Search Data from Multiple Table Columns in mySQL using VB.Net

Search Data from Multiple Table Columns in mySQL using VB.Net

Search Data from Multiple Table Columns in mySQL using VB.Net.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to search data from multiple table columns in mySQL using VB.Net.

First, let’s create our project in Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 and on our blank Form1 designer, let’s drag a button, text box and data grid view. Here’s an example:

Next, on your mySQL we will add a new database and table with multiple columns.

[mysql]

CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS sample (
`ID` int(10) NOT NULL AUTO_INCREMENT,
`Firstname` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
`Middlename` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
`Lastname` VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
PRIMARY KEY (`ID`)
) ENGINE=MyISAM DEFAULT CHARSET=utf8;

[/mysql]

Adding table with columns.

[mysql]

INSERT INTO `sample`(`Firstname`, `Middlename`, `Lastname`)
VALUES
('Ian','Hero','Santos'),
('Kane','Luke','Lavapiez'),
('Annika','Anne','Mald');

[/mysql]

Adding values to our table.

Next, we are going to add this line of code to our search text box text changed event and form load event.

[vbnet]

Dim conn As MySqlConnection
Dim cmd As MySqlCommand
Dim da As MySqlDataAdapter
Dim dt As DataTable
Dim sql As String

Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
Try
conn = New MySqlConnection
conn.ConnectionString = "server=localhost; userid=root; password=; database=sampledatabase;"
conn.Open()
sql = "SELECT * FROM sample;"
cmd = New MySqlCommand(sql, conn)
da = New MySqlDataAdapter
dt = New DataTable
da.SelectCommand = cmd
da.Fill(dt)
DataGridView1.DataSource = dt
Catch ex As MySqlException
MsgBox(ex.Message)
Finally
conn.Close()
da.Dispose()
End Try
End Sub

[/vbnet]

Code for form load event to get all the values from the mySQL database.

[vbnet]

Private Sub TextBox1_TextChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles TextBox1.TextChanged
Try
conn = New MySqlConnection
conn.ConnectionString = "server=localhost; userid=root; password=; database=sampledatabase;"
conn.Open()
sql = "SELECT * FROM sample WHERE CONCAT_WS(Firstname, Middlename, Lastname) LIKE '%" & TextBox1.Text & "%'"
cmd = New MySqlCommand(sql, conn)
da = New MySqlDataAdapter
dt = New DataTable
da.SelectCommand = cmd
da.Fill(dt)
DataGridView1.DataSource = dt
Catch ex As MySqlException
MsgBox(ex.Message)
Finally
conn.Close()
da.Dispose()
End Try
End Sub

[/vbnet]

Code for text box text changed event for searching the data based on the input text on the search box.

To test our code, let’s run the program and let’s try to search for the name “Ian”. Here’s my result:

As you can see it searched on our Firstname column. Now, let’s try “Luke”. It is the middle of Kane Luke Lavapiez. So, we are expecting to get the Kane’s full name if we searched for “Luke”. Here’s my result:

So, our expected result meets the searched result!

You have successfully learned on how to Search Data from Multiple Table Columns in mySQL using VB.Net.

For questions or any other concerns or thesis/capstone creation with documentation, you can contact me through the following:

E-Mail: [email protected]

Facebook: facebook.com/kirk.lavapiez

Contact No.: +639771069640

Ian Hero L. Lavapiez

BSIT Graduate

System Analyst and Developer

Related topic(s) that you may like:

• Populate Multiple Data to ListView from mySQL database using VB.Net
• Transferring Multiple Data from DataGridView to mySQL database

Technology stack and requirements

To run this VB.NET project, you need the following on your development machine:

• Visual Studio 2019 or later. The free Community Edition is enough for building, debugging, and running the project.
• .NET Framework 4.7.2 or higher. Most Windows 10 and 11 systems have it preinstalled through Windows Update.
• MySQL Server 8.0 or MSSQL Express 2019. Choose whichever your capstone panel prefers; both work with VB.NET data adapters.
• MySQL Connector/NET or SqlClient library. Add via NuGet Package Manager inside Visual Studio.
• Crystal Reports (optional). Required only if the project generates printable reports; install the runtime redistributable.

Installing the source code

The download link contains a ZIP archive with the full solution. Extract and set up in five steps:

1. Extract the archive to a folder outside Program Files (avoids permission issues).
2. Open the .sln file in Visual Studio. It loads the full solution with all forms and modules.
3. Restore NuGet packages. Right-click the solution then Restore NuGet Packages if prompted.
4. Import the database. Locate the .sql file in the archive and import via phpMyAdmin (MySQL) or SQL Server Management Studio.
5. Update the connection string in App.config or module code to match your local database name, user, and password.

How to use this project for your BSIT capstone

This VB.NET project maps cleanly to standard BSIT capstone documentation. Suggested chapter alignment:

• Chapter 1 (Introduction). Discuss the problem the system solves in real-world context. Cite Philippine business or academic use cases where a manual process could be replaced.
• Chapter 2 (Review of Related Literature). Compare this system’s features against 5-10 similar published projects. Cite journals like IJERT or IEEE Access for academic-standard sources.
• Chapter 3 (Methodology). Include Use Case Diagram, Data Flow Diagram, Entity Relationship Diagram, and Activity Diagram covering all major workflows in the system.
• Chapter 4 (Results and Discussion). Screenshot each module of the running system with a caption explaining what data it processes and which user role interacts with it.
• Chapter 5 (Conclusion and Recommendations). Identify features that could be added in a Version 2, such as web dashboard, mobile app, or REST API export.

Modules typical of Search Data from Multiple Table Columns in mySQL using VB.Net

• Master data. CRUD forms for the primary entities the system manages, with search and filter.
• Transaction processing. Data entry forms for the day-to-day operations the system automates.
• Reports. Formatted printable output summarizing activity per day, per user, or per category.
• User management. Login with role-based permissions (Admin, Encoder, Viewer).
• Backup and restore. Export database to a .sql or .bak file and restore when needed.

Common enhancements for capstone review

• Modernize the UI. Add Bunifu or Guna UI controls for a more polished, modern appearance.
• Add printable receipts. Integrate a printer preview form with page-setup options.
• Multi-user concurrency. Ensure the database handles simultaneous writes without lost-update errors.
• Web version. Rewrite the front-end in ASP.NET Core or React for a modern deployment path.