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The easiest way to do it is to create a new collections class. The collection class can be of whatever you need. Now your parameter is the class object. You populate it with what you need in the parent method, pass in the populated class to the called method.
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Nah, because I'd still need to adjust the collections class before I used the method, because the contents of the array changes every time the method is used.
The array can be null; a string; a string and a boolean; an array, 2 booleans and a string; etc, and it's contents will be different every time it's called.
All in all, much easier to use the (new Object{}) code to pass stuff into the method.
- Munty
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Good day.
I'm writing my first program for a company. The program will interact with Microsoft Word & Excell. It will do basic stuff such as Mail merges and inserting text at bookmarks.
A basic accounting system will be needed. Nothing fancy.
A register with customer information and contact details aswell as employee information will also be needed.
Now:
Which method should I use to store the data? Obviously I can use Access to do the database handling, but would it be recommended? If not, why not? and which other methods can I use to do my data handling?
If you recommend I use Access, will it be secure and are there any methods I can use to try keep someone from finding out the database structure and messing with the data inside the file itself?
I know it's alot of questions, but your help will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks alot
ASBESTOS-Greetings
LiquidE
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LiquidE_SA wrote: Which method should I use to store the data?
Depends on the data. By the sound of it you need a database.
LiquidE_SA wrote: Obviously I can use Access to do the database handling, but would it be recommended?
Probably not.
LiquidE_SA wrote: If not, why not?
Because it is not an enterprise database system and it doesn't scale. The purpose of a company is to make a profit. To continue making profits the company will grow. In order to grow it needs systems that will grow with it.
LiquidE_SA wrote: and which other methods can I use to do my data handling?
SQL Server.
LiquidE_SA wrote: Access, will it be secure and are there any methods I can use to try keep someone from finding out the database structure and messing with the data inside the file itself?
It isn't as secure as SQL Server that much is certain.
I have a question for you:
How big is the company? Regardless of size I'd recommend SQL Server unless they have a exceptionally compelling reason to use Access. So, why would you want to use Access?
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Sorry. I think I didn't explain properly. The product I'm developing is a product that will be sold to alot of different people. It will aid them in doing some basic stuff. Therefore I need a method/way of handling the database, wihtout installing extra servers/software.
The thing as I understand it with SQL Server I'll need to install it on every machine that will run the application. That will cost alot of money, won't it?
Isn't there methods of doing datafile handling and data integrity chechs from within C#?
I need something that I can bundle with the application.
Thanks alot
ASBESTOS-greetings
LiquidE
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LiquidE_SA wrote: The product I'm developing is a product that will be sold to alot of different people. It will aid them in doing some basic stuff. Therefore I need a method/way of handling the database, wihtout installing extra servers/software.
How much data?
LiquidE_SA wrote: The thing as I understand it with SQL Server I'll need to install it on every machine
Well, no. As the name suggests it is a "server" product. So, it is installed once on a server (in large organisations they may have many SQL Servers to spread the load)
LiquidE_SA wrote: That will cost alot of money, won't it?
SQL Server 2005 Express Edition is free - but it has some restrictions (but not as limited as Access)
LiquidE_SA wrote: I need something that I can bundle with the application.
SQLLite or VistaDB may be choices - but you still need to answer the question "How much data?"
Some companies make products that are specifically designed to sit on top of SQL Server. Perhaps you can do that. If you are marketing to small businesses they may already have Microsoft Small Business Server which has SQL Server built in. When that company grows they can migrate to a full SQL Server easily.
So far, I don't think you've provided enough information to say which database is a good choice. How does the application interact between users? Is it even multiuser?
LiquidE_SA wrote: Isn't there methods of doing datafile handling and data integrity chechs from within C#?
You can do that in C# if you want - but do you really want to be reinventing the wheel?
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No thanks. No reinventing the wheel here.
No, the application is not even multiuser. It's a small application that will help others start their own company. It won't need to store alot of data. Maybe 20/30MB of data, if it's that much!
Are SQLLite and VistaDB also running on a server or can it be accessed by file such as Access?
ASBESTOS-Greetings
LiquidE
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LiquidE_SA wrote: Are SQLLite and VistaDB also running on a server or can it be accessed by file such as Access?
I think your choice is now between SQLite[^] and VistaDB[^]. Both are file based databases.
Both are effectively zero configuration for the end user. You just drop one (or two) additional DLL files in to your installation and you are good to go.
