How to read data connections in Server Explorer?

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Greg Nagel - 30 Jun 2004 06:28 GMT

Hi

I'm using VS.Net 2003.

I was (am) hoping to write an add-in to generate c# code to call stored
procedures. So naturally I want to have a drop down list of the data
connections that are present in the Server Explorer, so that I can choose
one of then, then choose the DB, then choose the stored proc.. you get the
picture.

However, it turns out getting access to the server isn't the easiest thing
in the world. Everything else in Visual Studio seems well documented and
easy to get to (task list, output window etc, etc), but the Server Explorer
seems to be a whole different story.

Naturally, I'm going to need to get the connection strings for each of the
data conenctions. That's why I was hoping to use the (for lack of a better
word) "early-bound" version i.e. use the real Server Explorer
classes/intefaces instead of the UIHierarchy/UIHierarchyItems (not that I
even know if this'll work).

Luckily when Visual Studio was still in beta, there were a few crashes
related to the server explorer, which display call stacks:

"Error Message: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.

Call Stack: at
Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.VsConnectionManager.CheckConnectoin(Int32
index, ProviderNameInfo nameInfo)
at
Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.VsConnectionManager.GetConnectionNameList(Array
List nameList, ProviderNameInfo nameInfo)
at Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.ConnectionPage.InitInput()
at Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.ConnectionPage.OnEnterPage(EventArgse)
at Microsoft.VSWizards, WizardPage.RaiseEnterPage()
at Microsoft.VSWizards.WizardForm.NextPage()
at Microsoft.VSWizards.WizardForm.Next_Click(Object sender, EventArgse)"

I did some digging (have to love the registry) and found
Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.VsConnectionManager is tucked away inside
"C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio .NET
2003\Common7\IDE\Microsoft.VSDesigner.dll".

So I added that .dll to my project references and VsConnectionManager
doesn't show up in the intellisense or Object Browser. Next step: ildasm. It
turns out that VsConnectionManager is declared as:

.class private auto ansi beforefieldinit VsConnectionManager
extends [mscorlib]System.Object
{
} // end of class VsConnectionManager

It's private. That doesn't help me.

So now I'm here. Has anyone got any ideas? Cause I'm running out quickly!

Thanks
Greg

Reply to this Message

Daniel A. Seara - 04 Aug 2004 19:59 GMT

Hi, Guys.
I was in the same problem, and was looking around my disk.
Finnaly, I can find a way to solve tyhe problem.
I know so much of you wirte code in C#, but I'm a VB fanatic, so here is my
solution. (I believe it is too easy to translate it to C#).
HTH
---------
Dim xConList As Xml.XmlNodeList
Private Function FindConString(ByVal ConnectionName As String) As String
If xConList Is Nothing Then
' load from the definition file
Dim x As New Xml.XmlDocument
Try

x.Load(String.Format("{0}\Microsoft\VisualStudio\7.1\ServerExplorer\DefaultV
iew.SEView",
System.Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData))
)
'Get the Elements definig Conections
xConList = x.GetElementsByTagName("a1:DataViewNode")
Catch ex As Exception
Throw ex
End Try
If xConList Is Nothing OrElse xConList.Count = 0 Then
Throw New System.IO.FileLoadException
End If
End If
' Follow the elements one by one
For Each xOne As Xml.XmlNode In xConList
Dim sName As String = ""
Dim sCOn As String = ""
For Each xChild As Xml.XmlNode In xOne.ChildNodes
' One Child, called Label, contains the same string used in the
Server Explorer to name the connection
If xChild.Name = "Label" Then
sName = xChild.InnerText
'this one contains the Connection String
ElseIf xChild.Name = "ConnectString" Then
sCOn = xChild.InnerText
End If
Next
'So when found the name searched, you have the ConnectionString
here!
If sName = ConnectionName Then
Return sCOn
End If
Next
End Function
--------------------------
Daniel A. Seara
INETA Speaker
MVP .Net

> Hi
>
[quoted text clipped - 26 lines]
> index, ProviderNameInfo nameInfo)
> at

Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.VsConnectionManager.GetConnectionNameList(Array

> List nameList, ProviderNameInfo nameInfo)
> at Microsoft.VSDesigner.Data.VS.ConnectionPage.InitInput()
[quoted text clipped - 23 lines]
> Thanks
> Greg

Reply to this Message

Predrag Tomasevic - 05 Aug 2004 12:27 GMT

Hah ;)) nice solution...

tnx Daniel

> Hi, Guys.
> I was in the same problem, and was looking around my disk.
[quoted text clipped - 110 lines]
> > Thanks
> > Greg

Reply to this Message

Nimai Malle - 27 Aug 2004 17:10 GMT

Predrag,
I was looking for this information because I wanted to do the same
thing as you did: Create an OleDbCommand based of a stored procedure
definition. Did you complete your add-in?

Reply to this Message

How to read data connections in Server Explorer?

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