Hi Everyone,

I am having a real problem with something that seems so easy. I have an ASP.NET file which I have a seperate c# file. In my c# file I would like to connect to my database which is a SQL Server express 2005 db with web developer 2005.

Once connected to my db I would like to retrieve a value 'contact name' to a variable which I can then use in my insert. I started to use things like -

SqlDataSource contacts = new SqlDataSource();
contacts.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["ConnectionString"].ToString();
contacts.SelectCommand = "SELECT contactName FROM tblContacts WHERE contactID = @tmpContactID";
contacts.SelectParameters.Add("tmpContactID", contactnameDropDownList.SelectedValue);

What I cannot seem to do is make this into a datareader and add to a variable (string).

I am banging my head against a wall now so please help.

Ryan

__________________
Thanks

Ryan

Are you using the apropriate SQL INSERT statement for your .Add function?

Example here:
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/system.we...ce.insert.aspx

I have just had a look at the MSDN and I am not sure if that is doing what I am trying to do. All I want to do is retrieve a value from a table in the database based on a parameter which I set 'tmpContactID'.

I may be doing this wrong as I am new to this.

Thanks

Ryan

// Sample C# code accessing a sample database

// You need:
// A database connection
// A command to execute
// A data adapter that understands SQL databases
// A table to hold the result set

namespace DataAccess
{
    using System.Data;
    using System.Data.SqlClient;

    class DataAccess
    {
        //This is your database connection:
        static string connectionString = "Initial Catalog=northwind;Data Source=(local);Integrated Security=SSPI;";
        static SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(connectionString);

        // This is your command to execute:
        static string sCommand = "SELECT TOP 10 Lastname FROM Employees ORDER BY EmployeeID";

        // This is your data adapter that understands SQL databases:
        static SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(sCommand, cn);

        // This is your table to hold the result set:
        static DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

        static void Main()
        {
            try
            {
                cn.Open();

                // Fill the data table with select statement's query results:
                int recordsAffected = da.Fill(dataTable);

                if (recordsAffected > 0)
                    foreach (DataRow dr in dataTable.Rows)
                        System.Console.WriteLine(dr[0]);
            }
            finally
                if (cn.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
                    cn.Close();
        }
    }
}

Would that do the trick? Just change your SELECT statement, throw in your desired condition. and it should return you the value..

Ok I have started a new app with a new database,

I thought I better let you know a few things. First of all I am using SQLExpress2005 and have turned on NamedPipes and TCP/IP for my instance.

I used the below code in my cs file;

 //This is your database connection:
        string connectionString = "Data Source=SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=Customers.mdf;I ntegrated Security=True;User Instance=True";
        SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(connectionString);

        // This is your command to execute:
        string sCommand = "SELECT * FROM Customer";

        // This is your data adapter that understands SQL databases:
        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(sCommand, cn);

        // This is your table to hold the result set:
        DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

                cn.Open();

                // Fill the data table with select statement's query results:
                int recordsAffected = da.Fill(dataTable);

                if (recordsAffected > 0)
                    foreach (DataRow dr in dataTable.Rows)
                        System.Console.WriteLine(dr[0]);
                if (cn.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
                    cn.Close();

When I run the page I get the following error which I thought I would fix by enabling Named pipes and TCP/IP.

Any ideas?

(provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)

Thanks

I got it, thanks for all your help it was all in the DB connection string. Here it is for you ref.

//This is your database connection:
        string connectionString = "Data Source=.\\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=D:\\External Disk\\Websites\\CallLogging\\App_Data\\Customers.m df;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True";
            //"Data Source=SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=Customers.mdf;I ntegrated Security=True;User Instance=True";
        SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(connectionString);

        // This is your command to execute:
        string sCommand = "SELECT * FROM Customer";

        // This is your data adapter that understands SQL databases:
        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(sCommand, cn);

        // This is your table to hold the result set:
        DataTable dataTable = new DataTable();

                cn.Open();

                // Fill the data table with select statement's query results:
                int recordsAffected = da.Fill(dataTable);

                if (recordsAffected > 0)
                    foreach (DataRow dr in dataTable.Rows)
                        System.Console.WriteLine(dr[0]);
                if (cn.State != ConnectionState.Closed)
                    cn.Close();

seee from the following linkj , some datareader samples

http://csharp.net-informations.com/d...datareader.htm

lee.