Download MS App Block Dll's...
http://www.schimsky.com/VBKnowledgeBase/DataAccess/MSAppBlocksData.zip

Common Routines...
http://www.schimsky.com/SteveLibs.CommonRoutines\SteveLibCommonRoutines.zip

======================================================================================================================================
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Data
Imports Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks

Dim oConn As New SqlConnection
oConn.ConnectionString ="Server=Aragorn;Database=Cp;Trusted_Connection=True;"
Dim ds As DataSet
ds = Microsoft.ApplicationBlocks.Data.SqlHelper.ExecuteDataset(oConn,CommandType.Text, "Select * From Table1 Where LName like 'z%'")
Response.Write(ds.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item("Lname"))
======================================================================================================================================


======================================================================================
  Public Shared Function NZ(ByVal oObject As Object, _
                            ByVal oValueToReturnIfDBNullOrNothing As Object) _
                            As Object
    'Returns oObject if not DBNull, Nothing or String.Empty; 
    'else returns oValueToReturnIfNull.
    Try
      If IsDBNull(oObject) Then
        Return oValueToReturnIfDBNullOrNothing
      ElseIf oObject Is Nothing Then
        Return oValueToReturnIfDBNullOrNothing
      ElseIf oObject Is String.Empty Then
        Return oValueToReturnIfDBNullOrNothing
      Else
        Return oObject
      End If

    Catch Ex As Exception
	Messagebox.Show(Ex.Message)
    Finally
    End Try
  End Function
=========================================================================================


Open an SQL Dataset
============================================================================================================
    Dim objConn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection
    Dim objDs As New DataSet
    Dim objCommand As New SqlCommand()
    Dim objDa As New SqlDataAdapter
    Dim objCommandBuilder As New SqlCommandBuilder()
    objConn.ConnectionString = "Server=(local);Database=NorthWind;Trusted_Connection=True;"
    objCommand.CommandText = "Select * From Employees"
    objCommand.Connection = objConn
    objDa.SelectCommand = objCommand
    objDa.Fill(objDs, "Employees")
    objCommandBuilder = New SqlCommandBuilder(objDa)
==============================================================================================================





MS App Block Dataset
===========================================================================================================
        Dim Conn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection
        Dim objDs As New DataSet
        Conn.ConnectionString = "Server=(local);Database=NorthWind;Trusted_Connection=True;"

        'Dim sqlparams(1) As SqlClient.SqlParameter
        'sqlparams(0) = New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@LastName", "Dodsworth")
        'sqlparams(1) = New SqlClient.SqlParameter("@FirstName", "Anne")
        'objDs = SqlHelper.ExecuteDataset(Conn, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "spGetEmployee", sqlparams)

        objDs = SqlHelper.ExecuteDataset(Conn, CommandType.Text, "Select * From Employees")


        MessageBox.Show(objDs.Tables(0).Rows(0).Item("LastName"))
============================================================================================================



MS App Block NonQuery
============================================================================================================
        Dim Conn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection
        Dim objDs As New DataSet
        Conn.ConnectionString = "Server=(local);Database=NorthWind;Trusted_Connection=True;"

        SqlHelper.ExecuteNonQuery(Conn, CommandType.Text, "Delete From Sites Where Id_Sites = X")
=============================================================================================================




MS App Block ExecuteScalar
=============================================================================================================
        Dim Conn As New SqlClient.SqlConnection
        Dim objDs As New DataSet
        Conn.ConnectionString = "Server=(local);Database=NorthWind;Trusted_Connection=True;"

        Dim v1 As String = "'James'"
        Dim v2 As String = "'Jesse'"
        Dim Values As String = v1 & "," & v2
        Dim FieldNames As String = "LastName,FirstName"

