Hi all,
I just installed SQL Server 2005 Express-Visual Basic 2005 Express (software program of SQL Server 2005 Express Edition STARTER KIT (book by Rajesh George & Lance Delano, Wrox)) on my Windows XP Pro PC with Netzero High-Speed 3G Dial-up Internet. I tried to create a simple database application for my first application (MyFirstApp)in a new project of this SSE-VB Express program: I lanched VB Express by choosing Start=>New Project=>Windows Application=>I got the Form1.vb (Design) on WinForm and MyFirstApp on Solution Explorer Window, but I did not get the "Database Explorer" for Data Connections on the right-hand side of the screen and the "Task List" on the bottom of the screen as shown in the Figure 3-1 of the book!!!!???? Is it a right screen I should get? Please help and advise me whether I should proceed or not. Thanks, Scott Chang

The Visual Studio IDE is very configurable. When I first launched VBE, my screen did not look like fig 3-1 either. However, this is configurable with the main View menu. You can choose to view (or not view) any area you wish. For example, the Database Explorer pane does not appear by default - but it will if you viewed it and then closed out VS. Same goes with the Task pane and a host of other panes. The are usually found under View/Other Windows/....

The problem I am having is much further along. I got my first app to run (at the end of page 53) but I fully expected to be able to modify data. it appears I can edit the data but when I close out the app and re-run it, the same data is back.

Also, in the next chapter, when you create your second app, you are supposed to pull in the database from the first app and then make modifications to it. I do not get the same dialog box as they do in fig 4-2 (only in my fist app will I see that).

Very frustrating.

Hi jfuldner, Thanks for your response.

I installed the Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio Express (SSMSE) to get the Data Sources. I studied the IDE of Visual Basic 2005 Express Edition from a book and I tried to do the "Developing a Rich Client Database Application" in Chapter 4. I can not get Figure 4-2 of "Making a Master-Detail Form" on Page 64 either. Did you or someone have any ideas to resolve this problem? Please help and advise.

Thanks, Scott Chang

It seems the form must be in the designer before you can select Details as in figure 4-2. HTH