namespace LavanyaDeepak {}

ConnectionString Manager

ConnectionString Manager

Most of us, who are using multiple SQLServer connections from our applications need to remember the connectionstring to be replaced in web.config to test the application with the different SQLServers. Either each and every time, we need to type the connectionstring parts. I just thought, I could start out writing a simple web application which could create the connectionstring from the Microsoft-provided DataLinks tool and then it can save the connectiongstring to a text file with a specific extension like .scn (Saved Connection Strings). Currently it saves one connectionstring per file, since I felt that would be easy. The other flexible options could be save all bunch in an XML file or as an Registry Entry.

Currently I have included the following basic options in the utility:

1. Creates a new connection string, sets the item in the system clipboard and prompts to save it to a location.
2. Edits an existing connection string , sets the item in the system clipboard and prompts to save it to a location.
3. Double-clicking the .SCN file automatically launches the Edit action for the connectionstring and then the control flow resumes normally.

TODO:

1. Optionally, keep all connectionstrings in Registry.
2. As an addon, encrypt the connectionstring and save it, to enable secure saving of confidential database login credentials.

I would try to upload the utility tonight to my Daffodilnet workspace and then update the URL here.

QueryExpress -- Generic Tool to Database Updates

QueryExpress -- Tool for Database Updates

A little neat tool from http://www.albahari.com/ which facilitates you to connect to SQLServer, Oracle or any OLEDB Compliant databases. Furthermore, it comes with its source code availability. Its salient features being Threading and Async QueryExecution, plain vanilla XML serializing of connection details and introducing developers to use TypedDataSet.

It was an interesting coincidence that I got to know of QueryExpress sometime about 3 years ago, when we were in  a small organization in Chennai executing a portfolio management project for a client based in California. The database was IBM DB2 and there were no friendly database connector tools and the then ignorance of us in DB2 made us very desparate and discouraging.

A brief search in Google revealed this nice tool. This has enthralled me so much. Even me, nowadays try to update the source, to keep it as a supreme product.

Here are the links to QueryExpress:

1. QueryExpress home on http://www.albahari.com/ : http://www.albahari.com/query express.html
2. QueryExpress with ODBC Support: http://www45.brinkster.com/daffodilnet/queryexpress.aspx

Do send us suggestions on what you would like to see in QueryExpress...