Visual Studio 2013 - SSDT-BI

I have installed SQL Server Data Tools - BI for Visual Studio 2013. I have Visual Studio 2012 and Visual Studio 2013 installed.
My .rptproj still will not open in VS 2013. The .rptproj still opens in VS 2012, but now the database components projects do not open.
How do I get this fixed? I would like to work in VS 2013.

Hi TACIR,
Glad to hear that your issue had been solved by yourself. Thank you for your sharing which will help other forum members who have the similar issue.
Best regards,
Qiuyun Yu
Qiuyun Yu
TechNet Community Support

Similar Messages

SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2013 (SSDT BI) and SSIS on SQL Server 2012

This great blog entry titled
SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2013 (SSDT BI), link below, highlights the lack of support for SSIS projects using SQL Server 2012, VS 2013 and SSDT BI for VS 2013. I see there is a new version
on SSDT BI for VS 2013 (12.0.2430.0, File Name: SSDTBI_x86_ENU.exe, Date Published: 10/27/2014) link below.
Does this version support SSIS projects using SQL Server 2012 using VS 2013 and SSDT BI for VS 2013?
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/analysisservices/archive/2014/04/02/sql-server-data-tools-business-intelligence-for-visual-studio-2013-ssdt-bi.aspx
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=42313

Hi cjrinpdx,
According to the picture, it seems that we can use SSIS 2012 support is not included in SSDT-BI for VS 2013. And based on the previous versions, SSIS always different from SSRS, SSAS.
SSDT-BI for Visual Studio 2012 supports versions of SQL Server as follows:
SSAS project can target SQL 2012 or lower
SSRS project can target SQL 2012 or lower
SSIS project can target only SQL 2012
The following blog is for your reference:
http://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2013/11/13/microsoft-sql-server-data-tools-update.aspx
Since I have no environment to test this at this moment,
I recommend you that submit the feedback at
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/.
Thank you for your understanding.
Regards,
Katherine Xiong
Katherine Xiong
TechNet Community Support

Visual Studio 2013 and SSDT-BI Preview Command Window

Hi,
Is it normal that VS is putting up a command window when previewing SSRS reports from Visual Studio 2013. It pops up when on preview and I have to minimize it. Can some settings make this window invisible (a more integrated approach)?
Regards
SWEDEV

Hi SWEDEV,
Based on my research, a command window pops up when we preview an SSRS report in Visual Studio 2013 is a confirmed issue.
The issue is fixed, but the updated version within the coming couple of weeks. For more details about this issue, please refer to the following Connect Feedback 849709 and 884544:
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/849709/reporting-services-preview-processing-host-issues
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/884544/ssdt-bi-for-vs2013-preview-for-ssrs-pops-up-a-command-window
If there are any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Regards,
Katherine Xiong
Katherine Xiong
TechNet Community Support

Disable CRL checking for Visual Studio 2013 Installation on Domain Server with No Internet Connection

Hello,
I am having trouble installing certain packages that are digitally signed in the Visual Studio 2013 installation process. There's an attempt to determine whether or not a certificate has been revoked or not, and crl.microsoft.com is not available on the
server in question and therefore the certificate fails this test. The packages as a result fail to install and each has the following reason "A certificate chain could not be built to a trusted root authority." So the VS 2013 installation completes
yet SSDT and a few other packages are not installed.
There must be a way to install VS 2013 on a server without access to the Internet. The server is Windows Server 2008 R2 and is joined to a domain. Does anyone know how?
Thank you.

