-23 Identify the Table for the Update

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 75
 Parameters
• Parameters
– Values provided at run time
• Special Symbol indicates insertion point
– SQL Server – (@) is placed in front of an identifier
• Example
DELETE FROM Student
WHERE (student_ID = @student_ID)
– Access – a question mark symbol (?) is used
• No identifier can follow the ? symbol with Access
• OLE DB and ODBC Data Providers do not
support named parameters
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 76
 Query Builder

Figure 14-24 CommandText property value for UpdateCommand

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 77
 Query Builder (continued)
SELECT student_ID, student_FirstName, student_LastName,
major_ID, student_Phone
FROM Student WHERE (major_ID = 'CS') OR (major_ID = 'MS')

• Inside the Query Builder, test SQL statements by

selecting the Execute Query button
– If there are parameterized values, a dialog box is
displayed requesting values for the arguments

Review ConfigToolsExample
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design
Example 78
 Query Builder (continued)

Figure 14-25 Example using Configuration Tools final output

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 79
 Query Builder (continued)

Figure 14-26 StudentDataBase Student table

contents (from bin\Debug directory)
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 80
 Adding Queries to TableAdapter
Objects
• TableAdapters has Fill( ) and Update( ) methods to
retrieve and update data in a database
• Other queries can be added as methods, called like
regular methods
– This is the added benefit TableAdapters offer over DataAdapters
– Use DataSet Designer to add the additional queries (methods)
– Have the option of naming these methods
• Methods are automatically named FillBy and GetDataBy
– SQL Select statement generated along with the Fill and Get
methods

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 81

 Adding Queries to TableAdapter
Objects (continued)
• Use DataSet Designer window to add the
additional queries
– Right-click TableAdapter in the DataSet Designer
window
– Select Add Query from the pop-up menu
• TableAdapter Query Configuration tool is displayed
• Prompt reads “How should the TableAdapter query
access the database?”
– Select Use SQL statement
– TableAdapter Query Configuration tool wizard launched

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 82

 Adding Queries to TableAdapter
Objects (continued)

Figure 14-27
Multiple Queries
Figure 14-28 Naming the new query methods
with the TableAdapter
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 83
 Adding Queries to TableAdapter
Objects (continued)
• To simply return values for display make selection
“SELECT which returns rows”
• To retrieve rows based on input values, like user’s
last name, you could add a parameterized query
using the WHERE clause
SELECT student_ID, student_FirstName, student_LastName,
student_Phone
FROM Student WHERE (student_LastName = ?)

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 84

 Add a Button and Textbox for the
New Queries
• Buttons to execute the new TableAdapter queries
can be added to the navigational tool strip
• Click on the navigational tool strip to the right of
the Save button; a new button appears
– ToolStripButton
• Button enables you to add additional controls
– Could also add text box for user input
• ToolStripTextBox

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 85

 Add a Button and Textbox for the
New Queries (continued)
• Double-click on ToolStripButton button to create
event-handler method
private void btnRetrieve_Click( object sender, EventArgs e )
{
studentTableAdapter.FillByLastName
(studentDataBaseDataSet.Student, txbxLastName.Text);
}
• Value entered in text box retrieved and used as a
parameter to the query’s SQL statement

Review ConfigToolsExampleWithQuery Example

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 86
 Adding Queries to TableAdapter
Objects (continued)

Figure 14-29 TableAdapter’s Query

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 87
 Connecting Multiple Tables
• Best to select all of the tables that you will need
originally when you create the dataset object
– Without regenerating the dataset, several options
• Use Query Builder and add INNER JOIN to
SELECT statement for the TableAdapter’s
SelectCommand
– Use the graphical capabilities of the tool on Diagram
Pane, or you can type the SQL statement into SQL pane
• Use the DataSet Designer
– Double-click on the dataset file
» DataSet Designer opens the DataSet and
TableAdapter objects graphically displayed as a
single unit
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 88
 Use the DataSet Designer to
Connect Multiple Tables
• Change the TableAdapter CommandText for the
SelectCommand so when the Fill( ) method is
called, dataset is populated with results from both
tables
• Call the TableAdapter's Fill( ) method in the page
load event handler

this.studentTableAdapter.Fill(this.studentDataBaseDataSet.Student);

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 89

 Use the DataSet Designer
(continued)

