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SQL Server Connection Dialog

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4.96/5 (19 votes)
29 Oct 2012CPOL 42K   4.1K   22   10
Show you how to make a connection dialog developed completely from scratch.

Introduction

Solve the ability to configure connection to SQL Server by using app.config or any other means.

Using the code

For use only need to import System.Configuration

This example gets the connectionstring of app.config for viewing and editing, creating a method in the client form.

Add section connectionStrings in app.config  

XML
<connectionStrings>    
    <add name="conn" 
       connectionString="Data Source=127.0.0.1;Initial Catalog=master; User Id=sa; Password=123456;Integrated Security=false" 
       providerName="System.Data.sqlclient" />
</connectionStrings> 

Opens the specified client configuration file as a Configuration object. 

VB.NET
Dim config As Configuration = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

Gets the ConnectionStringsSection data for the current application's default configuration.  

VB.NET
Dim connectionString as String = config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings("conn").Connection 

Save and refresh ConnectionString in current application's default configuration (app.config). 

VB.NET
config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings("conn").ConnectionString = CS
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified)
ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings") 

Complete code form method client. 

VB.NET
Public Function ConnectionDialog() As Boolean
 
    Dim config As Configuration = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None)

    Dim dialog As New SQLServerConnectionDialog()
    dialog.ConnectionString = config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings("conn").ConnectionString

    If dialog.ShowDialog = Windows.Forms.DialogResult.Cancel Then Return False

    Dim CS As String = dialog.ConnectionString

    config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings("conn").ConnectionString = CS
    config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified)

    ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings")

    Return True
End Function

To get the list of SQL Server instances registered on the network: 

VB
Dim sqlSources As DataTable = SqlDataSourceEnumerator.Instance.GetDataSources
For Each datarow As DataRow In sqlSources.Rows
    Dim datasource As String = datarow("ServerName").ToString
    If Not datarow("InstanceName") Is DBNull.Value Then
        datasource &= String.Format("\{0}", datarow("InstanceName"))
    End If
    cbServer.Items.Add(datasource)
Next

To get the list of databases on SQL Server:

VB
Using cn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(connString)
    cn.Open()
    Using cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()
        cmd.Connection = cn
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
        cmd.CommandText = "sp_databases"

        Using myReader As SqlDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
            While (myReader.Read())
                cbDataBase.Items.Add(myReader.GetString(0))
            End While
        End Using
    End Using
End Using

We build a connectionstring via object SqlConnectionStringBuilder.

VB.NET
Dim conn As New SqlConnectionStringBuilder()
conn.DataSource = "ServerName"
conn.IntegratedSecurity = False
conn.UserID = "sa"
conn.Password = "123456"
conn.InitialCatalog = "DBName"

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Halit Can2-Apr-22 12:05
Halit Can2-Apr-22 12:05 
QuestionNice article, the MS published SQL Connection Dialog is just to much. Pin
wknopf14-Aug-13 10:52
wknopf14-Aug-13 10:52 
AnswerRe: Nice article, the MS published SQL Connection Dialog is just to much. Pin
Hernán Hegykozi27-Aug-13 18:16
Hernán Hegykozi27-Aug-13 18:16 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
evoisard9-Nov-12 6:13
evoisard9-Nov-12 6:13 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
Hernán Hegykozi14-Nov-12 6:20
Hernán Hegykozi14-Nov-12 6:20 
GeneralEste muchacho es comañero mio!!! / This guy is my fellow!!! (orgullo / pride) Pin
Member 91909962-Nov-12 7:02
Member 91909962-Nov-12 7:02 
GeneralRe: Este muchacho es comañero mio!!! / This guy is my fellow!!! (orgullo / pride) Pin
Hernán Hegykozi2-Nov-12 7:45
Hernán Hegykozi2-Nov-12 7:45 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Nicolas Trillo29-Oct-12 5:53
Nicolas Trillo29-Oct-12 5:53 
GeneralRe: My vote of 5 Pin
Hernán Hegykozi29-Oct-12 5:55
Hernán Hegykozi29-Oct-12 5:55 
QuestionNice!! Pin
Javi Gonzalez29-Oct-12 4:24
professionalJavi Gonzalez29-Oct-12 4:24 

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