Mick Dugan
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2003
- Messages
- 45
Hello All,
I could really use some help from the experts on this board. I have a separate career, and am learning VB as a hobby so please try to keep the "egg throwing" to a minimum if (um, make that when) I ask a dumb question. My total training thus far in VB is one college class.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, heres what Id like to know:
Im trying to create a databased type website that will be a clearing house for used machinery. I want sellers to be able to post their machines with descriptions and pics. Buyers will be able to search for a machine first by selecting machine type. Then they will be presented with a listing of available machines in that category. As I envision it, each listing will occupy a single line. That line will contain the following information from left to right.
1. A link to a more complete description of the machine (including pics.).
2. The brand and model of the machine.
3. The year of the machine.
4. The condition of the machine on a scale of 1 to 10.
5. The distance of the seller to the particular buyer.
6. An icon indicating whether or not the listing has pics.
7. The price of the machine.
Users should be able to sort their search by clicking on the heading of any of the above categories.
OK, now for the specific questions:
1. My understanding is I can store this data in either a sequential file, or use a database such as MS Access. I know how to store data in a sequential file using streamreader/writer. Ive also heard that Access, while more powerful, if a pain to learn. Is it worth the effort to learn Access or can I get by with the sequential route (were talking probably a few thousand listings total).
2. If using sequential files is the best way to go, Id prefer to store each listing on its own line using a CSV format, but what about when the seller wants to include commas in his description? Would this consideration force me to use LSV instead?
3. Till now, Ive only gotten up to listing my data in a single list box, using the format string function to keep the columns aligned. Nice, but I know theres got to be a better way. How can I display my data in a table that has vertical lines separating the fields? In fact, it would probably be more readable if every other listing had a contrasting back color. Any ideas?
I look forward to any advice you might have.
Regards,
Mick Dugan
I could really use some help from the experts on this board. I have a separate career, and am learning VB as a hobby so please try to keep the "egg throwing" to a minimum if (um, make that when) I ask a dumb question. My total training thus far in VB is one college class.
Now that the disclaimer is out of the way, heres what Id like to know:
Im trying to create a databased type website that will be a clearing house for used machinery. I want sellers to be able to post their machines with descriptions and pics. Buyers will be able to search for a machine first by selecting machine type. Then they will be presented with a listing of available machines in that category. As I envision it, each listing will occupy a single line. That line will contain the following information from left to right.
1. A link to a more complete description of the machine (including pics.).
2. The brand and model of the machine.
3. The year of the machine.
4. The condition of the machine on a scale of 1 to 10.
5. The distance of the seller to the particular buyer.
6. An icon indicating whether or not the listing has pics.
7. The price of the machine.
Users should be able to sort their search by clicking on the heading of any of the above categories.
OK, now for the specific questions:
1. My understanding is I can store this data in either a sequential file, or use a database such as MS Access. I know how to store data in a sequential file using streamreader/writer. Ive also heard that Access, while more powerful, if a pain to learn. Is it worth the effort to learn Access or can I get by with the sequential route (were talking probably a few thousand listings total).
2. If using sequential files is the best way to go, Id prefer to store each listing on its own line using a CSV format, but what about when the seller wants to include commas in his description? Would this consideration force me to use LSV instead?
3. Till now, Ive only gotten up to listing my data in a single list box, using the format string function to keep the columns aligned. Nice, but I know theres got to be a better way. How can I display my data in a table that has vertical lines separating the fields? In fact, it would probably be more readable if every other listing had a contrasting back color. Any ideas?
I look forward to any advice you might have.
Regards,
Mick Dugan