Can you check the signature and confirm that the chain is complete? My guess is that the problem is not in revocation checking, but in chain building.
My weblog: en-us.sysadmins.lv
PowerShell PKI Module: pspki.codeplex.com
PowerShell Cmdlet Help Editor pscmdlethelpeditor.codeplex.com
Check out new: SSL Certificate Verifier
Check out new:
PowerShell FCIV tool.
I think you are correct. Thanks. There were revocation errors continuously (events 42, 41, 11, 10, and 40) but when I went and looked at the packages that failed in the ISO and right-clicked on them in Windows Explorer, then navigated to the Digital Signature
tab and viewed the certificate I noticed that the root cert Microsoft Root Certificate Authority 2011 was not installed on the server. I found a Microsoft KB download that had the 2010 and 2011 MS Root certs in it (http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=6149)
and installed it. This installed WAY too many root certs of different CAs. Though I'm in the process of reinstalling VS 2013 and I think it will work now.
Is there a way to do this in a more deliberate fashion? How would I go about assessing each packages' certificate that failed and determining the chain of certs I need to build, then downloading these certs, and then testing them? The least
privilege, or fewest certificates way...
Thank you.

Can't update SQL 2014 DB during web publish from Visual Studio 2013

According to Visual Studio 2013 I have "SQL Server Data Tool 12.0.40706.0" installed, which should allow me to update a SQL 2014 database but when I try to publish my web application I get the error: "Web deployment task failed. (Could not
generatedeployment script. Internal Error. The database platform service with type Microsoft.Data.Tools.Schema.Sql.Sql120DatabaseSchemaProvider is not valid. You must make sure the service is loaded, or you must provide the full type name of a valid database
platform service. Internal Error. The database platform service with type Microsoft.Data.Tools.Schema.Sql.Sql120DatabaseSchemaProvider is not valid. You must make sure the service isloaded, or you must provide the full type name of a valid database platform
service. Learn more at:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=221672#ERROR_EXECUTING_METHOD.)" I can update the database fine if I go into the package managment console and run -UPDATE-DATABASE but I don't want to have to go into myweb.config, update it to point to the production
database, run the update command, and then change my web.config back everytime I try to update my database. What do I have to do to getthis working? I had no problems when I was on an Azure DB.

Actually problem seems to be related when web publish to remote server. I tried local web publish to sql2014 db and it works.
For remote server web publish works to sql 2012 express db but when try with sql 2014 express db on same server get bellow error.
Error message "The database platform service with type Microsoft.Data.Tools.Schema.Sql.Sql120DatabaseSchemaProvider
is not valid. You must make sure the service is loaded, or you must provide the full type name of a valid database platform service."
Any ideea what may be causing it? I have installed the sql server 2014 express with advanced services x86, exact same version as on my local machine, and also restarted server after install. Need install/configure anything else on server like SSDT 2014 to
make this work?
Cheers!

SSIS script task using visual c# 2012 language when creating package in Visual Studio 2013

Is it right or my installation was all wrong.
When I am trying to use a script task in an SSIS package using Visual Studio 2013, the available languages are visual c# and VB 2012.
I was expecting to find visual c# and VB 2013 since I was using Visual Studio 2013.
I already installed the "Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2013" available for sql 2014
Please help clarify this. Thanks beforehand.
Paulino

Hi Paulino,
According to your description, the ScriptLanguage property of C# script tasks show "Microsoft Visual C# 2012” in SSDT-BI for VS 2013.
After testing the issue in my environment, I can reproduce it in SSDT-BI for VS 2013. And I find that the ScriptLanguage property of C# script tasks show "Microsoft Visual C# 2010” in SSDT, and show "Microsoft Visual C# 2012” in SSDT for SSDT –
BI for VS2012. It only appear in SSDT-BI for VS 2013.
The issue is by design. But we can check "Do not show this again." to ignore the dialog and the task can be executed without any problem.
The following feedback is for your reference:
https://connect.microsoft.com/SQLServer/feedback/details/1027035/ssdt-bi-for-vs-2013-compatibility-issue
Regards,
Katherine Xiong
Katherine Xiong
TechNet Community Support

Customize Styles for Report Wizard in Visual Studio 2013

I'd like to customize the styles defined for the Reporting Wizard in Visual Studio 2013.
There was a writeup for doing so that pointed to editing the following: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Visual Studio 11.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies\Business Intelligence Wizards\Reports\Styles\en\StyleTemplates.xml
However, there is no Business Intelligence Wizards folder under 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies - yet when selected, the report wizard is picking up a list of styles from somewhere.
Could someone point me to where the style definition is?
Thanks in advance.
Doug.

