help with I don't what its called

[samsonpics]

Hi,
This will be long. I'm working with VS 2008 Pro. I am stuck and I dont even know where to look to see what I'm trying to do.

I have my form set up nicely with my labels, textb's, checkb's.
I have 5-6 tab controls at top of form.

Here is where I don't know where to go next.

Problem 1.
I want to print out the textb's and checked checkb's on a form and use that as a work order for my Business.

Problem 2.
I have 3 different services that use different forms . Depending on the checklist boxes on my info tab, I want the one checked for that service to print out its form with the info.

Problem 3.
My paper print outs, Where do I set these up? I was thinking use Excel, and have a form that is pre-made, so when it prints it would get the correct info from my form. But from what I have read, I think I'm supposed make a database (but I don't have Sql server as of yet). So I can't make Db's. Right?

I have self taught as much as I can. No one where I work, knows anything about comps. Blue collar service shop.

I really appreciate you taking the time to read this. I would really like for someone to point me in the right direction. I have a few pdf's, but I didn't find what I was looking for.

Thanks
Samson

ps--- I may have duped this thread, while trying to edit my topic title.
I apologize

[Shaggy Hiker]

I don't have time for 1 or 2, but I will address 3.

A database is an excellent way to store information. SQLServer is one way to do that, but it is not the only way. Perhaps the most common DB in use is an Access DB, which you can create without even having a copy of Access (though it is much easier WITH a copy). Without a copy, you have to create the database, then run one or more CREATE TABLE queries to build all the tables. Access just lets you do this in a visual fashion, but you can do it through code if you'd like.

There are also other DB options like MySQL that are quite popular, and perhaps more robust if you will have multiple users. At least one of the popular DBs is free or cheap, I think.

If you have lots of data to save, such as work orders for a business, a database is a FAR superior option to alternatives such as text files or Excel.

[samsonpics]

Thank you Shaggy!!
I do have Access 2007!!
I will go and see what i can find.

Thank you again.

[Jenner]

For your printouts, since you have VS Pro, you have Crystal Reports as well. You can make reports with it and send the data from those textboxes to the reports. If you have a lot of sporadic individual bits of data, you can easilly use simple parameter fields to pass them over. If you have a table of data, you can turn it into a DataTable and attach it to a report that way as well.

It makes printing easy. I'd recommending making another form with nothing but a CrystalReportViewer control in it, that you can have pop-up with a preview of your report prior to printing.

[samsonpics]

thanks Jenner

Do i still need SQL if i just use Crystal reports?
I would think not.

[Jenner]

For simple fields, no. You can make a Crystal Report that just pulls a handful of parameters to display on a printout. For anything more complex though, yes, most likely you'll want a database to pull data from.

[samsonpics]

thanks you again Jenner.

I guess I start learning Crystal reports

[Jenner]

It's not a hard system. It just gets peculiar at times. Sometimes, what you think would be a logical next step, you find out Crystal throws you a curve ball. Once you work out it's little nuances though, it's very powerful and handy.

We can of course help you out with the nuances once you get to that point.