SqlConnection. The C# SqlConnection class handles database connections. It initiates a connection to your SQL database. This class is best used in a using resource acquisition statement.
More details. We call Open to query the database with SqlCommand. With System.Data.SqlClient classes, we often use many together (like SqlParameter, SqlDataReader).
First example. We use SqlConnection in a "using" statement. The SqlConnection has a constructor that requires a string reference pointing to the connection string character data.
Tip This connection string is often generated for you by the dialogs in Visual Studio, and is sometimes provided by a host.
And You must include the SqlConnection code before you can perform a database query.
using System;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
class Program
{
static void Main()
{
//// First access the connection string.//
string connectionString = ConsoleApplication1.Properties.Settings.Default.ConnectionString;
//// In a using statement, acquire the SqlConnection as a resource.//
using (SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
//// Open the SqlConnection.//
con.Open();
//// This code uses an SqlCommand based on the SqlConnection.//
using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("SELECT TOP 2 * FROM Dogs1", con))
using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
while (reader.Read())
{
Console.WriteLine("{0} {1} {2}", reader.GetInt32(0), reader.GetString(1), reader.GetString(2));
}
}
}
}
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Program notes. This program will not work unless you change the connection string reference to point to a correct one in your environment.
Detail To create a connection string to a database, go to the Visual Studio Data menu and select Add New Data Source.
Also The program assumes the name of an SQL table that will not be present in most databases.
Using statement. The purpose of the using statement is to provide a simpler way to specify when the unmanaged resource is needed by your program, and when it is no longer needed.
Detail The language can transform the using statement into a try-finally statement that calls the Dispose method.
Open method call. The using statement creates a read-only variable of type SqlConnection. You need to call Open() on the SqlConnection instance before using it in an SqlCommand.
And The SqlConnection is passed as the parameter to the SqlCommand. In this way we specify that the SqlCommand "uses" the SqlConnection.
A summary. We looked at database code. We stressed the proper usage of the SqlConnection class and the resource acquisition pattern.
Dot Net Perls is a collection of tested code examples. Pages are continually updated to stay current, with code correctness a top priority.
Sam Allen is passionate about computer languages. In the past, his work has been recommended by Apple and Microsoft and he has studied computers at a selective university in the United States.