Chapter 3:( Part-III ) Designing the Student Registration Form In VB.Net for Efficient Enrollment
Chapter 3:( Part-III ) Designing the Student Registration Form In VB.Net for Efficient Enrollment
The student registration form is a critical component of any school management system as it allows administrators to efficiently register and enroll students into the school. Designing an effective student registration form is essential for ensuring accurate data collection, streamlined enrollment processes, and improved overall efficiency.
When designing the student registration form, it is important to consider the following aspects:
- User-friendly Interface
- Comprehensive Data Collection
- Data Validation and Verification
- Customization and Flexibility
By carefully designing the student registration form with these considerations in mind, schools can streamline the enrollment process, improve data accuracy, and enhance overall efficiency in managing student registrations.
Okay! Now let’s start to design our Form1 that is the first child form of our MDIForm1. Drag and drop some labels and textboxes from tools menu onto Form1. Also drag and drop three DateTimePickers and make visible property of these datetimepickers to false. We will made them visible when needed at runtime. Design all the controls as shown in the image below:
Now let’s start some coding to bind and view fields of std_registration to the vb.net form.
Once you have created the “std_registration” table in the “modernschools” database, you can now proceed to bind and view the fields of the table in a VB.NET form. First of all, please add the following namespace directory to the top of Form1:
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Now make a connection with the database and create some variables to get data from the table. Add the following code just after “Public Class Form1”
Public Class Form1
Private connectionString As String = "Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=modernschools;Integrated Security=True"
Private bindingSource As BindingSource
Private dataView As DataView
Private DataTable As DataTable
Private currencyManager As CurrencyManager
You can use data binding with BindingSource, DataView, and CurrencyManager to bind the data from the “std_registration” table to text boxes in VB.NET. Here’s an updated example code snippet that demonstrates how you can achieve this:
Private Sub LoadData()
' Step 1: Establish a connection to the modernschools database
Using connection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(connectionString)
Using command As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM std_registration", connection)
Try
connection.Open()
' Step 2: Retrieve data from the std_registration table
Using adapter As SqlDataAdapter = New SqlDataAdapter(command)
Dim dataSet As DataSet = New DataSet()
adapter.Fill(dataSet, "std_registration")
DataTable = dataSet.Tables("std_registration")
' Step 3: Bind the retrieved data to the text boxes
bindingSource = New BindingSource(dataSet, "std_registration")
dataView = New DataView(DataTable)
currencyManager = CType(BindingContext(bindingSource), CurrencyManager)
' Bind text boxes to data fields
TextBox1.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "id")
TextBox2.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "name")
TextBox3.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "father_name")
TextBox4.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "gender")
TextBox5.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "class")
TextBox6.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "section")
TextBox7.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "remarks")
TextBox8.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "date_of_birth")
TextBox9.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "date_of_admission")
TextBox10.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "date_of_withdrawal")
TextBox11.DataBindings.Add("Text", bindingSource, "address")
connection.Close()
End Using
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show("Error loading data: " & ex.Message)
End Try
End Using
End Using
End Sub
In this example, we’re using a BindingSource object to bind the data from the “std_registration” table to the form’s text boxes. We’re also using a DataView object to provide a filtered view of the data, and a CurrencyManager object to manage the current record position. The BindingSource object acts as an intermediary between the data source (the DataTable object) and the form’s controls (the text boxes).
Now call this function in the Form1 Load:
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
' Load the data from the std_registration table and bind it to the text boxes
LoadData()
End Sub
If you run your application at this time and click the “Students Registration” button at the Left side. The child Form should be loaded successfully without any error. Though, You will not see any data in the textboxes because we haven’t any record in this table yet.
Now we need to insert some records in our table but before inserting records, I suggest making two functions. One should be locktextboxes, it will prevent our users from accidental modifications and the second function will be unloacktextboxes, this give allow the users to do modifications as well as will give them visual effects that they are in modifications mode.
Private Sub locktextboxes()
TextBox2.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox3.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox4.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox5.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox6.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox7.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox8.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox9.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox10.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox11.BackColor = Color.White
TextBox1.ReadOnly = True
TextBox2.ReadOnly = True
TextBox3.ReadOnly = True
TextBox4.ReadOnly = True
TextBox5.ReadOnly = True
TextBox6.ReadOnly = True
TextBox7.ReadOnly = True
TextBox8.ReadOnly = True
TextBox9.ReadOnly = True
TextBox10.ReadOnly = True
TextBox11.ReadOnly = True
' we will make the following controls as they will not be needed after saving the modifications
DateTimePicker1.Visible = False
DateTimePicker2.Visible = False
DateTimePicker3.Visible = False
End Sub
Private Sub unlocktextboxes()
TextBox1.BackColor = Color.Red 'we will not change the primary key
TextBox2.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox3.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox4.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox5.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox6.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox7.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox8.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox9.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox10.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox11.BackColor = Color.Yellow
TextBox1.ReadOnly = True 'we will not change the primary key
TextBox2.ReadOnly = False
TextBox3.ReadOnly = False
TextBox4.ReadOnly = False
TextBox5.ReadOnly = False
TextBox6.ReadOnly = False
TextBox7.ReadOnly = False
TextBox8.ReadOnly = False
TextBox9.ReadOnly = False
TextBox10.ReadOnly = False
TextBox11.ReadOnly = False
' we will make the following controls, the users will select date from here
DateTimePicker1.Visible = True
DateTimePicker2.Visible = True
DateTimePicker3.Visible = True
End Sub
Call the locktextboxes function in the Form1_Load method:
Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
locktextboxes()
' Load the data from the std_registration table and bind it to the text boxes
LoadData()
End Sub
Now we will add a sub menu to the students registration Tab under the File menu as shown in the pigure below:
Go to the form1 code page and add a public function that will make all textboxes empty so our users feel easy to type data of the students.
