Saving Progress in an Application

[Mr_Munkey]

I'm currently working on an app that will act something like a checkbok register/balancing program. I've been experimenting with the saveFileDialog box, and I've figured out how to save info from one object in the form like a picturebox or textbox. I've also searched through all the info about saveFileDialogs on this forum, and I have this question.

How would I go about saving the information input by the user in a simple way?

I only know about saving information from one object, so the only way I could think of doing this (I'm creating a spreadsheet look with arrays of text boxes) is by creating several loops to save the information from the text boxes.

Any help would greatly be appreciated

[hellswraith]

Maybe use a datagrid control, and databind it to a dataset. Then you can save the dataset as an xml file easily along with reading the xml file back into the dataset real easy.

[Mr_Munkey]

Thanks for the thought that I've had that much experience. I looked into a datagrid before, but I didn't quite get it. Maybe I'll look into that some more. that would definilty make my life easier with saving

By the way, if anyone happens to have a link to a good tutorial on datagrids that would be great too

(I've actually been programming for less than a year, but I've learned quickly )

[hellswraith]

All you need to do is create a dataset:
Dim ds As DataSet = New DataSet()

Then populate the dataset with the xml file:
ds.ReadXML("YourXMLFile.xml")

Then bind the dataset to the datagrid:
datagrid1.DataSource = ds

[Mr_Munkey]

If only everyone could explain things as well as you, then the whole world would know .NET by now

Thanks a bunch. I'll fiddle with it some tomorrow after work.

[Mr_Munkey]

Well, I was able to do some research at work (still there) I've been able to get it working, but when the program loads up, I have to click a + symbol to get to what I titled "body" click on the link to the body.xml file and then it will display the spreadsheet/datagrid.

How would I set it up so that the spreadsheet shows up right away?

Thanks so much for all the help. I've been learning quite a bit

[DevGrp]

If you dont want that +, then just bind the table directly like this

dataGrid.DataSource = myDataSet.Tables(0)

[Mr_Munkey]

Sweet

Thanks soo much.

Now the last question I have, what file extention should I save the datagrid as? XML? also, is there a way to do hidden fields (I can look that one up when I get back from work if nobody answers that one )

Thanks again everyone!