Question

I am wanting to create a VB.Net app that checks a database and then prints out the latest orders, the database is mysql and i need it to periodatically check and only print new orders i.e. not print ones it has already printed out.

Any advice would be greatly appriciated.

Kyle

Answer 1

I’d recommend breaking the problem down into pieces:

1. “checks a database” – you’ll need to create a connection to a relational database. You’ll have to set up either an ADO.NET or ODBC connection to MySQL.
2. You don’t say if the database is running on the same machine as the app. If it’s not, you’ll have to be able to connect to it on the network.
3. Make sure that you GRANT the appropriate permissions in MySQL. Don’t just use the admin credentials to log in. Set up a separate ID for your app.
4. “then prints out” – your app will have to find a way to acquire information about a printer. You don’t say if it’s connected directly to the server on which the job will run or if it’s a networked printer. Be sure your app can see the networked printer if it’s the latter.
5. “the latest orders, the database is mysql” – try writing a separate query to test getting only the latest orders.
6. Does your schema include a way to mark which orders have been printed and when? Your app should INSERT a record noting the timestamp when each order is printed. You can JOIN on this table to figure out what the latest, unprinted orders are.
7. “and i need it to periodically” – your app needs to be a cron job that’s run on a schedule that you specify. Every weekday, hourly? Once a night? You decide when you set up the cron job.