Hi Doug,
>>However, there is no Business Intelligence Wizards folder under 12.0\Common7\IDE\PrivateAssemblies - yet when selected, the report wizard is picking up a list of styles from somewhere.
Just to make this issue clearly, whether this issue is related to the SSRS?
Reference:
http://forums.asp.net/t/2006554.aspx?How+to+make+Business+Intelligence+available+for+VS+2013+Express
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/7948fda2-c43b-48ad-8f4a-05fe0d528bf8/custom-styles-in-report-builder-20-table-or-matrix-wizard?forum=sqlreportingservices
You said that it is related to the Business Intelligence, do you mean that you want to install the SSDT-BI?
http://www.microsoft.com/en-hk/download/details.aspx?id=42313
Like the second link in above references, if it is related to the SSRS, this forum would be better for you:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/home?forum=sqlreportingservices
If not, please feel free to let me know more information about this issue.
Best Regards,
Jack
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SQL Server 2012 with Visual Studio 2013 with SSIS/Integration services project?

I wanted to build an integration services project to import data from multiple sources using a vendor's API.
I wish I could recall how I got to the point where I was able to build one and have it run successfully, but I had to install so many things that I honestly don't remember.
However, I noticed my PC booting really slowly after that, and I saw that I had components of VS 2010, VS 2012 and VS 2013 installed, along with SQL Server 2008 and 2012. So I uninstalled a bunch of stuff, hoping to get to where I had only the most
current versions of all, that were compatible with my corporate environment. So I was aiming for Visual Studio 2013 (Premium, I think) and SQL Server 2012.
Took me 2 days. Now I'm at the point where I think - and I'm here to learn if I'm correct - that I cannot get an oData Source component into my project and use VS 2013 IF I want to stick with Sql Server 2012. Is that correct?
I get very confused when trying to determine how the acronyms relate: SSIS, SSDT, SSDT-BI, etc.

Hi Anonymous11847,
SSDT: Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools for Visual Studio 2010, it contains Business Intelligence project templates for Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services that support Visual Studio 2010. This can be installed when SQL Server is
installed. It supports various SQL Server versions as follows:
SSAS projects can target SQL Server 2012 or lower
SSRS projects can target SQL Server 2012 or lower
SSIS projects can target only SQL Server 2012
SSDT-BI for VS 2012: Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2012, it contains Business Intelligence project templates for Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services that support Visual Studio 2012.
This needs to be separately downloaded and installed. It supports various SQL Server versions as follows:
SSAS projects can target SQL Server 2012 or lower
SSRS projects can target SQL Server 2012 or lower
SSIS projects can target only SQL Server 2012
SSDT-BI for VS 2013: Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2013, it contains Business Intelligence project templates for Analysis Services, Integration Services, and Reporting Services that support Visual Studio 2013.
This needs to be separately downloaded and installed. It supports various SQL Server versions as follows:
SSAS projects can target SQL Server 2014 or lower
SSRS projects can target SQL Server 2014 or lower
SSIS projects can target only SQL Server 2014
So if the SQL Server version is SQL Server 2012, we should install SSDT or SSDT-BI for VS2012 to create SSIS project.
Reference:
Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools Update
If there are any other questions, please feel free to ask.
Thanks,
Kathrine Xiong
Katherine Xiong
TechNet Community Support

SSRS Report Designer in Visual Studio 2013

Hi all. Does anyone know what I need to install to be able to open rptproj projects in VS2013? I found a page which says it is possible, but it doesn't go on to explain what I need to install to make it happen.
It seems that every version of VS that comes out this is a problem. They never make it clear and you end up spending hours trying to find out how to do it...
Thanks

