New user so I hope I can tell you what I want ---
I have a information in my database. I need to get that information in a seeder class in C#. I would rather not have to re-type the whole thing one line at a time.
Is there any way for me to do this? I am using Visual Studio 2012 and Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio if that makes any difference!
For example, I have CategoryId, Category as my table headers and the table is populated with autogenerated ID's but I have put in lots of categories.
PLEASE remember I am a new user so break down your answers with lots of examples PLEASE!!!
Thank you!
Your question is rather vague.
If your general problem can be re-stated as "How can I easily turns rows of data in my database into objects in C# with as little code as possible?", then I would recommend learning how to use an ORM layer. I use NHibernate to great effect. It provides a way of mapping tables in a database to classes in C# and does a ton of CRUD (CReate/Update/Delete) work for you. The alternative is to do the grunt work of writing stored procedures, pulling values out of a data set and constructing objects yourself; all of which is very tedious without an ORM layer.
Related
Let's say I need to create an application like a books library management system for example that has a front-end like Windows form/WPF and it stores information to database. How to approach making such a solution.
Do we need to create a database first with all tables in C# or is the other way.. SQL to C#?
How do people generally do this? Can someone point me to a sample free project or a book that does this to reinforce my understanding.
Both ways are possible. People usually only focus on one side and use a tool for the other.
Database first approach: Codesmith is an exemple of tool that'll generate C# files after you created the database.
Code first approach: Entity Framework is (an exemple) for the other way around, you write your model in C# and it will generate the database accordingly.
Now pointing you at one or the other would be a bit subjective and also not really match Stack Overflow spirit.
OK, as the title suggests I am designing a data access layer for a survey framework I am currently working on.
We all are familiar with the layered architecture notion, we try to achieve separation between the layers in a way that presentation layer can be hooked to any business layer, in the same way business layer can be wired to any Data access layer regardless of its implementation as long as it maintains the same interface (Same methods).
Now, after building the database using SQL Server, I am building the DAL using a DataSet (*.xsd) file and in this file I create the methods for each table adapter and the corresponding stored procedures in the database.
After working for a little while with the data set visual designer in Visual Studio I have noticed that I am aiming at providing a very flexible API that provides all the possible queries for the user in the form of methods. For example, I want to provide the user with methods that performs retrieval operations on the tables using any possible filter or with not filter, I also want the user to be able to delete rows using any column she/he wants as filter, also updating all/individual fields using any column he wants as a filter.
The way I have accomplished this primarily is by creating a method for every possible query whether it is DDL or DML. Now, when I think that I might made a mistake in a certain method or that I want to check the methods to make sure I did not miss anything while fast typing it seems like a pain because I have ended up with a ton of methods.
So, my question is: Is there another way for designing the data access layer so that it can be easy to refactor the methods and create them?
I hope I did not elaborate too much but I wanted to put you in the picture so I can get the correct answer, thanks in advance
Well, you could use an ORM tool to provider a good data access layer. I mean it because with an ORM tool you will have support to most of populars databases as SQL Server, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSql, etc.
Depending of wichi ORM tool you use, you do not have to write SQL statments, which means you will be less sensitive to error an query.
I recommend you to check a tool called NHibernate. With this ORM you can write queries using Linq and another one (more specific for NHibernate) called QueryOver. You will have a lot of flexibily to write dynamics queries.
With an ORM tool you could implement a Repository Pattern and create methods and queries to get working data access.
So, when you use something like this, you will have the benefits of the Visual Studio like Refecting, because Linq, and QueryOver is strongly typed. But you will have HQL too, it like Sql Statment.
Check this article: Why I don't use DataSets
I am creating a C# application which will have to upload and read data from a SQL database. In school I learned the raw database calls but I am wondering if there is a free tool which lets me work easier and faster with the database call.
I also need to be sure that none is editing on the same line in the table at the same time so it could be nice if the tool also had something to ensure this.
Hope some of you have some great experiences
Take a look at Object Relational Mappers.
