I have a question, I'm new to programming and would like to create a fairly simple program that will have Text boxes that we will want to change/update the content in. For example contact information, first middle last name, address, and phone numbers. I've gotten the layout down by just mussing around with VB, but don't know if there will be a database connection? At some point I could also see the need to push this data to a database for housing multiple units. I would like to know if there is a book that anyone could suggest, I see lots of VB books out there but am not sure exactly what might be more helpful for me in this situation. Also below is a quick idea of what I want to see with the program.

Program:
  User inputs information such as contact info, favorite places to eat, favorite locales and bars, yadda yadda. This will be a combination of Drop down fields, and blank Text boxes, tabs etc.

User Interoperability:
  There is a seperate section (tab or maybe just a combo of buttons) that can lock/unlock the data fields so we will only display the information from the text fields, and another for modifying the data.

Data--I would also maybe like to be able to export the data to a file for merging with a large database that would house each particular users information.

Also before the flame wars start up, I'm not a programmer, I don't know your language, so if anything above is impossible or stupid or whatever just don't fly off the handle.

Are you asking about VB6 or VB.NET books?

The application you describe is a typical one.

Any beginning book will be useful for you to learn the basics of the language, and any beginner can learn how to program if they dedicate themself to it and have sufficient brain power. However, designing an application that has the qualities that a good program should have is a more difficult thing, and there are numerous books with all kinds of approaches.

On the other hand, the app you are describing is a simple one. To answer a few of your questions:
- You will probably want to use a database to answer one of your questions.
- As far as a good book that can step you through an app like this, I would suggest you find a large bookstore where you can get your hands on a number of titles and look them over. There are "project" books that give walk-throughs on writing various types of apps, but finding one that matches your need exactly will be the trick. Again, the app you describe is a very basic app - creating and editing a few tables worth of data.
- Exporting the data from your app, or from the database of your app to use in another database is a typical use as well, and should not be hard to accomplish.

Have fun



Woody Z http://www.learntoprogramnow.com