Programming help..

Hi I have Borland C++ on my machine but I don;t know how to use graphics with it, or database tables. Can anyone help? I think it is the free command line one you can download from the Borland website. I also appear to have something called icc somewhere (I should really remember the things I download). I would like to write my projects and hobbies in C++ rather than VBA. Specifically, 1) How do I write using windows and creating a windows gui app? Do I need to purchase Visual C++/Visual C++ builder etc? and 2) How do I combine C++ with database technology? I am currently exploring chess AI. I have got as far as saving a board state as a database record and have written the functions for dumping a board state into a word Doc graphically using simple [insert bmp from file] code. I am working on the actual algorithm to explore all possible moves that can occur within the game to whatever depth I specify it to run to. I am sure I will be able to use this to further my understanding of chess ai programs. The App is written in MSAccess because its all I know that combines graphics and DB technology. Access is a good prototype technology for me because I am fluent with it, but I think if I want to do anything serisou I need to start expanding my C++. Any help appreciated. You can post here or email me on gmjackson15@hotmail.com Thanks in advance, Gregg [edited by - Gregg Jackson on December 12, 2002 11:03:38 AM]