From Windows Forms app to Web

[steve_c]

Hi all - just wondering - I have now completed my windows form app (connecting to an SQL server) - what would be the best way to go about creating a similar web app - can I reuse my datasets or will I just have to start from scratch with a new project?

Thanks,

Steve.

[mendhak]

You can reuse your code logic, such as your classes an subroutines for retrieving/updating data. You will have to create the UI from scratch in HTML though.

[steve_c]

Ah ok thanks - one thing though - I've used integrated security for my connection to a sqlserver - do yo uknow offhand why I can't connect using the same string in Dreamweaver? I know it's not in the right forum but maybe you know?

Thanks.

[mendhak]

Very few people here would know the reason for that, since most of us use Visual Studio 2003.

But then we might be able to help. Are you creating the connection through some wizard or are you doing it through code?

[steve_c]

OK if I use VS - I don't understand how to go about it - I select "New Project"

and select ASP.Net Web Application?

[FishGuy]

yes thats correct.

[steve_c]

OK but where do I store my app? I mean - in dreamweaver, I create a directory on my dev machine, point to a dir on my server, edit the files then upload them to my server and test...

[FishGuy]

You need a copy of IIS running on a server or local host, when you create your project the default location is localhost, this is where the directory is created. The main difference here though is that .net files are not uploaded like asp. you can develop on your local host then create an install project to deploy your web app on the live server.

[steve_c]

I can't seem to get my sqlconnection working properly - am I missing something obvious here?

[kleinma]

You need a copy of IIS running on a server or local host, when you create your project the default location is localhost, this is where the directory is created. The main difference here though is that .net files are not uploaded like asp. you can develop on your local host then create an install project to deploy your web app on the live server.

this is only if you have direct access to the webserver. Lots of people use 3rd party hosts, in which cause you still need to FTP your application up to the web.

[FishGuy]

To be honest steve I have never been able to get Integrated Authentication working and have always had to hard code the connection. To get round this on sql server we set up an user called aspclient with the correct permissions. This allws the sql connection to log use thos credentials instead of admin. My explanation for why this works is that the sql server doesnt recognise you as a person because it is the web server making the calls, the webserver therefore needs an account it can log in as.

Thats my workround.

perhaps someone with more knowledge could help you further if you posted your connection string also there is a asp.net forum.

[steve_c]

Ah ok - it's no probs - I'm going to use Dreamweaver as I don'tneed to to anything fancy - just a few browse pages.

Only thing is is that it doesn't work either - my connection string logs on as sa with a password and then I get a runtime error when I try to use a dataset - can't really see what the exact error is though - very strange.

[steve_c]

Ah I have it now - I'm using VS one thing is - I add a dataset and fill it - I can get a text box to display the number of records but cannot get a datagrid up like I can in a windows app - any ideas?

Thanks.

[mendhak]

You can't "see" the error? Why's that? Are you visually impaired or does it give you some cryptic remarks?


Or when an error occurs, do a pair of fingers come out of the monitor and poke you in the eyes?

[steve_c]

lol sorry - I meant to say there were no results in the datagrid - I have since found I have to use me.datagrid1.bind after I fill the dataset