True DBInput Pro 8.0 includes nineteen tutorials written for developers who use Visual Basic 6.0. The tutorials assume that you are familiar with programming in Visual Basic, know what a Data control is, and know how to use the Visual Basic built-in Data control with bound controls in general. The tutorials provide step-by-step instructions—no prior knowledge of True DBInput is needed. By following the steps outlined in this chapter, you will be able to create projects that demonstrate a variety of True DBInput features, which will give you a good sense of what the input controls can do and how to do it.
The tutorials use an Access database, TDBIDemo.MDB. The database files TDBIDemo.MDB, TDBIDemo.SAV, and the tutorial projects are in the TUTORIAL subdirectory of the True DBInput installation directory. TDBIDemo.SAV is a backup copy of TDBIDemo.MDB. If you want to restore TDBIDemo.MDB after editing, adding, or deleting records while using the tutorials, make a new copy of TDBIDemo.MDB from TDBIDemo.SAV.
We encourage you to run the tutorial projects in Visual Basic, examine the code, and experiment with your own modifications. This is the best and quickest way to learn how to realize the full potential of True DBInput. You will find that True DBInput is very easy to use, and it enables you to create powerful database applications.
The tutorials assume that the database file TDBIDemo.MDB is in the C:\ProgramFiles\ComponentOneStudio\Common directory, and refer to it by filename instead of the full pathname for the sake of brevity.
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Note: Depending on where you store the projects and database files in the TUTORIAL subdirectory, you may need to change the DatabaseName property of the Data control in the tutorial projects in order for the projects to work properly. |
The project chosen for tutorials 16, 17, 18, and 19 is a simple one, with the forms and database files you might find in a restaurant’s payroll system for time and tips reporting.
Tutorial 1 - Defining a TDBCalendar Layout
In this tutorial, you will learn how the TDBCalendar control is set up, by setting the margin spacing around the control and determining the number of calendar months to display in the control. The following steps describe how to set this up. When completed, you will be able to run the program and observe the run-time features of the input controls.
Tutorial 2 - Drawing the TDBCalendar
This tutorial explains how the calendar is divided into sections for drawing purposes. To simplify and categorize the drawing functions, the calendar control was divided into four major parts: control, title bar, weekday title, and day area.
Tutorial 3 - Setting Up Holidays and Weekends with TDBCalendar
This tutorial demonstrates how rest days can be handled in the calendar control. Rest days can be treated in two ways: as weekends and as holidays. Weekends simply define which weekdays will become rest days, such as Sundays or Saturdays, and holidays define a particular day as a rest day. The following section describes each type of rests in more detail.
Tutorial 4 - Selection in TDBCalendar
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use features related to selection, such as whether to use multiple or single selection, the types of selectors to use, and which selection attributes to use in the control.
Tutorial 5 - Navigating in TDBCalendar
In this tutorial, you will learn how navigation features can be added. The control provides custom, button, scrollbar and Outlook-style navigating features. The following tutorial describes these styles in greater detail.
Tutorial 6 - Using TDBCalendar with TDBDateX
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the calendar control together with the TDBDateX object. The resulting sample will retrieve the detail information for the selected date, and display the details in a listbox.
Tutorial 7 - Using TDBCalendar with TDBDateX and TDBHolidayX
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the calendar control can be used together with the TDBHolidayX object. The resulting sample will not allow a selection to be made on a holiday. In addition, all holidays for months displayed in the calendar will be retrieved.
Tutorial 8 - Using TDBCalendar with TDBDate
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the calendar control with the TDBDate control. The resulting sample overrides the built-in calendar with the calendar that will be set up on a second form.
Tutorial 9 - Setting TDBContainer3D Effects
In this tutorial, you will learn how to set up the TDBContainer3D control effects.
Tutorial 10 - Applying TDBContainer3D Effects to Child Objects
In this tutorial, you will learn how to apply the effects of the container to child objects within the container.
Tutorial 11 - Using TDBFinancialX
In this tutorial, you will learn how to use the TDBFinancialX object.
Tutorial 12 - Tax Calculations with TDBFinancialX
This tutorial shows how to use the TaxType property to determine whether the Value property represents the desired total after the tax is calculated thus yielding the pre-tax total, or whether it represents the pre-tax amount yielding an after-tax total when invoking the TaxCalc method. The results can be retrieved from the Price, Tax, and the Total properties.
Tutorial 13 - Using TDBDTCalcX with TDBHolidayX
This tutorial shows how the TDBDTCalcX object can be used with the TDBHolidayX object.
Tutorial 14 - Navigating with TDBHolidayX
This tutorial shows how navigation can be used with the TDBHolidayX object.
Tutorial 15 - Working with Time Zones
This tutorial shows how to work with time zones with the TDBTZoneX object.
Tutorial 16 - Binding True DBInput to a Data Control
In Tutorials 16 through 19, you will learn how to bind a TDBText control to different data controls. This tutorial demonstrates the use of the standard Visual Basic Data control.
Tutorial 17 - Binding True DBInput to a Remote Data Control (RDO)
In this tutorial, you will learn how to bind True DBInput controls to a Visual Basic Remote Data control and create a fully functional database browser without writing a single line of code. You will also learn about the basic properties associated with the Remote Data control and True DBInput. You will then be able to run the program and observe the run-time features of the input controls.
Tutorial 18 - Binding True DBInput to an ActiveX Data Object (ADO)
In this tutorial, you will learn how to bind True DBInput controls to a Visual Basic Data control and create a fully functional database browser without writing a single line of code. You will also learn about the basic properties associated with the Data control and True DBInput. You will then be able to run the program and observe the run-time features of the input controls.
Tutorial 19 - Using True DBInput Pro 8.0 with True DBGrid Pro 8.0
In this tutorial, you will learn how to bind True DBInput Pro 8.0 controls to a True DBGrid Pro 8.0 grid and to a Visual Basic Data control to create a fully functional database browser without writing a single line of code. This tutorial utilizes the ExternalEditor property of True DBGrid Pro 8.0.