Database Programming (using ADO) Universal Data Access – Microsoft strategy for providing access to information across the enterprise. – UDA provides high-performance access to a variety of relational and non-relational information sources Text files, Spreadsheets, Relational Databases, – Easy-to-use programming interface that is tool and language independent. – Enables you to integrate diverse data sources, create easy-to- maintain solutions, and use your choice of best-of-breed tools, applications, and platform services

UDA – does not require expensive and time- consuming movement of data into a single data store, – nor does it require commitment to a single vendor’s products – based on open industry specifications with broad industry support, and works with all major established database platforms

Microsoft Data Access Components – the key technologies that enable UDA – Data-driven client/server applications deployed over the Web or a LAN can use these components to easily integrate information from a variety of sources, both relational (SQL) and non-relational These components include ActiveX Data Objects (ADO), OLE DB, and Open Database Connectivity (ODBC)

ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) The strategic application programming interface (API) to data and information. ADO provides consistent, high-performance access to data and supports a variety of development needs, including the creation of front-end database clients and middle-tier business objects that use applications, tools, languages, or Internet browsers. ADO is designed to be the one data interface needed for single and multi-tier client/server and Web-based data- driven solution development

ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) ADO provides an easy-to-use interface to OLE DB, which provides the underlying access to data. ADO implements a minimal number of layers between the front end and data source—all to provide a lightweight, high-performance interface ADO uses the Component Object Model (COM) automation interface - a language-neutral way of implementing objects that can be used in environments different from the one they were created in, even across machine boundaries VB.NET uses XML-based SOAP messaging instead of COM

OLE DB The Microsoft strategic system-level programming interface to data across the organisation Standardized interface that allows programmers to use a standard set of programming tools to refer to data from any source OLE DB is designed for relational and non-relational information sources, including mainframe and hierarchical databases; and file system stores; text, graphical, and geographical data; custom business objects, etc.

OLE DB OLE DB defines a collection of COM interfaces that encapsulate various database management system services. These interfaces enable the creation of software components that implement such services. OLE DB components consist of data providers, which contain and expose data; data consumers, which use data; and service components, which process and transport data (such as query processors and cursor engines).

Database Programming (using ADO) ActiveX Data Objects (ADO 2.0) Enables your client applications to access and manipulate data in a database [server] through any OLE DB provider Benefits are ease of use, high speed, low memory overhead

How to Reference ADO 2.0 in Visual Basic To gain access to the ADO 2.0 objects in Visual Basic, set a reference to the appropriate ADO type library There are two ADO type libraries. One is called ADODB and is contained in MSADO15.DLL – It appears in the References dialog box (available from the Project menu) as "Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects 2.0 Library“ The other is called ADOR and is contained in MSADOR15.DLL – It appears in the References dialog as "Microsoft ActiveX Data Objects Recordset 2.0 Library"

Database Programming (using ADO) The first type library (ADODB) is the larger and more feature-rich of the two It contains the main ADO objects and is the one used in most circumstances The second is a "lightweight" subset of the ADODB type library that supports only recordsets

Database Programming (using ADO)

Connecting an ADO Data Control to a Database Place an ADO Data Control on the form Properties of the ADO Data Control that must be set: – ConnectionString: specifies the database file that the data control will communicate with – RecordSource: specifies the table that will be accessed 12

Database Programming (using ADO) ActiveX Data Objects (ADO) This is the ADO control added to the toolbox

Database Programming (using ADO)

Sample Data Model represented in Microsoft Access

Database Programming (using ADO) Student Table

Database Programming (using ADO) Create an instance of the ADO control on a form The control is named adoStudent

Database Programming (using ADO) Set the CONNECTIONSTRING property

Database Programming (using ADO)

Set the RECORDSOURCE property

Database Programming (using ADO) Set the RECORDSOURCE property Select a Table from the DB Select adCmdTable The RECORDSOURCE property is now set to tblStudent

Database Programming (using ADO) Add Data-Aware (Bound) controls to the form which are used to display the fields of data in the DB table (tblStudent) Name: txtID Name: txtName Name: txtAddress

Database Programming (using ADO) Set the DATASOURCE and DATAFIELD properties of each of the Text Boxes DATASOURCE = name of the ADO control (adoStudent) DATAFIELD = name of the required field in the DB table (tblStudent)

Database Programming (using ADO) The DATASORCE property

Database Programming (using ADO) The DATAFIELD property

Database Programming (using ADO) VB Front-End connected to a DB Back-End MoveFirst MovePrevious MoveNext MoveLast

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