Conceptual Help: C++/CLI and SQL Server

[Aulman]

I was hoping someone could help me understand a few grey (gray) areas I have. Ultimately, I need to replace an old FoxPro system. I have a quite large database and an extensive user GUI to build. I am quite sure I want to use C++/CLI and SQL Server. What i don't understand is what falls between the two, if anything. When I am writing my application, what method do I use to communicate with SQL Server? ADO.NET? MFC is unmanaged, so I can't use that right? ATL? I am learning TSQL, should I continue? If so, am I right in thinking that I can directly call my TSQL queries with my C++/CLI application? How many, if any, of my SELECT's and INSERT's should be on the client machine(in the application), and how much of this code should be in stored procedures? Seriously, right now, more than anything, I want to be able to click a button and see the Production.Products tabe from the AdventureWorks database show up on a Windows form.

Thanks everybody,
Clint

[darwen]

Why use C++ at all, just use C#.

In fact in .NET there are lots of classes which can be used to do database access. See classes like SqlConnection, SqlCommand, IDataReader, DataAdapter, DataSet, the DataGrid control etc etc.

Darwen.

[Aulman]

"Why use C++ at all, just use C#."

Well, I've been using Visual Basic 6.0 for years now, however, it doesn't sound like that means VB.NET will come super-easy to me. Between VB and C#, though, it seems like VB would be the better way to go. However, time is on my side, and I feel really compelled to learn C++ for future projects and personal growth as a programmer.

"In fact in .NET there are lots of classes which can be used to do database access. See classes like SqlConnection, SqlCommand, IDataReader, DataAdapter, DataSet, the DataGrid control etc etc."

I have seen mention of those classes quite a bit in the doc's I've been reading (much from MSDN forums and Help in Visual Studio Express). I wasn't sure if there was another technology i needed to learn to address first before I could use those classes (such as ADO or MFC or ATL, or any of the other abbreviations that have circled my brain months) I will give it my best shot when I get home today.

Thank You, darwin!