Multiple Database Connection File Manager

• Download demo - 207 KB
• Download source - 42.9 KB

Introduction

This application is intended to be integrated with an existing program, or become the shell of a new project that will utilize multiple database connections to Oracle and SQL Server database platforms.

Background

Many applications use a database as a backend source of data. In doing so, connecting to multiple databases is required, especially from a QA perspective. Customers also enjoy the ability to edit connections without having to edit XML or text configuration files due to the complexity of the files and lack of technical knowledge. I created this originally as a shell for a Data Generation utility for a software package I am testing. I ended up using an existing DAL that we had, so I shelved this. I decided that the effort I put into may save someone else time, so here it is.

Using the code

The code is straightforward in most areas, and is documented pretty well. I will say the XML / XPath portion is a little more complex. I want to thank Michael Chao as I used one of his programs from CodeProject as a starting base for editing the XML connection file. His article can be found here:

• Manipulate XML data with XPath and XmlDocument (C#)

Here is a snippet for creating a new connection (string):

// Here is an example of the Create Connection Method using XML
private void CreateConnectionInXML()
{
    string FileNameNew = DataConnection.ConnectionFileLocation;
    
    // Determine Selected DB Type and set variable to write to xml
    int dbtypenew;                       
    if (comboBoxDBType.SelectedIndex == 0)
        dbtypenew = 1;
    else
        dbtypenew = 2;

    try
    {
        // Create an XML Reader, Open Document, Read, Close Reader
        XmlTextReader reader = new XmlTextReader(FileNameNew);
        XmlDocument docnew = new XmlDocument();
        docnew.Load(reader);
        reader.Close();
        XmlNode currNode;

        XmlDocumentFragment docFrag = docnew.CreateDocumentFragment();
        docFrag.InnerXml = "<connection>" +
            "<title>" + textBoxConnTitle.Text + "</title>" +
            "<server>" + textBoxServerName.Text + "</server>" +
            "<database>" + textBoxDatabaseName.Text + "</database>" +
            "<dbtype>" + dbtypenew  + "</dbtype>" +
            "<username>" + textBoxUsername.Text + "</username>" +
            "<password>" + textBoxPassword.Text + "</password>" +
            "</connection>";
        
        currNode = docnew.DocumentElement;
        currNode.InsertAfter(docFrag, currNode.LastChild);
        //save the output to a file 
        docnew.Save(FileNameNew);
        this.DialogResult = DialogResult.OK;
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show("Exception: {0}", ex.ToString());
        this.DialogResult = DialogResult.Cancel;
    } 
}

This program was written with Visual Studio 2008 for .NET 3.5. I am sure it could be modified to work with lower versions.

Here are some screenshots:

Points of interest

I will say this is my very first coding project outside of school. I am still working on the main tool I am creating, and wish I could show it here, but cannot for business reasons. I hope this helps someone, and welcome any feedback as I am just getting started in the software development field.

History

• Version 1.0.