Figure 14-30 Revise the CommandText for the SelectCommand

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 90
 Modify the SelectCommand
Using the Query Builder

Figure 14-31 Use the Query Builder to modify the SelectCommand

CommandText
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 91
Modify the SelectCommand to Connect
Multiple Tables Using the Query Builder
SELECT student_ID, student_FirstName, student_LastName, major_ID,
student_Phone, major_Name, major_Chair, major_Phone
FROM Student
INNER JOIN Department ON Student.major_ID =
Department.major_ID

• Once the relationship is established between the

tables, add columns from the second table to the data
grid
– Do this by selecting the data grid's smart tag in the form
design mode
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 92
 Updating the Windows Form

Figure 14-32 Adding fields from the second table

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 93
 Updating the Windows Form
(continued)

Figure 14-33 Data retrieved from multiple tables

Review ConfigToolsExampleWithMultipleTables Example
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 94
 Display Data Using Details View
• Instead of displaying data in gridline view, Details
view (labels and textboxes) available
• From Data Sources window
– Use pull-down menu and select Details
– Drag the entire table onto the form
• You get Label and TextBox objects for each column in
the dataset
– Label is the column identifier with spaces replacing
underscores
» Change its Text property from the Properties
window
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 95
 Display Data Using Details View
(continued)

Figure 14-34 Details view

Review ConfigToolsExampleDetailView Example
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 96
 Adding Controls from the Toolbox
• Can drag controls
from Toolbox as
opposed to using
Data Sources
window
– Set DataSource and
DisplayMember
properties

Figure 14-35 Output from

ConfigToolsExampleDetailView
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 97
 Modifying the Data-Bound
Controls
• Click on individual columns in the Data Sources
window to change default-bound control to a
ComboBox, Label, LinkLabel, or ListBox
– Or customize the data-bound control
• If you select controls from Toolbox (as opposed to
from Data Sources windows), you have to set
DataSource and DisplayMember properties
– DataSource -> name of the dataset table object
– DisplayMember -> name the table’s column object

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 98

 ConfigToolsExample
• No program statements were written for these
applications
– Data Source Configuration tool used to identify the
data source tables
– Data-bound controls placed on the form from the Data
Sources window
– DataSet Designer used to create the relation between
the tables
– TableAdapter populated Dataset objects
– Properties were changed
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 99
 Modifying Connection Strings
• Several options
– Change the XML app.config file when the connection
string is saved with the application
– Use the Settings page of the Property Designer to
modify the project’s settings
• Access this from Solution Explorer window
– Settings.settings file

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 100

 Modifying Connection Strings
(continued)

Figure 14-36 Modifying Settings.settings and App.config files

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 101

 Coding Standards
• Database tables should be designed to have a
primary key
– Retrieve key as one of fields from your SQL query
• Use uppercase characters for SQL keywords
• Use primary key in the WHERE condition of an
UPDATE or DELETE SQL statement to avoid
errors
• Avoid using spaces within database names

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 102

 Resources
Database Tutorials –
http://www.quackit.com/database/tutorial/
Access Tutorials –
http://databases.about.com/od/tutorials/Tutorials.htm
101 LINQ Samples –
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vcsharp/aa336746.aspx
LINQ to SQL: .NET Language-Integrated Query for
Relational Data –
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/bb425822.aspx
C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 103
 Chapter Summary
• ActiveX Data Object (ADO.NET) classes can be
used to retrieve, manipulate, and update data in
databases
• ADO.NET Data Providers
• Connect to the database
– Connection string
• Programmatically access and update database

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 104

 Chapter Summary (continued)
• Data reader class – forward read-only retrieval
– Read( )
• Disconnected architecture
• SQL statements
• DataAdapter and TableAdapter
– Fill( ) & Update( ) methods
• DataSet

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 105

 Chapter Summary (continued)
• Configuration tools
– Use of Server Explorer
• Creation of New SQL Server database
– Use of Data Sources window
• Add connections
– Use of DataSet Designer
• Query Builder
• DataGridView Control

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 106

 Chapter Summary (continued)
• LINQ
• Query Expressions
– Contextual keywords
• LINQ with databases
• LINQ to SQL
• Implicitly typed local variables
– var

C# Programming: From Problem Analysis to Program Design 107