Dim cn As OracleConnection = Nothing
    cn.ConnectionString = "Data Source = DIS;" & _
                          "User ID     = xhyt;" & _
                          "Password    = xhyt"
    cn.Open   ' cn.State = Open {1} after this.
 
Dim cmd As New OracleCommand()
    cmd.Connection  = cn
    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text
 
Try
    .CommandText = "ALTER USER PT109 IDENTIFFIED BY the1user"
    .ExecuteNonQuery
Catch ex As OracleException
   ' ex.Message = "ORA-00922: missing or invalid option"
End Try

    Dim cn As OracleConnection = Nothing
   If OpenConnection(cn) Then Exit Sub   ' Fn raises error, if nec.
...
...
Private Function OpenConnection(ByRef cn As OracleConnection) As Boolean
   cn = new OracleConnection()
 
   cn.ConnectionString = "Data Source = wigga ;" & _
                         "User ID = " & frmLogin.txtUsrNm.Text & ";" & _
                         "Password = " & frmLogin.txtPW.text
   try
       cn.Open
   Catch ex As OracleClient.OracleException
       MsgBox(ex.Message & " ...", , "Error")
       If cn.State <> ConnectionState.Closed Then cn.Close
       Return True
   Catch ex As Exception
       MsgBox(ex.Message & " ... ", , "Error")
       If cn.State <> ConnectionState.Closed Then cn.Close
       Return True
   End Try
 
   Return False
 
End Function