Web.config: connection string or connection key?

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rlueneberg@gmail.com - 03 Aug 2007 14:55 GMT

Can someone explain the difference of using these functions below? And
what is the advantage/disadvantage of each?

static public SqlConnection GetConnectionString(string
ConnectionStringName)
{
SqlConnection myConnection = new
SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings[ConnectionStringName].ConnectionString);
return myConnection;
}

static public SqlConnection GetConnectionKey(string
ConnectionKey)
{
SqlConnection myConnection = new
SqlConnection(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings[ConnectionKey]);
return myConnection;
}

Rod

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Samuel R. Neff - 03 Aug 2007 16:44 GMT

The first is more structure than the second.

The first syntax is the new ASP.NET 2.0 style of storing connection
info and is made specifically for connections. It allows associating
connection strings and provider names with a named connection string.
This simplifies using the new provider factory model and programming
in a generic way so your code is not tied to a specific database. In
both examples you use SqlConnection directly but you can and most
likely should be using DbConnection instead and that is more easily
accomplished with the first configuration method than the second.

Also the first method allows for storing encrypted connection strings
whereas the second does not (at least not without custom encryption
programming).

Additionally, the first will support the new management tools for
editing the Web.config better than the second (again, because it's
more structured).

HTH,

Sam

------------------------------------------------------------
We're hiring! B-Line Medical is seeking .NET
Developers for exciting positions in medical product
development in MD/DC. Work with a variety of technologies
in a relaxed team environment. See ads on Dice.com.

>Can someone explain the difference of using these functions below? And
>what is the advantage/disadvantage of each?
[quoted text clipped - 16 lines]
>
>Rod

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rlueneberg@gmail.com - 03 Aug 2007 19:37 GMT

Samuel, I don't understand how the first method is not tied to a
specific database if in both cases you can specify a connection name.
Can you give an example?

One more thing: if I wanted to use a more generic method called
GetDBConnection() what would be the best approach? I ask that because
they use the same string parameter.

Rod

> The first is more structure than the second.
>
[quoted text clipped - 45 lines]
>
> >Rod

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Samuel R. Neff - 03 Aug 2007 22:37 GMT

I'm sorry I wasn't clear when I said specific database I meant
database engine. ADO.NET simplifies writing code that works with
MSSQL, MSAccess, Oracle, and any other database engine with an ADO.NET
provider.

A more generic example would be

ConnectionStringSettings info =
ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["mydb"];

DbProviderFactory factory =
DbProviderFactories.GetFactory(info.ProviderName)

DbConnection cnn = factory.CreateConnection();
cnn.ConnectionString = info.ConnectionString;

The key point is that if you switch from MSSQL to Oracle or even from
MSSQL to MSSQL with a 3rd party provider (there are some) then you
don't have to change your code, just your config.

Doesn't help you if you have dbms-specific sql, but it's a good start.

HTH,

Sam

------------------------------------------------------------
We're hiring! B-Line Medical is seeking .NET
Developers for exciting positions in medical product
development in MD/DC. Work with a variety of technologies
in a relaxed team environment. See ads on Dice.com.

>Samuel, I don't understand how the first method is not tied to a
>specific database if in both cases you can specify a connection name.
[quoted text clipped - 5 lines]
>
>Rod

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Web.config: connection string or connection key?

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