The favourites at this time a nHibernate and Entity Framework, but there are many others.
I've made a local database for a C# project:
I know basic SQL commands, but haven't worked with databases in C#.
What I'd like to know specifically is:
How to read from the database (query)
How to add and update rows
The database only consists of 3 tables, so I don't think anything fancy is needed.
First, you should learn a bit about various technologies and APIs for connecting with a database.
The more traditional method is ADO.NET, which allows you to define connections and execute SQL queries or stored procedures very easily. I recommend digging up a basic tutorial on ADO.NET using Google, which may differ depending on what type of project you're creating (web app, console, WinForms, etc).
Now days, ORMs are becoming increasingly popular. They allow you to define your object model in code (such as every database table would be a class, and columns would be properties on that class) and bind to an existing database. To add a new row to a table, you'd just create an instance of a class and call a "Save" method when you're done.
The .NET framework has LINQ to SQL and the Entity Framework for this sort of pattern, both of which have plenty of tutorials online. An open source project I really like is Castle Active Record, which is built on top of NHibernate. It makes defining ORMs quite easy.
If you have specific questions about any of the above, don't hesitate to post a new question with more specific inquiries. Good luck!
Update:
I thought I'd also put in one last reference as it seems you might be interested in working with local database stores rather than building a client/server app. SQLite allows you to interact with local stores on the file system through SQL code. There's also a .NET binding maintained by the SQLite guys (which would in theory allow you to work with the other platforms I mentioned): http://system.data.sqlite.org/index.html/doc/trunk/www/index.wiki
You can use SQLCE.
This blog will give you a good start.
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2011/01/11/vs-2010-sp1-and-sql-ce.aspx
Here is a small tutorial that should be helpful to you.
You can make use of the SqlDataReader to read data
and the SqlCommand to Insert Update Delete rows from your tables.
http://www.dotnetperls.com/sqlclient
You could use it by adding following to your Startup.cs
services.AddDbContext<DemoDbContext>(options => options.UseSqlite("Filename=data.db"));
I am working on a personal project as a way of learning more about C# and .NET, specifically creating an application that utilises a database (MS SQL Server 2008 in my case). Whilst I appreciate there isn't always a definitive "right" way of doing things, given the choice between using an old technology/idea or a new one, I would rather use the new one. For example, one of my aims for this project is to learn, or at least familiarise myself with, WPF rather than using WinForms as I have done in the past.
On that basis, I've been muddling around without a great deal of direction with regards to saving data to my database and retrieving it. So far I've managed to get both those working using TableAdapters but I feel like they are the "old" way of working (my basis for this is that they are listed under Visual Studio 2005 on MSDN). Firstly, am I correct in this assumption? If so, what are the newer methods of saving and retrieving data from a database? I would be grateful of any pros and cons each method offers.
I've Googled and searched MSDN extensively but I don't feel like I am using the correct search terms as I have only succeeded in confusing myself.
I have .NET 3.5, Visual Studio 2008 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008 at my disposal.
Any guidance would be much appreciated.
I would agree that TableAdapters, DataSets, DataTables, etc. are the "old" way of doing things.
The "new" way would be Linq-to-SQL, Entity Framework or NHibernate.
Personally, I like to use a combination of Linq-to-SQL along with plain old DBConnections, DataReaders and DTO's where needed.
If you would like a newer way of doing Database access in .NET, I would recommend looking into LINQ to SQL or the Entity Framework.
There are many many many different ways to retrieve data from SQL Server 2008 using .Net.
Table Adapters are not a bad way; they are core to the .Net Framework, easy to get started with and reasonably powerful, although they do not perform quite as well as other options and often require more memory.
Basically Table adapters are good if your data is structured the way you want to view it. If you want to view data in a different way to it is stored you can do this with a table adapter but you loose the ability to write back changes to the database, this is OK if you are just generating a report.
If you want to view and change the data and the data is not in the structure you want to view it you need entity framework so you can query the data to get it into a different format and still have the ability to write any changes back. This is what the call the data from the server the MV to the display the VM