Public Sub add_new()
TextBox1.Text = ""
TextBox2.Text = ""
TextBox3.Text = ""
TextBox4.Text = ""
TextBox5.Text = ""
TextBox6.Text = ""
TextBox7.Text = ""
TextBox8.Text = ""
TextBox9.Text = ""
TextBox10.Text = ""
TextBox11.Text = ""
unlocktextboxes()
TextBox2.Focus()
End Sub
Also open the Form1 in design mode and double click each datetimepicker and add the following code one by one.
Private Sub DateTimePicker1_ValueChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles DateTimePicker1.ValueChanged
TextBox8.Text = DateTimePicker1.Value
End Sub
Private Sub DateTimePicker2_ValueChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles DateTimePicker2.ValueChanged
TextBox9.Text = DateTimePicker2.Value
End Sub
Private Sub DateTimePicker3_ValueChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles DateTimePicker3.ValueChanged
TextBox10.Text = DateTimePicker3.Value
End Sub
In the above code example , i have tried that when the user change date in any datetimepicker, it will come to our textboxes directly.
Now let’s create our most important function here in the form1 that will be responsible to insert the input of the user as a new record in our table.
Public Sub save_add_new_data()
' Force the user to type the name of the students. it is just for example
If TextBox2.Text = "" Then
MessageBox.Show("You should type the name of the student.", "PANRUM", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)
Exit Sub
End If
Try
' Create a new instance of SqlConnection with the connection string
Using connection As New SqlConnection("Data Source=(local);Initial Catalog=modernschools;Integrated Security=True")
' Open the connection
connection.Open()
' Create a SQL INSERT statement with parameters
Dim sql As String = "INSERT INTO std_registration (name, father_name, gender, class, section,remarks, date_of_birth, date_of_admission, date_of_withdrawal,address) VALUES (@name, @fatherName, @gender, @class, @section,@remarks, @dateOfBirth, @dateOfAdmission, @dateOfWithdrawal,@address)"
' Create a new instance of SqlCommand with the SQL statement and connection
Using command As New SqlCommand(sql, connection)
' Add parameters and set their values
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@name", TextBox2.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@fatherName", TextBox3.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@gender", TextBox4.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@class", TextBox5.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@section", TextBox6.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@remarks", TextBox7.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@dateOfBirth", TextBox8.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@dateOfAdmission", TextBox9.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@dateOfWithdrawal", TextBox10.Text)
command.Parameters.AddWithValue("@address", TextBox11.Text)
' Execute the SQL command
command.ExecuteNonQuery()
' Close the connection
connection.Close()
' Display a success message
MessageBox.Show("Student registration data inserted successfully.", "Success", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information)
locktextboxes()
End Using
End Using
Catch ex As Exception
' Display an error message if something goes wrong
MessageBox.Show("Error inserting student registration data: " & ex.Message, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error)
End Try
End Sub
Okay! Now open the MDIParent1 form and make a global variable addnew_edit that will control if the user has clicked the add new option or edit option from our menu bar.
Public Class MDIParent1
Private m_ChildFormNumber As Integer
Dim addnew_edit As Short = 0
Also go to the MDIParent1 Form Load method and call the “Students Registration” button click. So that when the user launches our application, the child form1 is loaded automatically. Your MDIParent1_Load should look like this
Private Sub MDIParent1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles Me.Load
GenerateDatabase()
CreateTable()
Button1_Click(Nothing, Nothing)
End Sub
Now open this MDIParent1 Form in the design view and double click the Add New sub menu and code it as below:
Private Sub AddNewToolStripMenuItem_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles AddNewToolStripMenuItem.Click
Try
addnew_edit = 1 ' it means that the user has clicked the add new
Dim newmdichild As New Form1
newmdichild = CType(ActiveMdiChild, Form1)
newmdichild.add_new()
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
End Sub
Now go back to the design view of this form again and double click the “Save” sub menu under the File and code it as:
Try
Dim newmdichild As New Form1
newmdichild = CType(ActiveMdiChild, Form1)
If addnew_edit = 1 Then
newmdichild.save_add_new_data()
ElseIf addnew_edit = 2 Then
' we will add this function later in the next part of this chapter when we navigate and search records
' newmdichild.save_edit_data()
End If
Catch ex As Exception
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
End Try
That’s all we have completed our lesson successfully. Now run the application, click the Add New menu. Type a students data and save it to click the Save option from the menu. Insert some records by Add New and save. Now go to the MSSQL Server, right click on the “std_registeration” table and click the “select Top 1000 rows” from the pop up menu and you will see that all the records are inserted in the table row by row as in my case you can see below in the image:
In the the next and last part of this chapter we will make navigation of records. we will also make our application be able to search records and at last we will make our user be able to modify any existing records.
