Visual Studio Application

I am a systems integrator and therefore I work with multiple systems all with their own databases. I find myself always writing macro’s for a spreadsheet that creates various .csv files as imports to these various systems. I would like to do away with the spreadsheet solution and build an application that will take it’s place. My idea is a windows explorer type application that has: -Menu bar -Two pane control (left pane has a treeview, pane on right has details). -Status bar The treeview control will have the following structure: Project ->Template A -->Instance 1 -->Instance 2 -->Instance 3 See Attached Screen sample. Initially the project will have no templates. The next step would be to right click on the project and select “New -> Template”. This will then create a new template and allow the user to edit the details on the the right pane. Initially there will be no details for the new template. The user will add a new field to the template (Name, datatype and default value). The user is can add as many fields as he wishes. Once a template has been defined the user can create an instance of the template and modify the values as was defined for the template. I have attached a spreadsheet containing macro's that illistrate what I am trying to do away with. You will notice there are various tabs in the spreadsheet. The first tab (Device) are the instances of the template. The template tab will be the template with attributes in the screen sample. The remaining tabs (profiles) are the "output" parameters that are generated based on the attributes defined in the template with rules. I would like to add this functionality as part of Phase 2. I need a custom application build in either VB or C#. Ideally VB, as I am more familiar with it. I'd also like the application developed in the latest version of Visual Studio (2017). Final delivery of each stage I would like the source. I would like you to suggest what type of database you would suggest. My criteria is that it should be free, light weight and portable. I was thinking maybe an xml file? This will be stage 1 of 3 for the custom application. Stage 1 will be the above. Stage 2 will be adding "Profile" support, Import templates & Instances from csv and exporting profiles to CSV/txt.. Stage 3 will be multiple project support and adding bells and whistles