423.  ADO.NET Using VB.NET

Rev. 1.0

 

This three-day intensive course teaches the essential elements of ADO.NET such that at the end of the course the programmer is able to utilize its tremendous database manipulation powers to build effective database applications. The course includes a major case study demonstrating the use of ADO.NET in a realistic setting.

 

The course opens with an overview of ADO.NET and its relation to previous Microsoft data access technologies, including ADO. It includes a discussion of ADO.NET architecture, main interfaces and classes, and programming with both the connected and disconnected models. The database for the case study is introduced.

 

The next two chapters cover in detail Connection and Command objects, which are essential in both connected and disconnected database access scenarios. The following chapter covers DataReaders, which provide a fast, forward-only reading capability. Programming with DataReaders bears a close resemblance to programming with the vintage recordset object.

 

Then the course focuses on the backbone of ADO.NET: DataSet and its related classes, such as DataAdapter, DataTable, DataRow, DataColumn, DataRelation, TableMappings and ColumnMappings. DataSet is able to handle multiple tables while remaining disconnected. It is eminently suited for building highly scalable applications for the Web.

 

The close relationship between ADO.NET and XML is covered in detail. There is a practical discussion of data binding and its use in both Windows Forms and Web Forms (ASP.NET) applications. The course concludes with coverage of transactions and concurrency.

 

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 

·         Understand the architecture and main classes of ADO.NET

·         Gain fluency in programming ADO.NET using VB.NET

·         Gain a thorough understanding of the use of disconnected DataSets for building highly scalable applications

·         Acquire a working knowledge of the tight coupling of XML with ADO.NET

·         Implement a realistic case study that ties together all the concepts of ADO.NET in a practical demonstration

 

Course Duration:  3 days

 

Prerequisites:  A basic knowledge of SQL and of programming the .NET Framework using VB.NET. The student should also understand the fundamentals of XML. To get full benefit from the case studies in the course the student should be able to write simple Windows Forms applications. A working knowledge of SQL Server is also desirable.

 

1.      Introduction to ADO.NET

Microsoft Data Access Technologies

From ADO to ADO.NET

ADO.NET Architecture

Namespaces and Classes

Interfaces

DataSets and Disconnected Access

First ADO.NET Programs

Acme Computer Case Study

 

2.      ADO.NET Connections

.NET Data Providers

IDbConnection

Connection Classes

Connection Strings

Connection Pooling

Connection Events

Error Handling

 

3.      ADO.NET Commands

IDbCommand

Command Objects

Creating Commands

Executing Commands

Parameterized Queries

Command Types

Using Stored Procedures

Batch Queries

 

4.      DataReaders and Connected Access

DataReaders

IDataReader

IDataRecord

Type-Safe Accessors

Null Columns

ExecuteReader Options

Multiple Result Sets

Obtaining Schema Information

 

5.      Data Sets and Disconnected Access

DataSet

DataAdapter

Command Objects

DataTable

DataColumn

DataRow

Row States and Versions

Accept or Reject Changes

DataTable Events

Updating a Database from a DataSet

Command Builders

 

6.      More About DataSets

Filtering DataTables

Multiple Table DataSets

Schema

Constraints

Relations

Navigating a DataSet

DataMapping

Creating a DataSet Programmatically

 

7.      XML and ADO.NET

Strong Coupling Between ADO.NET and XML

Rendering XML from a DataSet

Controlling XML Output

Reading XML into a DataSet

XML Schema and DataSets

Typed DataSets

Synchronizing DataSets and XML

XML Serialization

 

8.      Data Binding

Data Binding in Windows Forms

Simple Data Binding

Complex Data Binding

DataGrid Binding

DataView

Filtering and Sorting

Data Binding in ASP.NET Web Forms

 

9.      Concurrency and Transactions

DataSets and Concurrency

Optimistic Concurrency

Pessimistic Concurrency

Handling Concurrency Violations

ADO.NET Transactions

Database Transactions

 

Appendix A. Acme Computer Case Study

 

Appendix B. Learning Resources

 

System Requirements

 

Course exercises require Microsoft Visual Studio .NET 2003 on Windows 2000 or XP. SQL Server 2000 should be installed. The Web Forms portion of the last chapter requires Internet Information Services. See the appropriate course Setup Guide for details.

 

A good minimal hardware profile for this course would have a Pentium 500-MHz or equivalent CPU, 256 MB of RAM, and at least 3 GB of free disk space for tools installation and courseware.