E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Natural Resource Monitoring Database Development Using SQL Server A Comparison Between Visual Basic/ADO.Net and Microsoft Access Data Projects Scott Miller Arctic Network Data Manager National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior I&M Program >> Alaska Region >> Arctic Network

So there I was... Using Access and SQL Server and spending a lot of time writing tons of code to do complex things unsatisfactorily and starting to wonder if there was a better way to build a front end... Using Access and SQL Server and spending a lot of time writing tons of code to do complex things unsatisfactorily and starting to wonder if there was a better way to build a front end... This was about the time Visual Studio Express Editions came out This was about the time Visual Studio Express Editions came out I tried it out I tried it out My journey and experiences... My journey and experiences... E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

SQL Server back-end/Multiple front-end application development E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A SQL Server Access Web GIS Custom application

A quick app development demo Visual Basic and ADO.Net Visual Basic and ADO.Net Built in Visual Studio 2010 Professional Built in Visual Studio 2010 Professional E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Drag and Drop E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Build and run the software E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Up to this point We’ve written no code Easy as Access More robust interface Here, however is where the hard work begins...

This is where you realize how much Access does for you You’ve got to write code to You’ve got to write code to Save Dataset Save Dataset Handle concurrency conflicts Handle concurrency conflicts Handle connectivity Handle connectivity Handle lots of other things Access usually handles for you Handle lots of other things Access usually handles for you E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

IntelliSense is your friend E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A IntelliSense works by accessing an automatically generated in-memory database of classes, variable names and other constructs defined in or referenced by the application being edited. It speeds up software development by reducing the amount of name memorization needed. It also allows for less reference to external documentation

Adaptable form controls E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A No longer wedded to a target screen size No longer wedded to a target screen size Example: same application, two screen sizes Example: same application, two screen sizes 1600 x x 1200 VGA 640,480 VGA 640,480 Accomodate desktop/field computers Accomodate desktop/field computers

More better tools and controls My favorites: My favorites: SplitPanel SplitPanel ToolStrips/ToolStripContainers ToolStrips/ToolStripContainers Context Menus Context Menus Example Example E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Strength/Weakness Comparison Access\VBA vs. Visual Studio\VB\ADO.Net E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Access Strengths Strengths Rapid Application Development Rapid Application Development Major application functions require no programming Major application functions require no programming Loading data Loading data Saving data Saving data Weaknesses Weaknesses Not adaptable to different screen sizes Not adaptable to different screen sizes Limited out-of-the-box tools Limited out-of-the-box tools Custom tools and Active-X controls need active management Custom tools and Active-X controls need active management Poor VBA Editor Poor VBA Editor Wonky Wonky E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Visual Basic/ADO.Net Strengths Strengths Drag/drop application development Drag/drop application development Screen adaptable Screen adaptable Visual Studio IntelliSense makes code 10x easier to write than VBA editor Visual Studio IntelliSense makes code 10x easier to write than VBA editor Custom tools delivered with the installation Custom tools delivered with the installation Many more tools available to use Many more tools available to use Weaknesses Weaknesses Major functions must be written by you (data loading, saving, updating, etc.) Major functions must be written by you (data loading, saving, updating, etc.) Database design changes hard to retrofit Database design changes hard to retrofit Big learning curve Big learning curve E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A

Major Weakness Don’t remove tables or columns using Data Source Configuration Wizard! Don’t remove tables or columns using Data Source Configuration Wizard! It doesn’t clean up after itself very well It doesn’t clean up after itself very well Blown up every time I tried Blown up every time I tried Only build your application when your data model is very mature Only build your application when your data model is very mature Prototype in Access  Build in Studio Prototype in Access  Build in Studio E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Don’t remove entities from the Dataset using the Wizard

Strategy E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A Start Is the database simple? Yes Access\VBA No Build prototype in Access Is the data model mature? Build application in VB/ADO.Net Yes No

Conclusions Conclusion: It is possible to write compiled data management software with about the same amount of effort as developing Access applications... Conclusion: It is possible to write compiled data management software with about the same amount of effort as developing Access applications......once the large learning curve has been overcome....once the large learning curve has been overcome. Benefits of VB/ADO.Net development are worth the effort, but only as part of a structured cycle of escalating development steps starting with Access\VBA Benefits of VB/ADO.Net development are worth the effort, but only as part of a structured cycle of escalating development steps starting with Access\VBA E X P E R I E N C E Y O U R A M E R I C A