        'Select Either (A) or (B) *******************
        '(A)...DO NOT RETURN IDENTITY FIELD VALUE...
        SqlHelper.ExecuteNonQuery(Conn, CommandType.Text, "Insert into Employees (" & FieldNames & ") values(" & Values & ") select scope_identity() as iID_Score_Comment")
        '(B)...RETURN IDENTITY FIELD VALUE...
        Dim o As Object
        o = SqlHelper.ExecuteScalar(Conn, CommandType.Text, "Insert into Employees (" & FieldNames & ") values(" & Values & ") select scope_identity() as iID_Score_Comment")
	'********************************************

        MessageBox.Show(o)
=================================================================================================================
                


How to open a remote SQL Server
=================================================================================================================
   objConn = New System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection("Password=xyz;UserID=abc;InitialCatalog=V014U07NUI;DataSource=maxsql003.Maximumasp.com")
   Dim objCommand As New SqlCommand
   Dim objDa As New SqlDataAdapter
   Dim objDs As New DataSet
=================================================================================================================


Open an Access Database
=================================================================================================================
        Dim objConn As New OleDbConnection("Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;DATA SOURCE=" & GetAppPath() & "DB1.mdb")
        Dim objCommand As New OleDbCommand()
        Dim objDa As New OleDbDataAdapter()
        Dim objDs As New DataSet()
        Dim objCommandBuilder As New OleDbCommandBuilder()

        objCommand.CommandText = "Select * From Table1"
        objCommand.Connection = objConn
        objDa.SelectCommand = objCommand
        objDa.Fill(objDs, "Table1")
        objDa.FillSchema(objDs, SchemaType.Source, "Table1")
        objCommandBuilder = New OleDbCommandBuilder(objDa)
=================================================================================================================


Open an Access DataReader
=================================================================================================================
        '1. Create a connection
        Dim objConn As New SqlConnection("data source=STEVESCHIMSKY;Integrated Security=SSPI;Database=SecureExam")
        '2. Create the command object, passing in the SQL string
        Dim strSQL As String = "Select * From SessionState Where SessionId ='1'"
        Dim objCommand As New SqlCommand(strSQL, objConn)
        objConn.Open()
        Dim objDR As SqlDataReader = objCommand.ExecuteReader
        objDR.Read()
=================================================================================================================


MDB Password VB6 and .Net
=================================================================================================================
DAO (Place the line below in the connection field of the control's property box...)
Access 2000;pwd=daisy

ADO.NET
objConn = New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection("Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & vDatabase & ";Jet OLEDB:Database Password=daisy")
=================================================================================================================


Open Dbase Files DBF 
=================================================================================================================
      Imports System.Data.Odbc
       
      Dim objConn3 As New OdbcConnection("Driver={Microsoft dBase Driver (*.dbf)};DBQ=C:\")
      Dim objCommand3 As New OdbcCommand
      Dim objDa3 As New OdbcDataAdapter
      Dim objDs3 As New DataSet

      objCommand3.CommandText = "Select * From KEYS.DBF"
      objCommand3.Connection = objConn3
      objDa3.SelectCommand = objCommand3
      objDa3.Fill(objDs3, "Keys")
      objConn3.Close()
=================================================================================================================


Shell & Wait VB.Net
=================================================================================================================
        Dim sysPath As String
        sysPath = System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.System)
        Shell(sysPath & "\notepad.exe", AppWinStyle.NormalFocus, True)
        MessageBox.Show("You just closed Notepad", "Notepad Closed")
=================================================================================================================

Get Commandline Arguments
=================================================================================================================
 'Get CommandLine Arguments
        Dim MyStartUpArguments() As String, intCount As Integer
        MyStartUpArguments = System.Environment.GetCommandLineArgs
        For intCount = 0 To UBound(MyStartUpArguments)
            MessageBox.Show(MyStartUpArguments(intCount).ToString)
        Next
=================================================================================================================


Create A Table From Code
=================================================================================================================
        'Create the ID_AUTHOR column...
        Dim dcID As New DataColumn("ID_AUTHOR", Type.GetType("System.Int32")) 'System.Int32 IS CASE SENSITIVE!
        dcID.AutoIncrement = True
        dcID.AutoIncrementSeed = 1
        dcID.ReadOnly = True
        'Create the AUTHOR_NAME column...
        Dim dcName As New DataColumn("AUTHOR_NAME", Type.GetType("System.String")) 'System.String IS CASE SENSITIVE!
        dcName.MaxLength = 255

