Building ASP.NET Web Applications with Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio

Overview

Purpose

This tutorial describes how you can build ASP.NET web applications that access Oracle Database using Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio.

Time to Complete

Approximately 20 minutes.

Introduction

Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio is a tightly integrated "add-in" for Visual Studio. This tight integration makes it easy to create ASP.NET Web Applications that access Oracle database with minimal coding.

Prerequisites

Before starting this tutorial, you should:

  1. Install Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 or later.

  2. Install Oracle Database 12c or later.

  3. Install Oracle Data Access Components (ODAC) with Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio version 12.1.0.1.2 or later from OTN.

Creating a Web Site

To create an ASP.NET web site, perform the following steps:

  1. From your Windows Start menu, start Visual Studio.

  2. From File menu, select New > Web Site.

    Creating a Web Site

  3. In the New Web Site window, select Visual C# : ASP.NET Web Forms Site and click OK.

    Creating a Web Site

  4. The project opens.

    Creating a Web Site

Creating the GridView

To create a gridview, perform the following steps:

  1. In the Default.aspx tabbed page, click the Design tab.

    Creating the GridView

    Highlight the text in the "MainContent" subsection in the lower half of the design form.

    Creating the GridView

    Delete all the text by clicking the delete key.

    Creating the GridView

  2. From the View menu, select Toolbox.

    Creating the GridView

  3. Scroll down. In the toolbox, expand Data. Drag the GridView control to the Design area.

    Creating the GridView

    The design area gets the GridView control as shown in the screenshot below.

    Creating the GridView

Creating a Data Source

To create a new data source, perform the following steps:

  1. If you do not see the GridView Tasks pane, click the > symbol to get it, as highlighted in the screenshot.

    Creating a Data Source

    Select <New data source...> from the Choose Data Source drop down.

    Creating a Data Source

    A Data Source Configuration wizard starts.

  2. Select Database. Enter HR as the ID for the data source. Click OK.

    Creating a Data Source

  3. Click New Connection...

    Creating a Data Source

  4. In the Add Connection window, the Data source selected should be Oracle Database (ODP.NET, Managed Driver). If the Data source is different then click "Change..." and change the Data source.

    Creating a Data Source

    To change the Data source, select Oracle Database as the Data source and ODP.NET, Managed Driver as the Data Provider. Click OK.

    Creating a Data Source

  5. Enter HR for the Username and Password. Select the "Save password" checkbox. Select ORCL for Data source name or choose one that provides access to the HR schema. Click Test Connection.

    Creating a Data Source

  6. Your test was successful. Click OK.

    Creating a Data Source

  7. Click OK.

    Creating a Data Source

  8. Click Next.

    Creating a Data Source

  9. Click Next to save the Connection String in the application configuration file.

    Creating a Data Source

  10. Select the EMPLOYEES table from the Name drop down. Click the checkbox in front of *. Click Next.

    Creating a Data Source

  11. Click Test Query.

    Creating a Data Source

  12. The result of your query is shown. Click Finish.

    Creating a Data Source

  13. Select the Enable Paging checkbox from the GridView Tasks window.

    Creating a Data Source

Executing your Web Site

To run the ASP.NET web application, perform the following steps:

  1. Select Build > Build Web Site.

    Executing your Web Site

  2. Your website was built.

    Note: You may receive a script warning message that can be safely ignored.

    Executing your Web Site

  3. Select Debug > Start Debugging.

    Executing your Web Site

  4. A web browser will open showing the web application with the query results. You can page through the results.

    Note: If you are using Internet Explorer, make sure that it is not in "Work Offline" mode as it doesn't operate as expected in this mode.

    Executing your Web Site

  5. When finished with the application, click "Stop Debugging" icon in Visual Studio.

    Executing your Web Site

Summary

In this tutorial, you have learned how to:

  • Create an ASP.NET web site
  • Create a GridView
  • Create and configure a new Data Source
  • Execute your web site

Resources

Credits

  • Lead Curriculum Developer: Ashwin Agarwal
  • Other Contributors: Alex Keh, Christian Shay

To navigate this Oracle by Example tutorial, note the following:

Topic List:
Click a topic to navigate to that section.
Expand All Topics:
Click the button to show or hide the details for the sections. By default, all topics are collapsed.
Hide All Images:
Click the button to show or hide the screenshots. By default, all images are displayed.
Print:
Click the button to print the content. The content that is currently displayed or hidden is printed.

To navigate to a particular section in this tutorial, select the topic from the list.