Ideas for note-taking app

[tassa]

Hello.

I'm looking for ideas for a note-taking app. I would like to know if there is a better idea as to where store the notes (these are dependent on the author and title of a book) the user is going to take.

I have thought of using a XML file for storage, the hierarchy of the file would be like this:

<Parent node>

<Author>

<Title>
</Title>

</Author>
<...and so on>

</Parent node>

This file would be then loaded into different data tables (3: author, title, notes), for editing the information would be read from and written to each data table. Before closing or when the user wants to, the information would be written to the XML file.

I have a sense that this isn't the most efficient way of achieving this. This is also a to-be-used-at-home app.

Thank you.

[techgnome]

off the top of my head... if the author and title are related to the note, this would make sense to me:

<Notes>
    <Note title="title" author="author">
           This is my Note!
    </Note>
</Notes>

the author and title are attributes that belong to the note.

-tg

[sapator]

"This file would be then loaded into different data tables (3: author, title, notes)"
HI.You better look at the "notes".I don't think there is a need for a 3rd table of notes.You either put it on the author, or the title or both.A notes stand alone table is a bad practice here, unless i'm missing out something on your thoughts.
Also you say you will use data tables.So i'm assuming you're using DAL?How are you planing to connect xml and DAL, because although you don't want to use data related software an sql express would be so bad

[VBDT]

I think this could be an option:

<books>
    <book title="title" author="author">
        <note>This is Note 1</note>
        <note>This is Note 2</note>
    </book>
    <book title="title" author="author">
        <note>This is Note 1</note>
    </book>
</books>

[tassa]

Thanks for the replies.

@sapator: No, I hadn't thought of using only 2, I will look into it. What's a DAL? My teacher had advised me to use SQL Express too, but, I know this might be a dumb question, does the target pc need to have SQL Express installed?

@VBDT & techgnome: thanks for that .

I had thought of read each author and, with the data read from the XML file, fill each data table with that information.

[jmcilhinney]

Are you trying to avoid using a database for some reason?

[Hack]

Duplicate Threads merged and moved to XML section

[tassa]

@jmcilhinney: not really, I just want to know, if there is, the simplest solution; but, if the best way is to use database (maybe access or anything else), then I should go that way. I just want to know what you guys think.

[sapator]

Hi.
DAL= Data Access Layer. It's a form of data manipulation used in .net.
My advice is use SQL express all the way.You could learn sql language that way also, that is a very important asset.You are in no way binded to use DAL.I usually have standard sql calling with heavy store proceduring in the database.
I wouldn't,however, discourage you from learning about XML because in my mind the 2 most important things for someone working with data is data software-language(sql,oracle,mysql....) and xml that is used widely in internet but of course if you look at the datasets in DAL they use xml(,xsd) also.
Access is something i am always trying to avoid when possible.If there is an option, don't use it.

Edit.Sql express is about 50-60mb.Simplest solution,yes probably xml but i explained why is better to use sql.If you start adding more and more specs to your application xml becomes harder to maintain.