Using database connection in separate form - c#

I have my main form which has a datagrid view connected to a database. Then I have a button that opens a separate form and I've got a few buttons etc on that secondary form.
I need to query the database from the secondary form but I'm not sure how to do that without creating a whole new connection, which I don't think I need since the program is already connected to the database. I'm just not sure how to reference the oleDB connection I made in that first form (I didn't code it in, I used the little arrow on the datagridview to connect it to the database using visual studio)
Now instead of creating that new connection, how do I reference the first connection made in the primary form?
Here is my code:
//parameterized update query
string updateCommandString = "UPDATE RoomsTable SET [Date Checked]=#checkedDate WHERE ID = #id";
using (OleDbConnection conn = new OleDbConnection(#"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=c:\users\spreston\documents\visual studio 2012\Projects\roomChecksProgram\roomChecksProgram\roomsBase.accdb"))
{
using (OleDbCommand updateCommand = new OleDbCommand())
{
OleDbTransaction transaction = null;
updateCommand.Connection = conn;
updateCommand.Transaction = transaction;
updateCommand.CommandText = updateCommandString;
updateCommand.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
updateCommand.Parameters.AddWithValue("#checkedDate", this.dateTimePicker1.Value.ToShortDateString());
updateCommand.Parameters.AddWithValue("#id", row.roomID);
try
{
conn.Open();
transaction = conn.BeginTransaction();
updateCommand.Transaction = transaction;
updateCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
transaction.Commit();
conn.Close();
conn.Dispose();
}
catch(OleDbException ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message.ToString());
}
}
}

From a design standpoint, you should consider making a data access layer for your forms to utilize. You can create methods to retrieve those Db results for you so you consolidate that code and separate it from your form functionality. It may be just a small project, but it's good practice and if it's a project you want to grow, you'll want it laid out to be extendable.
Something like
class SomethingDA {
static DataTable GetMyStuff(your params) {
// establish connection, get your results
}
}
You can then call SomethingDa.GetMyStuff() to get what you need.

If you are Using the "Using" statement, your connection is closed after this code is run. You don't in fact need the conn.Close() and conn.Dispose() statements. Using does that for you.
Your best bet is to open up the connection again. It is generally a good practice to open and close connections as quickly as possible, although likely less important if your Access DB local. This generally does not impact performance too much as the OLE DB driver behind the scene will pool the connection and keep it open for a period of time.

Related

Stored Procedure works well in SSMS but no rows returning when it is called in C#

I have a stored procedure that I need to run in C# and set the result set returning from the SP in a HTML table. Please note that the SP is working well in SSMS and returning results.
The c# code I am using is (it is in an ASP 4.5 project):
SQLDatabase sqldb = new SQLDatabase();
using (SqlConnection sqlcn = new SqlConnection(sqldb.GetConnectionString().ToString()))
{
if (sqlcn.State == ConnectionState.Closed)
{
sqlcn.Open();
}
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("[MyStoredProcedure]", sqlcn);
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#FromDate", Convert.ToDateTime(txtFrom.Value.ToString()));
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#ToDate", Convert.ToDateTime(txtTo.Value.ToString()));
using (SqlDataAdapter a = new SqlDataAdapter(cmd))
{
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
a.Fill(ds);
dtExtra = ds.Tables[0];
}
}
This code above is returning 0 rows, even though the SP is working in SSMS. While debugging, the connectionstring and the parameters are coming all true, no issue. The connectionstring is:
<add name="DefaultDB" connectionString="Data Source=TestEnv;Initial Catalog=TestTable;Integrated Security=SSPI;" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
I don't understand what may cause this. I found the topic below, but I am using Integrated Security=SSPI in my connection string already, so it did not help me. Any advice would be appreciated.
ASP.NET stored proc call bringing back no rows, but does in Management Studio!
EDIT: SOLVED! Thanks #NineBerry. It turned into a between/and usage problem in SP. Changing txtTo.Value as: DateTime.Today.AddDays(1).ToString("yyyy-MM-dd"); in the code fixed the issue (It was DateTime.Today.ToString("yyyy-MM-dd") before, I should have included it in the code part, didn't think it is related to that, sorry). Better solution would be updating the SP using >= and <= instead of between/and keywords tho.
I would modify your code to simply be:
using(var dbConnection = new SqlConnection("..."))
using(var command = new SqlCommand(query, dbConnection))
{
dbConnection.Open();
...
}
Handling the connection pooling in the using block is always a good idea per Microsoft guideline:
To ensure that connections are always closed, open the connection
inside of a using block, as shown in the following code fragment.
Doing so ensures that the connection is automatically closed when the
code exits the block.
You are checking if the connection is closed, what if the connection is idle? By using the using syntax you implement dispose. So it will correctly close your connection, so you should not need to check if the connection is closed unless you are using a singleton for the connection.
After reading your question, you may have more than just the one issue I pointed out. I would recommend a service account with access the specific data you are seeking, that the application can access rather than integrated security.