Hi BuckBuchanan,
If we want to create SQL Server Business intelligence projects on Visual Studio, we need install SSDT-BI for Visual Studio. However, the SSDT-BI for Visual Studio 2013 has not been release, so we cannot create SQL Server Business intelligence projects on
Visual Studio 2013. The commercial release of SSDT-BI is expected to be based on the newer Visual Studio 2013 in conjunction with the commercial release of the SQL Server 2014. For the detail information about it, please refer to following link.
http://blogs.technet.com/b/dataplatforminsider/archive/2013/11/13/microsoft-sql-server-data-tools-update.aspx
Currently, if you want to create Business intelligence projects, you can install Microsoft SQL Server Data Tools - Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2012.
SQL Server Data Tools – Business Intelligence for Visual Studio 2012 released online
Regards,
Charlie Liao
TechNet Community Support

Unable to see function return values in Visual Studio 2013 debugger

Hi!
I can't see function return values in
Microsoft Visual Studio Ultimate 2013
Version 12.0.31101.00 Update 4
Microsoft .NET Framework
Version 4.5.51650
Installed Version: Ultimate<o:p></o:p>
as described in http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudioalm/archive/2013/06/27/seeing-function-return-values-in-the-debugger-in-visual-studio-2013.aspx
So what can I do to get this functionality back?
MsdnMezzo

Hi MsdnMezzo,
Reference:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/visualstudioalm/archive/2013/06/27/seeing-function-return-values-in-the-debugger-in-visual-studio-2013.aspx
If use the same sample in the above blog provided by you, how about the result? Could you debug it with the same steps? I could debug it in my side using the VS2013.
So to make sure that whether it is your VS IDE issue, please debug it with this sample, if it works well, I doubt that we would think about your specific project and the debugging steps.
If so, to really repro this issue, could you share us a sample with one drive? You could upload your project to one drive and share us the downloaded link in your new reply, I will download and repro this issue in my side.
Best Regards,
Jack
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Unit Testing with Microsoft Sharepoint Emulators and Fakes with Visual Studio 2013

Hi All,
I have created Test Project and now creating Test cases for Sharepoint. I found a link on MSDN which suggests using Fakes framework but it supports VS2012 and I am using Visual Studio 2013.
So how can I use it with VS2013 or is there any other way with which I can implement the Test cases with VS2013.
Please suggest.
Thanks in advance.
Himanshu Nigam

Hi HimanshuNigam,
According to your descrition, my understanding is that you want to use Fakes framework to create test case for SharePoint project in Visual Studio 2013.
If you want to test using Fakes Framework, you can use the codeplex extension to achieve it. It supports Visual Studio 2013.
Here is a detailed article for your reference:
Better Unit Testing with Microsoft Fakes
About how to include the Nuget package, you can use the package with the link below:
NuGet Package Manager for Visual Studio 2013
Installing NuGet
If you still have question about this issue, I suggest you can create a post in Visual Studio, more experts will help you and you can get more detailed information from there:
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/vstudio/en-US/home?category=visualstudio%2Cvsarch%2Cvsdbg%2Cvstest%2Cvstfs%2Cvsdata%2Cvsappdev%2Cvisualbasic%2Cvisualcsharp%2Cvisualc
Best Regards
Zhengyu Guo
TechNet Community Support

How do I put a project using nmake (or other make util) into a visual studio 2013 project?

