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System.TypeInitializationException when referencing dll

I'm trying to create a Data Framework in the form of a .dll so that I can reference it when creating new projects, as opposed to reinventing the wheel with each project I create.
I have an app.config in which I store my SQL connections, a class that uses the app.config to build my SQL ConnectionString (ConnectionStrings.cs) and a Logic class (Logic.cs) that'll build whatever objects I require from the SQL Server.
Here's the classes in the .dll:
ConnectionStrings.cs:
using System.Configuration;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
namespace DataFramework
{
public static class ConnectionStrings
{
static string _liveConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["LiveDataSource"].ConnectionString;
static string _liveMISConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["LiveDataSource_MIS"].ConnectionString;
static string _devConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DevDataSource"].ConnectionString;
static string _devMISConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DevDataSource_MIS"].ConnectionString;
public static SqlConnection CreateLiveConnection
{
get { return new SqlConnection(_liveConnectionString); }
}
public static SqlConnection CreateLiveMISConnection
{
get { return new SqlConnection(_liveMISConnectionString); }
}
public static SqlConnection CreateDevConnection
{
get { return new SqlConnection(_devConnectionString); }
}
public static SqlConnection CreateDevMISConnection
{
get { return new SqlConnection(_devMISConnectionString); }
}
}
}
Logic.cs:
using System;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
namespace DataFramework
{
public class Logic
{
SqlConnection liveConnection = ConnectionStrings.CreateLiveMISConnection;
SqlConnection devMISConnection = ConnectionStrings.CreateDevMISConnection;
public bool IsConnecting { get; set; }
public string ConnectionMessage { get; set; }
public async Task<DataTable> ResultDataTable(bool connectToLive, string commandText, CommandType commandType)
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand())
{
try
{
command.CommandType = commandType;
command.CommandTimeout = 360000000;
switch (connectToLive)
{
case true:
command.CommandText = commandText;
command.Connection = liveConnection;
if (liveConnection.State == ConnectionState.Connecting)
{
IsConnecting = true;
ConnectionMessage = "Connecting to Data Source...";
}
if (liveConnection.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
liveConnection.Close();
if (liveConnection.State != ConnectionState.Open)
{
liveConnection.Open();
IsConnecting = false;
ConnectionMessage = "";
}
break;
case false:
command.CommandType = commandType;
command.CommandText = "";
command.Connection = devMISConnection;
if (devMISConnection.State == ConnectionState.Connecting)
{
IsConnecting = true;
ConnectionMessage = commandText;
}
if (devMISConnection.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
devMISConnection.Close();
if (devMISConnection.State != ConnectionState.Open)
{
devMISConnection.Open();
IsConnecting = false;
ConnectionMessage = "";
}
break;
}
using (SqlDataReader reader = await command.ExecuteReaderAsync())
{
dt.Load(reader);
}
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
System.Windows.Forms.MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "An Error Has Occured", System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxButtons.OK, System.Windows.Forms.MessageBoxIcon.Error);
}
finally
{
if (devMISConnection.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
devMISConnection.Close();
if (liveConnection.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
liveConnection.Close();
}
}
return dt;
}
}
}
I include this dll as a reference in the app that I'm writing:
using System.Data;
using System.Threading.Tasks;
using System.Windows.Forms;
using DataFramework;
namespace WindowsFormsApplication1
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
DataFramework.Logic logic = new Logic();
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private async void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
dt = await Task.Run(() => logic.ResultDataTable(true, "SELECT * FROM MIS.dbo.ETL_Table", CommandType.StoredProcedure));
}
}
}
The code throws the exception here:
SqlConnection liveConnection = ConnectionStrings.CreateLiveMISConnection;
So why, when I'm initializing the class, do I get this issue?

When you reference a DLL (or project) from another project, the app.config from the top most project is used. So, if you have your DataFramework being called from your WinformsApp, then your WinformsApp needs to have the right config settings in it. By default, it will ignore any app.config in the DataFramework. A bit frustrating at times! Copy your settings from your DataFramework app.config in to the WinformsApp app.config and it will work.
Another unrelated observation is that you have the following:
"SELECT * FROM MIS.dbo.ETL_Table", CommandType.StoredProcedure
The command type should be text and not a stored procedure.