Inner Join two databases to import data - SQL C#

I've created a Winforms app in C#. I do have both my Datasources listed as Datasets.
LOTSDataSet = Source Info
webbitdbdataset = Destination Dataset.
These are connected with LOTSConnectionString and WebbitConnectionString.
Anyway I have the code shown below that I am getting a connection error on, when I try to import data from LOTS to Webbit.
SqlConnection lotscon = new SqlConnection(PackChecker.Properties.Settings.Default["LOTSConnectionString"].ToString());
using (OleDbConnection con = new OleDbConnection(PackChecker.Properties.Settings.Default["WebbitConnectionString"].ToString()))
{
string strgetloc = #"INSERT INTO tblinstitution (
dispenseinstid, institutionname )
SELECT NEWinstitution.institutionid, NEWinstitution.institutionname
FROM NEWinstitution LEFT JOIN tblinstitution ON NEWinstitution.institutionid
= tblinstitution.dispenseinstid
WHERE (((tblinstitution.institutionid) Is Null));";
using (OleDbCommand cmd = new OleDbCommand(strgetloc, con))
{
lotscon.Open();
con.Open();
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
con.Close();
lotscon.Close();
}
}
Trying to "OPEN CONNECTION" for both connections was just something I tried.. I guess knowing it was going to fail, but I wanted to try before I asked on here.
The command is attached to the OLEDB connection to Webbit, thus I'm getting an exception based on 'cannot find LOTS server'
Prior to running the query I do run a connection checker, which opens both connections and "tries and catches" both connections to make sure they are valid connections.
Using Access the query does work, so I know the issue 100% is trying to open these connections to two databases!
Any direction would be appreciated.
Gangel

Using a View from SQL Server 2008 in C# & Asp.net

I have a C#/ASP.net project has included a database that I have developed that includes a nice and convenient View that would be handy to use.
I have the SQL connection setup to a SQL Server 2008 DB I created. It seems as though it is connecting fine, but I don't understand how to actually use the View that I created without hard coding the query into the program (been told this is bad sometimes?).
This is my connection I setup:
SqlConnection conn = null;
conn = new SqlConnection("Data Source=raven\\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=ucs;Integrated Security=True;Pooling=False");
conn.Open();
SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(query, conn);
Basically, I need some code to query using this View. I can see the View and look at the results that would be obtained, but not access it in the program!
The view is named "UserView". Help is much appreciated!
You could use something like the following. But it's usually considered evil to put hardcoded SQL commands into .Net code. It's much better and safer to use stored procedures instead.
This should get you started. You can modify it to use stored procedures by
changing the command.CommandType to indicate it's a stored proc call
And adding the proper parameters to the command that your SP needs.
Change command.CommandText to the name of your SP, thus
eliminating the hardcoded SQL.
sample code below:
using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection("Data Source=raven\\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=ucs;Integrated Security=True;Pooling=False"))
{
using (SqlCommand command = connection.CreateCommand())
{
command.CommandText = "SELECT * from your_view WHERE your_where_clause";
connection.Open();
using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
while (reader.Read())
{
// process result
reader.GetInt32(0); // get first column from view, assume it's a 32-bit int
reader.GetString(1); // get second column from view, assume it's a string
// etc.
}
}
}
}
Using VS2013 add a new DataSet to your project. Drag your View from the Server Explorer to the DataSet Design Surface.