I'm not asking how to convert it over to visual studio's internal setup. I want to use the custom build feature to build the code prior to building the current project so that the library generated will be available to the project.
Steps I've used I got from
here:
Create a win32 dll project.
Copy the files into a subdirectory under the project.
In the Solution Explorer, I create a Filter that I then add all of the source, headers and Makefile to.
I select all of the items in that filter group and right click and select properties.
In Configuration Properties->General, I change Item Type to Custom Build Tool and click Apply. (In the Visual Studio 2013 community, this sometimes comes up with:
An error has occured while saving the edited properties listed below:
One or more values are invalid. Object reference not set to an instance of and object.
Yeah, that's not cryptic. 9.9. When that happens, I just click Ok and then click on the parent window, and it will ask me
Do you want to save the changes you've made to the property page?
To which I click Yes and it seems to apply it to all the files and I then reopen the property page again.
I then go to Configuration Properties->Custom Build Tool->General and set
Command Line to:
cd subfolder
nmake
For Outputs, I set it to subfolder\bin\output-file.lib.
For Link Objects, I leave it as Yes.
Clicking on ok and then building gets me the following error:
LINK : fatal error LNK1104: cannot open file 'subfolder\bin\output-file.lib'.
Yeah, no kidding, it hasn't been made yet.
What am I doing wrong? Thanks for your help.
A
Adrian

I was trying to get it to be part of another project, and the information from Specifying Custom Build Tools stated:
If the Custom
Build Tool folder does not appear, the file extension of the file you selected is associated with a default tool. For example,
the default tool for .c and .cpp files is the compiler. To override a default tool setting, in the Configuration
Properties node, in the General folder,
in the Item Type property,
click Custom Build Tool.
Click Apply and
the Custom Build Tool node
is displayed.
Indicating that what I was trying to accomplish could be done. However, since this is 3rd party code, this seems to be a cleaner way of doing it.
Thanks,
A
Adrian

Can't Create New Excel Project Visual Studio 2013 Office Tools The Project Cannot Be Created

I am having this issue on two computers. If I try to create an Excel 2013 Workbook C# in new projects, and choose create a new workbook, it starts to open Excel, and then I get this error in VS
I have tried:
Uninstall & Reinstall of VSTO from the Visual Studio Installer
Uninstall & Reinstall of Visual Studio 2013 Ultimate, (manually removing anything with visual studio that was left over)
Manually turning on the add-on Visual Studio Tools for Office Design-Time Adapter for Excel
Installing VSTO by hand
Enabling Macros
Running VS as administrator
Uninstalling & Reinstalling Office 2013 Pro Plus OLP
I have made this change to excel:
Like I said, this problem occurs on TWO pc's. I have tried 2013 Visual Studio R1 and R2. Does anyone have any ideas?
Edit 3-1-2015
There is still no answer to this, I have tried target frameworks:
4.0
4.5
4.51
And Running as Administrator. Recently I upgraded to the CTP of Visual Studio 2015 Ultimate and the same problem exists.

Thanks for the reply.
The issue is not reproducible for me and I can confirm this not a known issue. We might need to do deeper troubleshooting at the repro machines.
Because of its complexity your question falls into the paid support category which requires a more in-depth level of support. If the support engineer determines that the issue is the result
of a bug the service request will be a no-charge case and you won't be charged. Please visit the below link to see the various paid support options that are available to better meet your needs.
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?id=fh;en-us;offerprophone
Sangeeth,MSFT

Adding SQL Server Express to Visual Studio 2013 Pro on Windows 10 Preview

I have installed VS 2013 Pro on Windows 10. I need to delevop unsing SQL Server Express. Do I download the full SQL Server 2012 Express Advanced (with full text search), or do I need only part of it? I was going to download the SQLEXPRADV_X64_ENU.exe.
Is this a good way to go?
Do I also need to download any other .net frameworks?
kciNDev

Hello,
Please read the following resources:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms233763.aspx
http://stackoverflow.com/questions/20333518/how-to-create-a-database-in-ms-visual-studio-2013
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/vstudio/bb643825.aspx
Hope this helps.
Regards,
Alberto Morillo
SQLCoffee.com

