Object Data Source in Visual Studio 2012 Express for Web - linq-to-sql

I'm trying to follow various tutorials on how to create LINQ to SQL classes and they all say I should connect to the Object Data Source. However there's no such source available to select in Visual Studio 2012 Express for Web. Is this a limitation of the Express for Web edition? I have tried to find info on this, but haven't found anything. Is there a workaround?

I figured it out. This should be done through Project->Add New Data Source. Not Tools->Connect to Database or Database Explorer.

Related

Is Jasper reports suitable for MySQL based reports?

I have a situation where I need to generate reports from a Data Mart which is built in MySQl. I have to use open source tools only. Can you please suggest any tools that best fit my requirement? Is Jasper Reports right for this?
Thanks
There are so many Open source tool which you can use such as JaspeReport Server and Pentaho.
but I would prefer to use JasperReport server, It has all the capabilities like : -
To allow users to make reports and download them as Excel or PDF.
Drill downs
3.Crosstabs
Graphical Charts
Easy to integrate onto a web app type page full of these reports
Easy integration with our databases
Easy integration with Java and Eclipse.
You can find more about JasperReport server here
JasperSoft comes default with PostgreSQL database but you can connect through MySQL database.
Here you can see comparison of all other open source reporting based tools.

To use existing database on sql server2008 in visual studio 2010 mvc3

i have an existing database on local sql server 2008.
what should i do to access the database and to display the contents of that database.
i am using visual studio 2010 and i have to make a mvc3 web application for which i have to access the database.
should i have to make model classes(entity classes) or rather can these be generated from my database. please help me with this problem.
This is a very open question and any answer will depend a lot on personal preference. I would suggest that if you are using MVC3 and VS2010 you look at Entity Framaework, Microsofts ORM (Object relational mapper).
EF MVC Tutorial
You can produce a Model from the Database or Write a Domain model that mirrors the DB using Code First its up to you the tutorial linked explains how.
Alternatives would include Nhibernate, Subsonic and a bunch of other ORMs or just doing it all your self with ado connections and commands.

linq to mySQL How can I trick VB Express to use it?

I'm currently using VB.NET Express to connect to mySQL over the net. No problem as long as I use plain vanilla SQL connections and statements.
But when it comes to LINQ 2 mySql, I'm struck by VB Express's limitation.
Any clue you gurus?
You'll need to switch out to using something like DBLinq, Entity Framework, or nHibernate instead of Linq-to-SQL. Linq-to-SQL only supports SQL Server and SQL Server CE. This isn't a
limitation of Visual Studio Express at all. Actually, the only limitations I know of with the express editions are that they don't support any Visual Studio plug-ins - but as far as CLR features, you aren't limited at all using Express. And, Entity Framework is built-in and available for you to use out of the box. And stackoverflow has info on the MySQL connector.
After a couple of days searching, Iv' finally reached the Saint Graal!
Since you guys at StackOverflow are so great a bunch of blokes, I've written a little how to sample for you. Here it is:
1 - The ONLY sensible, free and working product I've founr is Devart LinqConnect Express edition.
Its a free product from www.devart.com, capable of:
(Please note I have no particular links nor interest with them.)
Generating datacontext from its own embarked Devart EntityDeveloper free edition
(With some limits in number of tables per context, 10 if I'm right).
Complete the LINQ dlls into Visual Basic Express edition, without having to create a datasource from the datasource explorer.
Ok, once you've installed the package, here's the how to:
Launch the Entity designer from Program Files\Devart LinqConnect and create the model from the database.
Save the model and launch your VB Winform project.
Add the following .NET references:
Devart.Data.Linq
Devart.Data.MySql.Linq '-- Or any other DB you need
System.Data.Linq
Now add the new datacontext.designer.vb file you've created in Entity Developer
to the project:
Right-click the project in Solution Explorer and select
Add existing item
Locate the datacontext file and that's almost it!
Create a button and a datagridview named dgv1 onto your form.
5 more lines of code and you're set!
Button code:
Dim ctx As New myDataContext.myDataContext
Using ctx
Dim tbl = From xxx In ctx.myTable
Select xxx
dgv1.DataSource = xxx.ToList
End Using
The rest is pure cosmetic LOL...
It is worth to mention that although their product is great, the support is great as well!
They answered my questions in less than 12 hours.

Integrating TFS and MySQL

We are developing an application with Visual Studio 2008 and TFS. Our database is a MySQL DB. As we develop we keep the new queries that need to be applied to the database of our new release as the New Version Update Queries. Right now I'm keeping them in a simple text file (which is a painful task!). I know that TFS integrates with MSSQL and makes this job very easy. I've already asked our consultant from Microsoft if there is any way to integrate TFS and MySQL, and his answer was "NO". So I was wondering if anyone knows any smart way of handling this issue?
I think the question may be a little misleading in that I think you're saying TFS when you mean Visual Studio. My guess is that you are looking for a MySQL provider to hook into VS2008 so you can use the database developer features (DataDude) with it? TFS itself is simply a server that provides source control and work item tracking services and isn't designed to work with anything other than MSSQL.
Visual Studio's data tools can be hooked into other databases using the Database Schema Provider interfaces (it's a 2010 feature). An implementation exists for Oracle, but nothing yet exists for MySQL.
My suggestion would be to store your scripts in TFS as regular source controlled items, and keep doing what you are doing until someone writes a DSP for MySQL.

Newbie Building Reports with Microsoft Reporting Services

I have an Access db file, and I need to slice and dice the data for various reports that my boss wants.
Is Microsoft Reporting Services a tool that is appropriate for this kind of activity?
If so, would I import the Access data in SQL Server, then the reporting services is a tool that works on SQL Server, allowing the report builder to build custom reports?
SSRS is great for what your trying to do if you wish to stick with Micrsoft tech.
SQL Server Express Adv edition comes with report server. There are plenty of guides out there for install / set up but once going you can use a little application called Report Builder that lets you design the layout of the reports themselves.
Reporting server esentially generates reports from templates you produce in report builder app.
The free edition of report server that comees with SQL Express Adv can export reports into three types, word files, excell or PDFs and does a very good job at it. It also exposes a webservice with a whole myrad of web methods thats very very usefull. ASP.Net also has a control which you can drop into your apps which will render a report.
So in short, yes :)
Hope this helps.