Re: Creating MY own database with C++ and of course WinAPI

You might want to read some chapter about the physical database architecture for some DBMS. In essence:

For fixed length columns, you can just keep track of the row length at one place. Like in SQL Server's syscolumns table (where each column starts and each ends).
For variable length columns, it is probably easiest to keep track of this in the actual row. In SQL Server, you have a block after the fixed length block, which specifies where each variable length column starts, (hence the prior ends). So at the end, you have the actual variable length column data.

Above is only a starter, and based on how SQL Server does it. There might be many ways of doing this, but it might serve as a starter.

(I agree that this might be a great learning project, I guess that Greg wanted to make sure that you aren't wasting you time, quite simply... :-) )

--
Tibor Karaszi


<holychapin_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3fe7a1a4.0212040002.30c6fe03_at_posting.google.com...


> Greg-

> I'm just plain sick and tired of people saying I'm reinventing the

> wheel and doing too much and all that crap. I'm well aware it's hard

> but it is for learning experience to be a better coder. I'm not going

> to be some lazy ass coding it in VB or Access.

>

> ~Jared

> "Greg Boland" <gregb_at_snet.net> wrote in message

news:<hfaH9.2124$oN6.503812203_at_newssvr10.news.prodigy.com>...


> > "holych_at_pin" <holy&chap_at_hotmail.com> wrote in message

> > news:qhoguu4kecbcrjnp0dsseodvvesfb127vl_at_4ax.com...

> > > How would I do this? My own text file of records. Maybe a CD

> > > collection:

> > >

> > > ITEM # 1 Carpenter, Mary Chapin|Hometown Girl|CBS Records|1987

> > >        1. A Lot Like Me

> > >        2. Other Streets and Other Towns

> > >        3. Blah Blah...

> > >

> > > ITEM # 2 Carpenter, Mary Chapin|State of the Heart|CBS Records|1989

> > >        1. How Do

> > >        2. Something of A Dreamer.

> > >        3. Blah Blah...

> > >

> > > I would like to have a program that would allow the user to type in

> > > these titles (ENTER ARTIST NAME (last, first) ), (ENTER CD TITLE:).

> > > And then you could also add a picture of the CD artwork, sound clips,

> > > etc).

> > >

> > > I know it would require WinAPI to create Windows..and I'm learning

> > > it..and I know some major things about C++. However I don't want to

> > > use Access or MySQL or any of that stuff..I just want to use a txt

> > > file or several txtfiles, maybe database.dat or something.

> > >

> > > I know it would require looping, WinAPI, parsing, saving to the file,

> > > searching, etc.

> > >

> > > If you have any ideas please help. Thanks.

> > > ~Jared

> > >

> >

> > I agree with Alex for all the reasons he stated. Also, if you're

learning


> > the Windows API AND C++, you've got a lot of work ahead of you, so why

mess


> > with data management? But then again, for the application you described,

why


> > not use tools that are higher up on the food chain? Like VB, JAVA, or

C##?


> > Or just Access for that matter. Or is this a learning project? I  often

> > develop an app like you described just to get my mind around the

development


> > tools.

> >

> > Best of luck,

> >

> > Greg