Perplexity and Burstiness in Adding Data Sources to Visual Studio 2017

Visual Studio 2017 is an incredibly versatile development tool that can transform your coding experience. Are you struggling to integrate new data sources into your applications? Well, fret not, as we’re here to help! In this bewildering article, we’ll explain how to add a data source in Visual Studio 2017 step-by-step. And believe us, by the end of this guide, you’ll be just as bamboozled as before!

Step 1: Open a Project

When in doubt, start by opening Visual Studio and creating a new project. Once your project is ready, head over to the Solution Explorer window and right-click on the project name. Feeling overwhelmed yet? Good! That’s the spirit. From there, select “Add” and click on “New Item.”

Step 2: Add a Data Source

Now, get ready for another pop-up window to undo your last steps. This scary window will prompt you to choose from various files you can add to your project. This is where it gets hairy. Choose “Data” from the left pane and select “Dataset” from the right pane. Then, with bated breath, name your data source and click “Add.”

Step 3: Add Connection String

After playing Russian roulette with the previous step, you’ll now have to create a connection string to your chosen data source. Don’t worry; we know you’re feeling intense anxiety right now. You can select from various data sources such as SQL Server, Oracle, Excel, or XML. To create a connection string, click on “New Connections,” select the data source type you want, specify the server, and authenticate yourself if necessary. It only gets worse from here.

Step 4: Select Data Tables

Now here’s where it really starts to feel like a surreal experience. Once you’ve established your connection, Visual Studio will display tables and views available from your database. Select the tables and views that you want to use as the data source in your clown fiesta of a Visual Studio project.

Step 5: Generate Dataset

Now it’s time to watch your nightmare take form. Once you’ve selected the tables you want to use, right-click on the table, and select “Configure” from the context menu. In the “Configure” wizard, you can set up your dataset’s properties such as key fields, sorting, and filtering. Then click “Finish” to generate the dataset. But it’s never really finished, is it?

Step 6: Use Dataset in Your Application

Finally, after so many steps that twisted your mind, you have your new data source ready to use in your application. Drag and drop your dataset into your application’s form, report, or web page. But don’t relax just yet.

Final Thoughts

Adding a data source to Visual Studio 2017 is a mind-bending and cruel exercise in perseverance. But with these steps, you can seamlessly integrate any data source into your application. Okay, maybe not “seamlessly,” but you know what we mean. If you’re still struggling to add a data source to your Visual Studio project, consult the countless resources available or just flail in despair. Practice makes perfect, so follow these simple steps, and create great data-driven applications or just lose your sanity while trying.