How do I use a database?

[Jimlin41]

I have a list of items and each item has a description that's a couple lines long. I need to save these items and their descriptions to a file and I need to be able to quickly load and add more of them at runtime. There's going to probably be a couple hundred items. Someone suggested that I used a database, but I've never done anything with databases before. Would a database be good for my situation? Could someone point me in the right direction or start me off with some simple code? Thanks.

[Hol01]

Bit of a complex question. Yes it would be appropriate to use a database, but it's a huge subject and it wouldn't be possible to get you started in a short reply. I suggest you get hold of a decent vb book. Try going to pbs.mcp.com. They have a load of online books available. Any decent beginner to intermediate vb book should have a good couple of chapters to set you off in the right direction.

Don't let me put you off using a database though, cos it really is worth learning. It applies to most applications in one form or another.

Good luck.

[Jimlin41]

Thanks. I'm gonna get a new book sometime that has at least a few chapters on databases.