        'Create the Authors Table...
        Dim dtAuthors As New DataTable("Authors")
        'Add the columns to the Table...
        dtAuthors.Columns.Add(dcID)
        dtAuthors.Columns.Add(dcName)

        'Create a dataset....
        Dim ds As New DataSet()
        'Add the table to the dataset....
        ds.Tables.Add(dtAuthors)

        'Add a rows to the table....
        Dim dr As DataRow
        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 1 To 10
            dr = ds.Tables("Authors").NewRow
            dr("Author_Name") = "Author - " & Trim(Str(i))
            ds.Tables("Authors").Rows.Add(dr)
        Next i
        DataGrid1.DataSource = ds.Tables("Authors")
=================================================================================================================


NonQuery Update (Access DB)
=================================================================================================================
        Dim objConnection As New System.Data.OleDb.OleDbConnection("provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=" & Server.MapPath("CP.mdb"))
        Dim objcommand As New OleDbCommand()
        Dim QStr As String

        QStr = "UPDATE Candidate SET "
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.FName = '" & txtFirstName.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.Address1 = '" & txtAddress1.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.Address2 = '" & txtAddress2.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.City = '" & txtCity.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.State = '" & txtState.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.Zip = '" & txtZip.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.Country = '" & txtCountry.Text & "'" & ","
        QStr = QStr & "Candidate.LName = '" & txtLastName.Text & "'"
        QStr = QStr & " WHERE (((Candidate.ssntypelev)='" & Trim(txtId.Text) & Trim(txtExamType.Text) & Trim(txtExamLev.Text) & "'));"

        objcommand = New OleDbCommand(QStr, objConnection)
        objConnection.Open()
        objcommand.ExecuteNonQuery()
        objConnection.Close()
=================================================================================================================


VB.Net Application Config File
=================================================================================================================
Add New Item -->  Application Configuration File

	<configuration>
		<appSettings>
		   <add key="DB_Location" value="J:\can\isc2\"/> 
		</appSettings>
	</configuration>
	
Now To Call The Key...
	MessageBox.Show(System.Configuration.ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings.Item("DB_Location"))	
=================================================================================================================

ENums
=================================================================================================================
First Setup A Class Within A .vb Module...

Module MyVBModule
    Public Class Enums

        Public Enum DB_Location
            Hosted = 1
            Dev = 2
            Local = 3
        End Enum

    End Class
End Module

Now Use The Enum....
  Dim i As Integer = Enums.DB_Location.Hosted
=================================================================================================================


ASP.Net ComboBox Cotrol  http://www.schimsky.com/aspknowledgebase/vortex.web.ui.webcontrols.zip


    Function Sort2DimensionalArray(ByVal a As Array, ByVal UpperBound As Integer, ByVal ColumnToSortOn As Integer, ByVal SortType As String, ByVal SortDirection As String) As Array
        '**** Inputs...*******************************************************************
        'a =                2 Dimensional array to sort.  For example, an array like:  dim a(200,3)
        'UpperBound =       UpperBound of array to sort (a)
        'ColumnToSortOn =   Zero based array column index to sort on
        'SortType =         C character, N numeric, D date
        'SortDirection =    ASC or DESC

        '**** Example: ***********
        'Dim a(2, 1) As String

        'a(0, 0) = "1"
        'a(0, 1) = "1"
        'a(1, 0) = "2"
        'a(1, 1) = "2"
        'a(2, 0) = "3"
        'a(2, 1) = "10"

        'Dim MyArray As Array
        'MyArray = Sort2DimensionalArray(a, 2, 1, "C", "ASC")
        '**********************************************************************************

        Dim WidthBound As Integer

        Try
            WidthBound = a.GetUpperBound(1)
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message)
        End Try

