How to connect to SQL Server database in C# ?

Question

Hi guys, I'm a newbie at .NET/C#. How do I make a database connection to SQL Server in C# ? A sample code in C# will be appreciated. Thanks. Tommy

Del Woodcock · Answer

theInstanceName is created when you install Visual Studio w/SQL Express the default InstanceName would be SQLEXPRESS.

Sam Hobbs · Answer

I suggest not using the registry when there is a documented way for obtaining the information. I also suggest not asking the same question more than once at the same time. This is the same as your How to create a SQL Server database in Visual Studio.NET ? which also has replies. People that volunteer their time to help others do not appreciate answering questios that have already been answered elsewhere and that it is true for all forums in all web sites. There are also many articles in this web site that can help you. The best way to create a database connection is to use the Data Sources window. When you do that, Visual Studio will create a connection string for you and put in a property setting for your project. It will also generate some code for you. Note that when you do this, you will have a choice of Database, Service, Object or Sharepoint; choose Database of course. Then in the next property page, you will have a choice of either Dataset or Entity Data Model. If you choose Dataset then it will create a TableAdpapter as described in my article but TableAdpapters are older technology. The Entity Data Model is newer technology. Look for articles in this web site for more help.

brunda k · Answer

In registry(regedit) in the below path we can find the installed sql instances HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE/Software/Microsoft/MicrosoftSqlServer/InstalledInstances

Tommy · Answer

Thanks Del. By the way, where can I find "theInstanceName" for SqlConnection ?

Del Woodcock · Answer

Here is a sample read: Note: Your server will need a different connection string, see http://www.connectionstrings.com/ var sqlConn = new SqlConnection("Server=myServerName	heInstanceName;Database=myDataBase;Trusted_Connection=True"); try { var sqlCmd = new SqlCommand { CommandText = string.Format("SELECT aaa, bbb, ccc FROM myDataBase WHERE aaa='{0}'", whatever), CommandType = CommandType.Text, Connection = sqlConn }; sqlConn.Open(); var sqlReader = sqlCmd.ExecuteReader(); while (sqlReader.Read()) { aaa = (int)sqlReader[0]; bbb = (bool)sqlReader[1]; ccc = sqlReader[2].ToString(); console.writeline(string.format("{0}, {1}, {2}", aaa, bbb, ccc); } sqlReader.Close(); } catch (Exception ex) { MessageBox.Show(string.Format("SQL Error:

{0}", ex.Message), "SQL Error - xxx"); } finally { sqlConn.Close(); }

How to connect to SQL Server database in C# ?

Answers (5)