SQLite:
* You'll also need a .NET Wrapper for SQLite (but that's explained on the website and is very easy to set up).
* Because SQLite is supported in so many environments the documentation can take a little getting used to.
* It is free
VistaDB
* Pure .NET solution
* Costs money for a development license.
* Also has a server based solution if you eventually decide you need to scale up.
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Thank you VERY much. You've been of great help.
Enjoy the rest of your day.
ASBESTOS-Greetings
LiquidE
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There is also SQL Server 2005 Everywhere Edition[^](also called SQL Mobile) which is also a file based database that allows you to scale up to (and integrate with) SQL Server 2005 when necessary.
-----------------------------
In just two days, tomorrow will be yesterday.
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You can add a version of MSDE with the installion of your app.
MSDE is a free but limited download from MS.
Research it alittle sounds like a good solution for you.
But MSDE and SQL 2000 will not be supported by Vista or Longhorn.
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I realize that readonly or writeonly properties can't work, but shouldn't a check for the ability to do both be doable at compile time?
--
Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.
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Because a read/write property will also not work.
What it is doing is passing in a reference to a value or object, not a reference to a property. If you want to pass a reference to a property you might find that delegates work for you (but I've not tried).
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Colin Angus Mackay wrote: If you want to pass a reference to a property you might find that delegates work for you (but I've not tried).
What do you mean by that, Colin? I don't understand as delegates can't be used on properties.
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Judah Himango wrote: What do you mean by that, Colin?
Really? Okay - I knew that properties were just syntactic sugar for a getter and setter method so I thought you might be able to use delegates. Note my disclaimer "but I've not tried". 
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Yeah, it's a real shame you cannot use a delegate over a property. I often use delegates to give me the names of methods used in unit testing:
viewMock.Expect(ViewCloseMethodName);
...
string ViewCloseMethodName
{
get { return new Function(this.view.Close).Method.Name; }
}
Sadly this doesn't work for properties, meaning my unit testing mocks are prone to failure if I happen to rename a property. 
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Judah Himango wrote: I don't understand as delegates can't be used on properties.
You can work around that using reflection, but the end result is really ugly.
--
Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.
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I'm actually looking for a way get the string name of a property through code. I have the property sitting there typed, i.e.
IFoo someType;
someType.SomeProperty;
Is there a way to get the string name of the property? Obviously I can just do string propName = "SomeProperty", but that instantly breaks the moment I change the name of the property.
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Judah Himango wrote:
Is there a way to get the string name of the property? Obviously I can just do string propName = "SomeProperty", but that instantly breaks the moment I change the name of the property.
AFAIK no. I was trying to find that capabilty unsuccessfully in my decent into delegate hell.
--
Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.
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Too bad they don't let us access the get_ and set_ methods directly. I'd really like to be able to do this:
ThreadStart ts = get_Prop;
string Prop
{
get { ... }
}
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Same here.
--
Rules of thumb should not be taken for the whole hand.
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using System.Reflection;
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
MessageBox.Show(this.GetPropertyName(typeof(MyTestClass),3));
}
private string GetPropertyName(Type myType, int nPropToGet)
{
int nPropCounter = 0;
foreach (PropertyInfo pi in myType.GetProperties())
{
nPropCounter+=1;
if (nPropCounter == nPropToGet)
return pi.Name;
}
return null;
}
-- modified at 18:04 Tuesday 21st November, 2006
--EricDV Sig---------
Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them.
- Laurence J. Peters
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Eric, it's true that would solve the string-based reflection problem. However, it would introduce a different problem which is even more severe than the string-based reflection problem, right? I mean, if I add a new property to my class, this solution would break because the property index would change.
Really what I'm looking for is getting the name of a property when I actually have access to the property.
view.SomeProperty.Name
Or something a little more delegate-oriented:
new Function(view.set_SomeProperty).Method.Name
either would suffice just fine! Seems really odd we cannot do this. If you use unit testing with mock objects, you'll find this is in your face the whole time: you'll say something like:
myMockView.Expect("set_MyProperty");
If I or another dev comes along and renames the property, the unit test breaks. 
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I've never done unit testing, and I'm new to C#. I'm studying reflection right now, and I'm a bit surprised that I can't seem to find a way to get PropertyInfo for a property directly (as you mentioned). I feel like I must be missing something...but I'll defer to your experience.
--EricDV Sig---------
Some problems are so complex that you have to be highly intelligent and well informed just to be undecided about them.
- Laurence J. Peters
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