Chapter 18 - Data sources and datasets
Outline
How to create a data source
How to use a data source
How to use Query Builder to build a simple query
How to use the Dataset Designer
How to generate detail controls from a data source
How to use Query Builder to build more complicated
parameterized queries
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How to create a data source
• Data Source
• specifies the source of the data for the application
• most apps get their data from a database
• Data source window shows all tables and columns in the
dataset that are available to the application.
• display by clicking on Data Sources tab at left edge
• display by selecting Data > Show Data Sources
• If no data sources available, click on Add New Data
Source link.
• Starts the Data Source Configuration Wizard
• Actually 4 different ways to start this Wizard (pg. 544)
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display by selecting
Data > Show Data Sources
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If you add a database file to your project
• By default, that file is copied to the output directory for the project every
time the project is built
• When you run the app, it works with the copy of the database file in the
output directory
• Any changes made to the database aren’t applied to the database file in the
project directory
• Each time you rebuild, database in output directory is overwritten
• Change this , by selecting database file in Solution Explorer and change its
“Copy to Output Directory” property to “Copy if newer”
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Choosing the connection for
the data source
• Can choose from a
previously defined
connection
• Or click New
Connection
• Click the Connection
string button to make
sure you have the right
connection
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Creating a connection to a
database
• How you do this differs for
• SQL Server Express (default)
• Microsoft Access
• using a database server running on a network server
• etc.
• WE ARE USING MICROSOFT ACCESS – NO WHINING!!!
• Change the data source to Microsoft Access Database File
• Enter the database filename
• Click Test Connection to be sure connection is configured
properly
• Save the Connection string in the app configuration file
• Now table adapters that use the connection can refer to the
connection string by name
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Choosing database objects for a
data source
• Last step of the Data Source Configuration Wizard
• Choose any tables, views, stored procedures, functions available
from database
• Can expand nodes and just choose columns
• Can also enter the name you want to use for the dataset
• Default: databasename + “DataSet”
• NOTE: selection of several tables in the dataset, maintains the
relationships between those tables
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Schema file
• After completing Data Source Configuration Wizard
• new data source is displayed in Data Sources Window
• generates a file that contains the schema for the DataSet class
• defines the structure of the dataset, incl. tables and columns it contains,
data types, and constraints
• listed in Solution Explorer Window with extension .xsd
• double- click it to view graphic representation
• generated code is below it
• when you create bound controls from the data source, the code in this
class is used to define the DataSet object that the controls are bound to –
DO NOT CHANGE THIS CODE!
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Schema file, generated code file for DataSet
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How to use a data source
• Bind controls to the data source and then use the bound
controls to add, update, and delete the data in the datasource.
• We’ll use DataGridView and TextBox controls in our
examples.
• Steps
• Drag a table from the Data Sources Window onto a form
• adds a DataGridView control to the form and binds it to the table allows browsing of rows, as well as add, update and delete rows
(complex data binding)
• adds five more objects to the Component Designer tray
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Objects in Component
Designer Tray
• DataSet– defines the dataset that contains the Authors
table
• TableAdapter – provides command that can be used to
work with the Authors table
• TableAdapterManager – provides for writing the data in
two or more related tables to the database, so referential
integrity is maintained
• BindingSource - specifies the data source (the Authors
table) that the controls are bound to and provides
functionality for working with the data source
• BindingNavigator – defines the toolbar that contains
the controls for working with the data structure
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Generated code
• When application starts, the first event handler is executed
• it uses the Fill method of the TableAdapter object to load data into
the DataSet object
• because the DataGridView control is bound to this table, the data
is displayed in this control
private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.authorsTableAdapter.Fill(this.booksDataSet.Authors);
}
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Generated code
• When user changes the data in the DataGridView control
• changes are saved back to the dataset
• changes are not saved to database until user clicks the Save
button
• calls Validate method
• calls EndEdit method of the BindingSource – apply any pending
changes to the dataset (added/updated rows are not saved until you
move to another row
• calls UpdateAll of the TableAdapterManager – saves the data in the
DataSet object to the database (only updates rows that need
updating maintaining referential integrity)
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Generated code
user clicks the Save button
private void authorsBindingNavigatorSaveItem_Click(object
sender, EventArgs e)
{
this.Validate();
this.authorsBindingSource.EndEdit();
this.tableAdapterManager.UpdateAll(this.booksDataSet);
}
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How to use Query Builder
• DataSource Configuration Wizard doesn’t give you
enough flexibility, e.g., can’t join data or sort
• Query Builder provides a graphical interface that you can
use to modify a Select statement without knowing proper
SQL syntax
• Steps:
•
•
•
•
Select the table adapter that contains the query
Right click Add query,
Change query name if a new query
Click Query Builder
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Type new name for
query
Click Query Builder
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Diagram Pane
right click to
add tables
to pane
Grid Pane
shows all
columns
selected
SQL Pane
Results Pane
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How to use the Dataset
Designer
• Lets you work with a dataset schema using a graphic interface
• To view the schema – double-click on the schema file for the
dataset (.xsd file)
• Properties you can view
• table adapter, query, columns in a table
• Example: Fix the autoincrement of the authorID column in
the Authors table
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Generating detail controls from a
data source
• DataGridView may not be appropriate for app
• Can bind columns of data source to individual controls (simple
data binding)
• Select Details option from drop-down list when you select
the table in Data Sources Window
• Drag the table onto the form
• Generates a label and a bound control for each column
• most string/numeric columns  TextBox
• Change to other appropriate types by selecting column in Data
Sources Window and the select a different type of control
from drop-down list
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