ADO.NET DAL and BLL

I have two classes SqlHelper and DishesTypes there are used in a DAL project
public class SqlHelper
{
public static SqlDataReader ExecuteReader(string procedure,
params SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
{
using (var connection = new SqlConnection(
ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DefaultConnection"].ConnectionString))
using (var command = new SqlCommand(procedure, _connection))
{
command.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
command.Parameters.AddRange(commandParameters);
return command.ExecuteReader();
}
}
public class DishesTypes
{
public static SqlDataReader DishesTypesSelectAll()
{
return SqlHelper.ExecuteReader("DishesTypesSelectAllRows"); //name of procedure
}
}
And I have class DishedTypes that used in a BLL project like this
public class DishesTypes
{
public int DishTypeId { get; set; }
public string DishType { get; set; }
public static List<DishesTypes> DishesTypesSelectAll()
{
IDataReader dr = DataAccessLayer.DishesTypes.DishesTypesSelectAll();
List<DishesTypes> dishesTypesList = new List<DishesTypes>();
while (dr.Read())
{
DishesTypes myDishesTypes = new DishesTypes
{
DishTypeId = (int)dr["DishTypeId"],
DishType = (string)dr["DishType"]
};
dishesTypesList.Add(myDishesTypes);
}
return dishesTypesList;
}
}
Problems starts here while (dr.Read()),The reason, the connection to this point has already closed and it is necessary to reconnect how best to change the implementation of classes adhering layers DAL and BLL, to work?

If you want to roll your own, something like this is better:
public class DataQuery
{
private readonly string _connectionString;
public DataQuery(string connectionString)
{
_connectionString = connectionString;
}
public IEnumerable<T> GetList<T>(string procedure,
Func<IDataRecord, T> entityCreator,
params SqlParameter[] commandParameters
)
{
var result = new List<T>();
using (var connection = CreateConnection())
using (var command = CreateCommand(procedure, connection, commandParameters))
using (var reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
result.Add(entityCreator(reader));
}
return result;
}
private SqlConnection CreateConnection()
{
var connection = new SqlConnection(_connectionString);
connection.Open();
return connection;
}
private static DbCommand CreateCommand(string procedure,
SqlConnection connection, SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
{
var command = new SqlCommand(procedure, connection)
{
CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
};
command.Parameters.AddRange(commandParameters);
return command;
}
}
Which you would call like this:
var connectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DefaultConnection"]
.ConnectionString;
var query = new DataQuery(connectionString);
Func<IDataRecord, DishesTypes> creator = dr =>
new DishesTypes
{
DishTypeId = (int)dr["DishTypeId"],
DishType = (string)dr["DishType"]
};
var results = query.GetList("DishesTypesSelectAllRows", creator);
Otherwise, which I recommend, have a look at Dapper.
Dapper would allow you to simply do:
var results = connection.Query<DishesTypes>("DishesTypesSelectAllRows",
commandType: CommandType.StoredProcedure);

First of all, your using statement is closing your connection, so you cannot expect to return a useable IDataReader. Second, your connection is never opened, so you would not get a result, anyway. Having said that, if your dataset will always be small enough to fit in memory, you could use something like what I have done below. This should have minimal impact on your code.
public class SqlHelper
{
public static IDataReader ExecuteReader(string procedure, params SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
{
using (var connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["DefaultConnection"].ConnectionString))
{
connection.Open();
using (var command = new SqlCommand(procedure, connection))
{
command.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
command.Parameters.AddRange(commandParameters);
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
using (SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(command))
da.Fill(dt);
return dt.CreateDataReader();
}
}
}
}
public class DishesTypes
{
public static IDataReader DishesTypesSelectAll()
{
return SqlHelper.ExecuteReader("DishesTypesSelectAllRows");//name of procedure
}
}

Reduce Multiple Calls To Database

I have a code a base that iterates through a list of records and does the follwing
'select * from Table to see if fields exist
then later in the interation
'select * from Table to retreive some data
then farther down in the interation
select field1, field2 from Table to get certain pieces of information
I need to do all of these functions for each record. Would the process speed up if I called the query once for each record and hold the data in a datatable and retreive what I need from there? Or is there another more efficient way to not have to make 3 db calls to the same table which will speed up the process?

