advanced database programming

[antipody]

Hi,

I've made an Access database for my water sampling work. Now I'm hoping to design a GUI that allows me to manipulate the water samples (records in the database) graphically.

Ideally, I want to perform operations on samples by dragging them to different areas (representing stages in sample processing) on the screen, selecting groups of them with the mouse, right clicking to view sample properties and change values etc. So I need a graphical object that links directly to the Access record and a windows based environment that is able to do the record manipulation.

I have been stewing over starting this in Visual Basic, but before I do I thought I would see if anyone had experience with something similar and had any advice. Perhaps I would be better forgetting my much loved Access database and just coding a whole new app in VB??? Also wondering if any other tools are recommended. I could probably teach myselfC++, but as I have most expereience with VB, it may be most efficient for me. At this stage, any information would be greatly appreciated.

Many thanks in advance,
Scott

 

[notfred]

There's not going to be any easier or faster way to do it than with VB.

 

[UCJefe]

I would highly recommend a .NET language. Since you are most comfortable with VB, VB.NET would be a logical choice. That way you get ADO.NET and databinding. That's about as close as you're going to get to a direct link to your Access tables. Sounds like a good little project.

 

[EagleKeeper]

If you can detect a mouse down/up and movement in VBA, just analyze each operationi for the object reporting the mouse action.

That will allow to to detect a drag and drop of information between controls.

Beyond that, any language that will report the mouse state to you can be used with a GUI frontend.
Just bind the database to the program using the appropriate APIs