        SortDirection = SortDirection.Trim.ToUpper
        If SortDirection <> "DESC" And SortDirection <> "ASC" Then
            MessageBox.Show("Bad SortDirection.  Must be either DESC or ASC")
            Exit Function
        End If

        'Create the ID column...
        Dim dcID As New DataColumn("ID", Type.GetType("System.Int32")) 'System.Int32 IS CASE SENSITIVE!
        dcID.ReadOnly = True

        'Create the SortColumn column...
        Dim s As String
        Select Case SortType.ToUpper.Trim
            Case "N"
                s = "System.Decimal"
            Case "C"
                s = "System.String"
            Case "D"
                s = "System.DateTime"
            Case Else
                MessageBox.Show("SortType Must Be N,C or D")
                Exit Function
        End Select

        Dim dcSort As New DataColumn("SortColumn", Type.GetType(s))
        If SortType.ToUpper.Trim = "C" Then
            dcSort.MaxLength = 2048
        End If


        'Create the Authors Table...
        Dim dtSortTable As New DataTable("SortTable")
        'Add the columns to the Table...
        dtSortTable.Columns.Add(dcID)
        dtSortTable.Columns.Add(dcSort)

        'Create a dataset....
        Dim ds As New DataSet
        'Add the table to the dataset....
        ds.Tables.Add(dtSortTable)


        'Add a rows to the table....
        Dim dr As DataRow
        Dim i As Integer
        For i = 0 To UpperBound

            dr = ds.Tables("SortTable").NewRow
            dr("ID") = i

            If SortType = "D" Then
                If Not IsDate(a(i, ColumnToSortOn)) Then
                    dr("SortColumn") = DBNull.Value
                Else
                    dr("SortColumn") = a(i, ColumnToSortOn)
                End If
            End If

            If SortType = "N" Then
                dr("SortColumn") = Val(a(i, ColumnToSortOn) & "")
            End If


            ds.Tables("SortTable").Rows.Add(dr)

        Next i

        Dim myView As DataView
        myView = ds.Tables("SortTable").DefaultView
        myView.Sort = "SortColumn " & SortDirection

        Dim na(UpperBound, WidthBound) As String

        Dim w As Integer
        Dim p As Integer
        For i = 0 To myView.Table.Rows.Count - 1
            p = myView.Item(i).Item("ID")
            For w = 0 To WidthBound
                na(i, w) = a(p, w)
            Next
        Next i

        Return na


    End Function
'***************************************************************************************************************************

'************** Excel DataSet *************************************************************************

Imports System.Data.Odbc

  Dim oConn = New Odbc.OdbcConnection

        Dim da As New Odbc.OdbcDataAdapter
        Dim ds As New DataSet
        Dim oCmd As New Odbc.OdbcCommand


        oCmd.Connection = oConn
        oConn.ConnectionString = "Driver={Microsoft Excel Driver (*.xls)};" & "DBQ=" & Application.StartupPath & "\Book1.xls" & ";" & "ReadOnly=0;"

        oCmd.CommandText = "Select * From [Sheet1$]"
        da.SelectCommand = oCmd
        ds = New DataSet
        da.Fill(ds)
        oConn.close()


        MessageBox.Show("Amount Of Columns = " & ds.Tables(0).Columns.Count)
        Dim i As Integer
        Dim s As String
        For i = 0 To ds.Tables(0).Columns.Count - 1
            s = s & " Column(" & i.ToString.Trim & ") = " & ds.Tables(0).Columns(i).Caption & "   "
        Next
        MessageBox.Show(s)


        Dim QStr As String
        QStr = "UPDATE [Sheet1$] SET "
        QStr = QStr & "[MyFName] = " & "'Steve'"
        QStr = QStr & " WHERE  MyKey = 1"


        oCmd = New Odbc.OdbcCommand(QStr, oConn)
        oConn.Open()
        oCmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        oConn.Close()
        MessageBox.Show("Update Complete!")
****************************************************************************************************************