You can cache query data to System.Data.DataTable. To simplify things I has written CMyDynaset class, which populates DataTable with data from DB. Here how to use it for example with MySQL:
using System;
using System.Data.Common;
using MySql.Data.MySqlClient;
namesapce MyProg
{
class Program
{
private const string strMyConnection = "Host=localhost;Database=mydb;User Id=myuser;Password=mypsw";
static void Main(string[] args)
{
using (MySqlConnection myConnection = new MySqlConnection(strMyConnection))
{
using (MyDb.CMyDynaset dyn = new MyDb.CMyDynaset(myConnection, MySqlClientFactory.Instance))
{
// populate dyn.Table (System.Data.DataTable)
dyn.Init("select * from Table");
dyn.Load();
// access fields
foreach (DataColumn column in dyn.Table.Columns)
{
// ...
}
// get data
long nCountAll = dyn.Table.Rows.Count; // rows count
foreach (DataRow row in dyn.Table.Rows)
{
Object val1 = row[1]; // acess by index
Object val2 = row["id"]; // acess by name
// ...
}
// update data
dyn.Table.Rows[0]["name"] = "ABC";
dyn.Update();
}
}
}
}
}
CMyDynaset class (CMyDynaset.cs):
// CMyDynaset.cs
using System;
using System.Data.Common;
namespace MyDb
{
/// <summary>
/// Summary description for CMyDynaset.
/// </summary>
public class CMyDynaset : IDisposable
{
public System.Data.DataTable Table = null;
// private
private DbConnection myConnection = null;
private DbProviderFactory myFactory = null;
private DbDataAdapter dataAdap = null;
private DbCommandBuilder cmdBld = null;
private bool bIsSchema = false;
public CMyDynaset(DbConnection conn, DbProviderFactory factory)
{
this.myConnection = conn;
this.myFactory = factory;
}
#region IDisposable Members
public void Dispose()
{
if (this.Table != null)
{
this.Table.Dispose();
this.Table = null;
}
if (this.cmdBld != null)
{
this.cmdBld.Dispose();
this.cmdBld = null;
}
if (this.dataAdap != null)
{
this.dataAdap.Dispose();
this.dataAdap = null;
}
// This object will be cleaned up by the Dispose method.
// Therefore, you should call GC.SupressFinalize to
// take this object off the finalization queue
// and prevent finalization code for this object
// from executing a second time.
GC.SuppressFinalize(this);
}
#endregion
// Init
public void Init(string strSelect)
{
DbCommand cmdSel = this.myConnection.CreateCommand();
cmdSel.CommandText = strSelect;
this.dataAdap = this.myFactory.CreateDataAdapter();
this.dataAdap.SelectCommand = cmdSel;
this.cmdBld = this.myFactory.CreateCommandBuilder();
this.cmdBld.DataAdapter = this.dataAdap;
this.Table = new System.Data.DataTable();
// schema
this.bIsSchema = false;
}
public void AddParameter(string name, object value)
{
DbParameter param = this.dataAdap.SelectCommand.CreateParameter();
param.ParameterName = name;
param.Value = value;
this.dataAdap.SelectCommand.Parameters.Add(param);
}
public void AddParameter(DbParameter param)
{
this.dataAdap.SelectCommand.Parameters.Add(param);
}
// Open, Close
private void Open(ref bool bClose)
{
if (this.myConnection.State == System.Data.ConnectionState.Closed)
{
this.myConnection.Open();
bClose = true;
}
if (!this.bIsSchema)
{ // schema
this.dataAdap.FillSchema(this.Table, System.Data.SchemaType.Mapped);
this.bIsSchema = true;
}
}
private void Close(bool bClose)
{
if (bClose)
this.myConnection.Close();
}
// Load, Update
public void Load()
{
bool bClose = false;
try
{
this.Table.Clear();
this.Open(ref bClose);
this.dataAdap.Fill(this.Table);
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
throw ex;
}
finally
{
this.Close(bClose);
}
}
public void Update()
{
bool bClose = false;
try
{
this.Open(ref bClose);
this.dataAdap.Update(this.Table);
}
catch (System.Exception ex)
{
throw ex;
}
finally
{
this.Close(bClose);
}
}
}
}

Convert delegate to Action<T> (Action<T1,T2>)

I have a DB class that makes all DB calls like below:
public delegate void Part1_Callback(string message);
public delegate void Part2_Callback(DataTable dt);
public delegate void Part3_Callback(DataTable dt, int x, int y);
public delegate void ErrorHandler(string message);
public class CommandAndCallback<TCallback>
{
public SqlCommand Sql { get; set; }
public TCallback Callback { get; set; }
public ErrorHandler Error { get; set; }
}
class DB : SingletonBase<DB>
{
public static readonly string SqlConnectionString = #"Data Source=MyDB;Initial Catalog=Stats;Integrated Security=True;Asynchronous Processing=true;";
private DB()
{
}
public void Part2(Part2_Callback callback, ErrorHandler error)
{
SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(SqlConnectionString);
SqlCommand cmd = conn.CreateCommand();
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
cmd.CommandText = "Part2";
try
{
conn.Open();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
error(ex.ToString());
return;
}
CommandAndCallback<Part2_Callback> ar = new CommandAndCallback<Part2_Callback>() { Callback = callback, Error = error, Sql = cmd };
IAsyncResult result = cmd.BeginExecuteReader(new AsyncCallback(Part2_Handler), ar, CommandBehavior.CloseConnection);
}
private void Part2_Handler(IAsyncResult result)
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
CommandAndCallback<Part2_Callback> ar = (CommandAndCallback<Part2_Callback>)result.AsyncState;
SqlDataReader dr;
if (result.IsCompleted)
{
dr = ar.Sql.EndExecuteReader(result);
}
else
dr = null;
dt.Load(dr);
dr.Close();
dt.Columns[3].ReadOnly = false;
ar.Callback(dt);
}
}
And in my main class I'm using it like so:
private void Form1_Enter(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
showStatus("Loading");
DB.Instance.Part2(Part2_OK, ErrorHandler);
}
private void ErrorHandler(string msg)
{
hideStatus();
viewStack1.InvokeIfRequired(c => { c.moveToFirst(); });
//MessageBox.Show(msg, "Error", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error);
}
private void Part2_OK(DataTable dt)
{
dataGridView1.InvokeIfRequired(c =>
{
c.DataSource = dt;
});
}
Right now I have 3 methods in my DB class that return 3 different sets of data, for every type I must declare delegate.
If in future I'll add more methods then I'll have to add more delegates.
Can I remove usage of delegates? I would like to simplify build of my class so that it will be easy to add new methods.
What I need is to be able to call my DB Class like so:
DB.Instance.PartX(PartX_OK, ErrorHandler);
PartX is declared as shown
private void PartX_OK(DataTable dt, int x, int y, ...)
{
//logic here
}
Can Action<T> be used to to that, so I can call my handlers with multiple parameters? If yes then how?

