Summary

You started this chapter by exploring what a database actually is and then looked at the SQL SELECT statement. You put this knowledge to use by creating a query in the Northwind.mdb database to see the SQL statements that Access generated for you.

You then took a look at the basics of binding data to controls on a form, specifically the DataGridView control and TextBox controls. You have examined the necessary basic data access components required to retrieve data from an Access database and bind that data to your controls. You used the components provided in the Data tab of the Toolbox for your data access, and used the wizards to generate the necessary code to connect to the database and retrieve the data.

After working through this chapter, you should know:

• What a database is and the basic objects that make up a database

• How to use the SQL SELECT statement to select data from a database

• How to use the Data Source Configuration Wizard to create the data access components needed to perform data binding

• How to bind data to a DataGridView control

• How to bind data to TextBox controls and use the BindingNavigator control

Now that you have come to the end of this tutorial, you should have a relatively good idea of how to write code using Visual Basic .NET. The topics and example code covered in this tutorial have been designed to provide you with a firm foundation, but it is just the beginning of your journey. In fact, this tutorial is just one of the many steps you are going to take on your road to becoming a full fledged Visual Basic .NET programmer.