SQL connection to database repeating

ok now i am using the SQL database to get the values from different tables... so i make the connection and get the values like this:
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection();
connection.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["XYZConnectionString"].ConnectionString;
connection.Open();
SqlCommand sqlCmd = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Machines", connection);
SqlDataAdapter sqlDa = new SqlDataAdapter(sqlCmd);
sqlCmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#node", node);
sqlDa.Fill(dt);
connection.Close();
so this is one query on the page and i am calling many other queries on the page.
So do i need to open and close the connection everytime...???
also if not this portion is common in all:
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection();
connection.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["XYZConnectionString"].ConnectionString;
connection.Open();
can i like put it in one function and call it instead.. the code would look cleaner...
i tried doing that but i get errors like:
Connection does not exist in the current context.
any suggestions???
thanks
You can definitely share the "open connection" code, no reason to duplicate it.
With the SQL Server provider for ASP.NET, there is very little overhead with "closing" the connection every time. It just returns the connection to your process' connection pool (see here), so opening the next connection will use very little overhead. I think it is good practice to close the connection after each operation
I use "using". You can include as many queries as you like inside. When complete it will clean up for you.
using (SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
using (SqlCommand cm = new SqlCommand(commandString, cn))
{
cn.Open();
cm.ExecuteNonQuery();
}
}
Typically yes, you make individual connections for multiple rowsets.
If you can use joins to produce a single meaningful rowset, that's typically a good thing to do on the server side instead of the client side.
You may also want to look at making multiple connections and using the async features in order to queue all your requests simultaneously instead of sequentially - have a look at this article.
No you do not have to open and close the connection every time as long as you are using the same database. What you need to change is the
sqlCommand's queryString every time.
Like what #durilai said, [using] is useful. Using actually has more functions than this, but essentially it puts a try/catch block around your code and calls dispose to close the connection in this case.
Anything that needs open/close can be used with using, so things such as text writers, or other objects.