Visual Studio 2013 - New Project

Hi
Many years ago I wrote a VB6 program for school students for diet analysis in terms of energy and a range of vitamins and minerals. It drew comparisons against the national guidelines. Results were tabulated, graphed and output provided in Word
and Excel files. The VB6 program used an Access database containing about 850 foods. It has been used by quite a few schools and appears to always be used across a network.
My intention is to re-write the whole program in Visual Studio 2013 using Visual Basic code. I intend to refresh the whole program and add a wider range of foods and update the comparisons using the latest national guidelines and food label formats.
This will be my first attempt at Visual Studio and I intend to use a Windows Forms Application approach. The data used is "static" - it does not change it is simply a "read only" file - get the data, multiply for mass and add up each
category (energy, vitamins and minerals). It is a "file of data" rather than a true database. In reality a 1000 food data file should only be about 200 Kbytes. As an Excel file it is only 150Kbytes but as an Access file it is bloated
up to a 550Kbyte file.
The program is not sophisticated, so, should I be using a WPF Application or a Window Forms Application? The WFA just feels a bit more familiar than a WPF. Also, the program is intended for loading onto a network at some schools or on a stand-alone
computer.
My greatest concern is about the choice of approaching the data. A "true" database is not needed because the data is simply for about 1000 rows of food each with about 20 columns of data (numeric and text). The Access file is simple
but I could create an mdf file (I think) but would that be an advantage? With the Access data I appear to have loaded the file and created a DataAdapter and I have experimented with GetData() which works. My attempts to use ExecuteReader() failed
completely. Is there a better approach? such as SQL "DataTable.Rows(RowPosition)(“column name")”?? It seems a very sophisticated method for a small file of data.
The Access Database that I have experimented with in VS2013 appears to use Jet Drivers???? which proved to create a few problems for installations in the past. Should I be using an mdf file approach?? I will need to distribute the data in a "resx"
file. I could use SQL Server Management Studio (free download) and then use VS2013 to read the Access file and build a new mdf database.....
I am not convinced that I have the best solution. Any comments and suggestions would be very greatly appreciated.
Many thanks for reading this far.
Winchestermili
Winchestermili