Yes, I meant to get back to your earlier question, so your function would become
public void Part2(Action<DataTable> callback, ErrorHandler error)
{
SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(SqlConnectionString);
SqlCommand cmd = conn.CreateCommand();
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
cmd.CommandText = "Part2";
try
{
conn.Open();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
error(ex.ToString());
return;
}
CommandAndCallback<Action<DataTable>> ar = new CommandAndCallback<Action<DataTable>>() { Callback = callback, Error = error, Sql = cmd };
IAsyncResult result = cmd.BeginExecuteReader(new AsyncCallback(Part2_Handler), ar, CommandBehavior.CloseConnection);
}
private void Part2_Handler(IAsyncResult result)
{
DataTable dt = new DataTable();
CommandAndCallback<Action<DataTable>> ar = (CommandAndCallback<Action<DataTable>>)result.AsyncState;
SqlDataReader dr;
if (result.IsCompleted)
{
dr = ar.Sql.EndExecuteReader(result);
}
else
dr = null;
dt.Load(dr);
dr.Close();
dt.Columns[3].ReadOnly = false;
ar.Callback(dt);
}

There are Action classes with upto 16 generic parameters, you will probably find the one for your needs;). See MSDN page.
And the invocation
DB.Instance.PartX((p1, p2, p3, p4) => { ... }, ErrorHandler);

Part1_Callback will be equivilant to Action<string>
Part2_Callback will be equivilant to Action<DataTable>
Part3_Callback will be equivilant to Action<DataTable, int, int>
ErrorHandler will be equivilant to Action<string>
Just use those types in place of each of your existing delegates.
There are almost no cases anymore where you need to define your own delegates. If you have >16 parameters, ref/out parameters, params parameters, or optional arguments then there may not be an Action/Func overload for you, but that's not particularly common.

Any way to avoid nesting usings when opening a SqlDataReader?

Not a big deal but for neatness sake is there any way to "create and open" a SqlConnection?
I naively wrote this code:
using (var strConnection = new SqlConnection(sourceConnection))
using (var strCommand = new SqlCommand(query, strConnection))
using (var reader = strCommand.ExecuteReader())
{
...
}
Which of course fails on line 3 because the connection isn't open.
Is there a neat way to avoid that nesting that opening the connection introduces?
using (var strConnection = new SqlConnection(sourceConnection))
{
strConnection.Open();
using (var strCommand = new SqlCommand(query, strConnection))
using (var reader = strCommand.ExecuteReader())
{
...
}
}

Good question, my idea is an Extension-Method for SqlConnection.
Check this:
public static class SqlExtensions {
public static SqlConnection OpenAndReturn(this SqlConnection con) {
try {
con.Open();
return con;
} catch {
if(con != null)
con.Dispose();
throw;
}
}
}
Usage:
using(var strConnection = new SqlConnection("CONNECTION").OpenAndReturn())
using(var strCommand = new SqlCommand("QUERY", strConnection))
using(var reader = strCommand.ExecuteReader()) {
//...
}

What about something like that:
class SqlHelper : IDisposable
{
public SqlHelper(string connectionString, string query) { ... }
public SqlConnection Connection { get; set; }
public SqlCommand Command { get; set; }
// SQL querying logic here
public void Execute() { ... }
/** IDisposable implementation **/
}
and in your code
using (SqlHelper sql = new SqlHelper(sourceConnection, query))
{
var reader = sql.Execute();
...
}