How do I access a database in C#

Basically, I would like a brief explanation of how I can access a SQL database in C# code. I gather that a connection and a command is required, but what's going on? I guess what I'm asking is for someone to de-mystify the process a bit. Thanks.
For clarity, in my case I'm doing web apps, e-commerce stuff. It's all ASP.NET, C#, and SQL databases.
I'm going to go ahead and close this thread. It's a little to general and I am going to post some more pointed and tutorial-esque questions and answers on the subject.
MSDN has a pretty good writeup here:
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/s7ee2dwt(VS.71).aspx
You should take a look at the data-reader for simple select-statements. Sample from the MSDN page:
private static void ReadOrderData(string connectionString)
{
string queryString =
"SELECT OrderID, CustomerID FROM dbo.Orders;";
using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(
connectionString))
{
SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(
queryString, connection);
connection.Open();
SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
try
{
while (reader.Read())
{
Console.WriteLine(String.Format("{0}, {1}",
reader[0], reader[1]));
}
}
finally
{
// Always call Close when done reading.
reader.Close();
}
}
}
It basicly first creates a SqlConnection object and then creates the SqlCommand-object that holds the actual select you are going to do, and a reference to the connection we just created. Then it opens the connection and on the next line, executes your statements and returns a SqlDataReader object.
In the while-loop it then outputs the values from the first row in the reader. Every time "reader.Read()" is called the reader will contain a new row.
Then the reader is then closed, and because we are exiting the "using"-secret, the connection is also closed.
EDIT: If you are looking for info on selecting/updating data in ASP.NET, 4GuysFromRolla has a very nice Multipart Series on ASP.NET 2.0's Data Source Controls
EDIT2: As others have pointed out, if you are using a newer version of .NET i would recommend looking into LINQ. An introduction, samples and writeup can be found on this MSDN page.
The old ADO.Net (sqlConnection, etc.) is a dinosaur with the advent of LINQ. LINQ requires .Net 3.5, but is backwards compatible with all .Net 2.0+ and Visual Studio 2005, etc.
To start with linq is ridiculously easy.
Add a new item to your project, a linq-to-sql file, this will be placed in your App_Code folder (for this example, we'll call it example.dbml)
from your server explorer, drag a table from your database into the dbml (the table will be named items in this example)
save the dbml file
You now have built a few classes. You built the exampleDataContext class, which is your linq initializer, and you built the item class which is a class for objects in the items table. This is all done automatically and you don't need to worry about it. Now say I want to get record with the itemID of 3, this is all I need to do:
exampleDataContext db = new exampleDataContext(); // initializes your linq-to-sql
item item_I_want = (from i in db.items where i.itemID == 3 select i).First(); // using the 'item' class your dbml made
And that's all it takes. Now you have a new item named item_I_want... now, if you want some information from the item you just call it like this:
int intID = item_I_want.itemID;
string itemName = item_I_want.name;
Linq is very simple to use! And this is just the tip of the iceberg.
No need to learn antiquated ADO when you have a more powerful, easier tool at your disposal :)
Reads like a beginner question. That calls for beginner video demos.
http://www.asp.net/learn/data-videos/
They are ASP.NET focused, but pay attention to the database aspects.
topics to look at:
ADO.NET basics
LINQ to SQL
Managed database providers
If it is a web application here are some good resources for getting started with data access in .NET:
http://weblogs.asp.net/scottgu/archive/2007/04/14/working-with-data-in-asp-net-2-0.aspx
To connect/perform operations on an SQL server db:
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
string connString = "Data Source=...";
SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connString); // you can also use ConnectionStringBuilder
connection.Open();
string sql = "..."; // your SQL query
SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(sql, conn);
// if you're interested in reading from a database use one of the following methods
// method 1
SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
while (reader.Read()) {
object someValue = reader.GetValue(0); // GetValue takes one parameter -- the column index
}
// make sure you close the reader when you're done
reader.Close();
// method 2
DataTable table;
SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(command);
adapter.Fill(table);
// then work with the table as you would normally
// when you're done
connection.Close();
Most other database servers like MySQL and PostgreSQL have similar interfaces for connection and manipulation.
If what you are looking for is an easy to follow tutorial, then you should head over to the www.ASP.net website.
Here is a link to the starter video page: http://www.asp.net/learn/videos/video-49.aspx
Here is the video if you want to download it: video download
and here is a link to the C# project from the video: download project
Good luck.
I would also recommend using DataSets. They are really easy to use, just few mouse clicks, without writing any code and good enough for small apps.
If you have Visual Studio 2008 I would recommend skipping ADO.NET and leaping right in to LINQ to SQL
#J D OConal is basically right, but you need to make sure that you dispose of your connections:
string connString = "Data Source=...";
string sql = "..."; // your SQL query
//this using block
using( SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(connString) )
using( SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(sql, conn) )
{
connection.Open();
// if you're interested in reading from a database use one of the following methods
// method 1
SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();
while (reader.Read()) {
object someValue = reader.GetValue(0); // GetValue takes one parameter -- the column index
}
// make sure you close the reader when you're done
reader.Close();
// method 2
DataTable table;
SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(command);
adapter.Fill(table);
// then work with the table as you would normally
// when you're done
connection.Close();
}

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