Frank
Looking good! The "attachment" to a new project worked first time.
I can see all the new Classes by hovering a pointer over the "declarations" above "Public Class Form1"
Seems to access the VBNetForum URL quite quickly using a high speed BB connection.
I am greatly looking forward to the next stage...........
Regards
Keith
Winchestermili
Keith,
I intentionally truncated that post with “let me know when you’re that far along” simply because it’s very easy to get lost
with a concept that’s new. This isn’t as different as you might think though – you’ve been using a database, and now you’ll be using instances of a class (various ones).
Over the years here, I’ve seen many times where people use databases because they assume “that’s the only way to do it”. The
“it” actually being encapsulation.
Encapsulation
is what they need and certainly a database provides that (and a lot more), but it’s not the only way it can be done.
Think about this a bit: A DataRow encapsulates the related data for whatever it is. For example maybe it’s a person’s data –
you’d want to keep the person’s first name, surname, and things like that all together because it defines something related to that one person. You then have a collection of those DataRows in a DataTable.
In much the same way, what I have here is similar: Instead of a DataRow, I’m using instances of a class. Instead of columns
in a DataRow, I’m using properties of the instance, and instead of a DataTable, I’m using a List(Of Class).
…the concept is identical.
Classes are a means of building an object in OOP. In and of itself, it’s really just a template or a blueprint (overused metaphor).
Deborah Kurata put it best, in my opinion, when she said that a class is like a cookie-cutter and the objects created are cookies. You eat the cookies, not the cookie-cutter!
A class works that way exactly: You can’t “consume” a class; you consume the objects (instances) created by them and in this
case, like a DataTable housing DataRows, I’m storing them in a very specific type of collection known as a List(Of T).
I don’t want to get too far adrift about classes and/or OOP here – not that I would mind the discussion – but it’s a new concept
to you and it’s easy to get confused about what’s doing what. I’ll get more to the specifics next.
That entire class library is the data layer; it doesn’t work with controls of any sort, only the data.
That said though, in the following I’ll explain how controls can be ‘assisted’ by the methods in the classes.
The main class in this is the one called “FoodComposition”. That one is only barely started – the
only
method in it so far is an overloaded way to add a new instance to a list of them.
Two of the classes are really just ‘supporting classes’ – those being the ones called “FoodCategory” and “LabelNote”. Don’t
get me wrong here, they do have methods in them (with more to be added), but you won’t too much be working with those in the user’s program – you will in the program that I’ll create for you to add/modify/remove* and so on, but for now let’s set those two
aside.
* The fact that these are “supporting” classes, I have it set up such that you cannot remove an instance of those if there’s
a reference to them in FoodComposition. If you want to see where/how I’m doing that, look at the code of the class FoodCategory, for example, and go to line 633, then read the code of that method named “Remove”.
The one class in the bunch which is pretty much self-contained is the one called DietaryReferenceValue (DRV is the name you
used). That one makes for a good topic to explain how I can provide methods which lend a helping hand to your controls but don’t, directly, have anything to do with controls.
I have a method in that class named “GetAllGroupNames” which is a function that returns a string array containing the names
of each instance’s group. That might be used, for example, if you wanted to show a ListBox or a ComboBox to allow the user to select one of the group names:
Private Sub Form1_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles MyBase.Load
Dim url As String = _
"http://www.fls-online.com/VBNet_Forum/12-13-14/NutritionData.xml"
GetNutritonData(url)
ListBox1.Items.AddRange(NutritionData.DietaryReferenceValue.GetAllGroupNames(drvList))
End Sub
So, for example, when the user selects one of them:
Private Sub ListBox1_SelectedIndexChanged(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) _
Handles ListBox1.SelectedIndexChanged
Try
If ListBox1.SelectedIndex > -1 Then
Dim selectedGroup As String = _
ListBox1.Items(ListBox1.SelectedIndex).ToString
Dim drv As NutritionData.DietaryReferenceValue = _
NutritionData.DietaryReferenceValue.GetInstance(drvList, selectedGroup)
MessageBox.Show(drv.ToString, drv.SexAndAgeGroup)
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show("An error occurred:" & vbCrLf & vbCrLf & ex.Message, _
"Program Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, _
MessageBoxIcon.Warning)
End Try
End Sub
As you can see there, I’m using the .ToString method which I have overridden in the class. That’s also part of what I wanted
to discuss: What it gets.
Currently I don’t have much else (other than maintenance routines like adding, removing, renaming) in there; the methods that
you use are methods that I set up – but in the words of Hamlet, “therein lies the rub” … I don’t know what you want!
Give some thought to just what methods you might want to have in there. For example maybe you might want to have a method which
will return the value of one specific nutrient which you specify. I can do that, I just don’t know yet that you want it so it’s not there.
Quite often I’ll also provide what I’m come to call “convenience properties”. For example with the property named “Sodium”,
I might have another property (read-only) named “Sodium_String” which returns a string in whatever format you wanted it to have.
These are things I don’t know that you want and also things which you may not have known can be done, thus this writing. ;-)
The other day I asked about units. It may not be where you want to go with this but I’d also like to offer that we can provide
more granularity to the nutrients themselves. Don’t get me wrong, it’d be an overhaul of what I have right now, but I’ll do it if you want to proceed:
Imagine that we have a class, all by itself, that we call “Nutrients”. At the very least that class would have members like
Name and UnitOfMeasure, but it could have anything else you wanted. An example that comes to mind might be the URL to a page on Wikipedia about it, or maybe a URL to an appropriate image or … whatever you dream of here.
So then when using them in the other classes, “Calcium” would, itself, be an object which has a name (“Calcium”), a unit-of-measure
(maybe “milligram”), and so on.
It’s a lot to take in all at once and even this is something you may want to reread, but do give it thought. Let me know what
methods you want in the classes which will help you in your user’s program.
Still lost in code, just at a little higher level.

Visual Studio 2013 - SSDT-BI

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