Seperate questions on VB and Databases

[RowanSpry]

First of all, the database question..
Long story short, i cant attend the first few weeks of A2 computing at college because of a knee operation. So i need to learn from home. So iv been looking at tutorials for VB and databases, and all of the tutorials require .MDB files...And for some reason Vista doesnt seem to support this. Iv messed around in Microsoft Database Works..and even excel.. My computer doesnt have Access though. The other Database file formats arnt supproted by VB 6.0.. Any ideas?

Secondly..the visual basic one.. Err.. Know any OTHER tutorials on programming in VB with databases? Need to get up to scratch by friday so i can see my computing teacher, before the op on monday.

Thanks guys

Rowan

[EzyStvy]

.MDB files are MS Access files. Installing Access would probably be a good thing.

[RowanSpry]

I cant be bothered to install it on my computer

Well i just received special permission from my dad to use his computer (Loaded with XP and Access. This would be better aswell considering college computers use XP..not much difference but every little helps)..

So..Thats the Database thing pretty much sorted. What about tutorials?

[glc]

I cant be bothered to install it on my computer

With that attitude, I wouldn't be surprised if the real experts here can't be bothered with trying to help you..........

Please post programming questions in the correct forum. I'm moving this one too, I think I've moved several of your previous threads to where they belong. Thank you.

Web Development & Hosting Questions about HTML, CSS, Javascript, Java, MySQL, PHP, Perl, general programming, and Web Hosting.

[doctorgonzo]

Books: http://www.visualbasicbooks.com/database.html
Once upon a time I read this one: http://www.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Dumm...764506250.html

[RowanSpry]

Yeah sorry GLC. Didnt mean to post it in the wrong place this time, silly error. Wont happen again.

Im installing Access now on my Vista machine.

I tried it all out on the XP computer downstairs but cant get it to work.. I point the control at a .MDB database, and says the format is not recognised. Argh..

[glc]

It may be a version issue. Access databases are generally not backwards compatible.

[doctorgonzo]

Are you setting up the data connection properly? It's been ages since I've done database work in VB, but I do know that you have to set up the data connection before you can start binding controls to data fields.

[mairving]

Originally Posted by glc It may be a version issue. Access databases are generally not backwards compatible.

They are backward compatible although it wants to save in it's own format. They are often not forward compatible meaning older versions can't open newer versions. Access 2007 uses the .accdb extension and can really mess up a lot of things that were done in older versions.

[RowanSpry]

Ok heres how im doing it..

Open a new database, make some fields (IE CompanyName, ContactName, PostalCode), and enter just random few digits and/or characters in each. Then save it (as MDB) to my desktop as ExampleDatabase.MDB

Go to VB6, put the database control on the form, and point it at the ExampleDatabase.MDB on my desktop.

Then go to the RecordSource drop down menu, click it, and ill get this "Unrecognised database format" + Filepath.

I left all other options on the Control properties set to default. And i used Access 2008, and tried it with Access..err the one on XP (2002?) and had the same message.

[RowanSpry]

Is there much difference between C# and C++?

[doctorgonzo]

There are some pretty big differences between C# and C++. C# is a memory-managed language: you don't use pointers like you do in C++, and you don't have to worry about garbage collection. C# is also like Java in that it is compiled into bytecode (JITted, actually), and then pretty much run on a virtual machine (although don't quote me on that last part, I'm not exactly sure how it works). The result is that it runs slower than C++, sometimes orders of magnitude slower.

C++ is a lot more powerful and lets you play with the internals of programming. C# is a bit more walled-off and isn't quite as powerful, although it is a bit easier for newbies to use.

[RowanSpry]

Thats cool..thanks.

My dad knows C++, and never heard of C# lol. Or VB (what i currently know)..

I started learning C# but im starting to consider learning C++ instead. My dad, 'back in the day' wrote a freeware program and won an award. Aswell as a lengthy article in Acorn magazine..this was a few decades ago. Its not much, but im still proud.

I think ill just go for C++...more common aswell... might be easier getting help for it..

THanks guys

also i sorted out the Database thing, got an email from my computing teacher, and he told me to do it a completely different way. i know how to do it, but cant say what it actually is untill i see him in person.. Its using 'Data Enviroment' and ' Data report' found in the components menu, under the Designer tab.

Thanks chaps!

[RowanSpry]

ONE last question.. Can you guys point me towards a good place online to give decent beginners tutorials? For free..Just to get started.

(My dads a busy guy, doesnt have the time)

Thanks