Why is my db not connecting? - sql-server

Question

I am newbie to vb.net and i am trying to connect with a sql server.
my connection string here is:
<add name="ConString" connectionString="Data Source=LV-SC294\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=master;Persist Security Info=True;User ID=1111;Password=111111" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
Here is my DBConnection file where i connect to the server,
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Configuration.Provider
Imports System.Configuration
Imports System.Web.Services
Imports System.Data.Odbc
Namespace CATTool
Public Class DBConnection
Protected con As OdbcConnection
Dim b As Boolean
Protected rs As Object
Public Function Open(Optional ByVal connection As String = "ConString") As Boolean
con = New OdbcConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("ConString").ConnectionString)
Try
b = True
If (con.State.ToString <> "open") Then
con.Open()
End If
Return b
Catch ex As Exception
Return False
End Try
End Function
and finally here is where i call my DbConnection.. Here i am trying to set up the connection with the server and also execute the query to fetch rows. How ever the connection is not established.It keeps throwing the message "Connection didn't establish"
Imports System.Data
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Web.Services
Imports CAT_Tool.CATTool
Imports Newtonsoft.Json
Imports Newtonsoft.Json.Linq
Namespace CAT_Tool
Public Class SummaryController
Inherits System.Web.Mvc.Controller
'
' GET: /Summary
Protected DB As DBConnection = New DBConnection()
Private Property Val As Object
Function Index() As ActionResult
Return View()
End Function
Function Summary() As ActionResult
Return View()
End Function
<WebMethod()> _
Public Function Get_Territory()
MsgBox("Filling Territory")
Dim Query As String = "select distinct Territory from dbo.CWS_WEBTOOL_USG"
Dim dbcon As Boolean = DB.Open()
If (dbcon = True) Then
MsgBox("Connection Established")
Val = DB.selectdata(Query)
DB.Close()
Dim serializer As New System.Web.Script.Serialization.JavaScriptSerializer()
Dim rows As New List(Of Dictionary(Of String, Object))()
Dim row As Dictionary(Of String, Object)
For Each dr As DataRow In Val.Rows
row = New Dictionary(Of String, Object)()
For Each col As DataColumn In Val.Columns
row.Add(col.ColumnName, dr(col))
Next
rows.Add(row)
Next
MsgBox("Returning values")
MsgBox(rows)
Return serializer.Serialize(rows)
Else
MsgBox("Connection Did'nt Establish")
Return Content(dbcon.ToString)
End If
Return View()
End Function
My sql server details are as follows:
ServerName = LV-SC294\SQLEXPRESS
Authentication : SQLServer Authentication

Answer 1

I agree with #AllanS.Hansen that it is best to use System.Data.SqlClient to access SQL Server from managed code. Your connection string is a proper SqlClient connection string, although one usually specifies an application database rather than the master system database.
If you want to use ODBC (e.g. same code supporting different DBMS systems), you'll need to change the connection string and provider in the config file. For example, using the latest SQL Server ODBC Driver:
<add name="ConString" connectionString="Driver={ODBC Driver 11 for SQL Server},Server=LV-SC294\SQLEXPRESS;Database=YourDatabase;UID=1111;PWD=111111" providerName="System.Data.Odbc"/>