Database questions

[T. Schmidt]

I need to create and work with a database. This means I will have one application that creates, reads and writes into this database and onother one (or more) on different computers that only read from this database.

Is it possible to write such applications in the .Net environment using C# without the use of any additional software?

I heard about about DAO and SQL-Server but I have problems to understand how to use them. Will these two be sufficent to fulfill my described tasks? Is it possible to use DAO on two different computers?

Are there some samples around that demonstrate the use basic use of creating and accessing a database? In the Visual Studio help couldn't help me very much.

I know how to program but
1. I'm new to the .Net world
2. I never worked with the database stuff

Thanks for you help.

[pr4242]

For accessing database from .net,there are examples givne in msdn help that comes along with .net package.
What u need to know is simple SQL statements fro selecting, inserting records.
Go thro' the examples, they are quite helpful.
.net provides a very god featrue of accessing databse thro' an object called dataset which is kept in memory.
This is quite useful instead of active connection when there are less transactions to be made.

[CPCericola]

As the other poster mentioned, .Net provides an excellent manor for accessing databases(SQL Server and others). I'd recommend starting out working with a MS Access database as your data source, unless you're already familiar with SQL server.

As for learning how to write the code, I've only used the help that came with the VS.Net. You might want to pick up a book on the subject. The .NET code, however, is only half the battle.

You will also need to famliarize yourself with SQL. I personally used some content from this this site (http://sqlzoo.net/) in addition to a few books. Your results may vary depending on how well you pick up technologies from self-instruction.

[T. Schmidt]

Thanks for your replies so far.

When I want to use an Access database do I need to buy MS Access first or are all necessary tools supplied with the Visual Studio and Windows?

All samples I found in the help were about accessing an existing database but there is none until now.

[pr4242]

MS Access comes as a part of Microsfot office tools.
For databases other than Access, like SQL server,Oracle u need to install the database server in one machine.
For MS access it is not necessary.

[T. Schmidt]

Thanks again for your help. But I still have no idea how to start with this. I haven't found any sample or help how to CREATE a database.

All code that I found until now requires an existing database to start and with this I can read, write or modify. I have found a SQL command to create a table inside a database but the database itself? :confused:

[pr4242]

Refer to help on Creating database in Access.
Access is very user friendly.Open Microsoft access, the wizard will guide you thro' the database creation process.

[T. Schmidt]

Open Microsoft access, the wizard will guide you thro' the database creation process.
This is my point, I don't have MS Access. My question is if it is possible to create and work with databases without any additional commercial software.

[Arild Fines]

VS.NET comes with the Microsoft Data Engine. This is basically a crippled version of SQL Server(same functionality, but throttled so it won't perform well with more than ~5 concurrent users).
Look in your X:\Program Files\Microsoft VisualStudio.NET\Setup\MSDE folder. There should be a setup.exe file there. Run it. If it's not there, it's probably on the VS.NET CD.
With MSDE installed, you should be able to access it from the Server Explorer in VS.NET where you can create new databases and design tables for them.

[Arild Fines]

And of course, there's always www.mysql.org. Google around - there should be some .NET managed providers for MySQL.