Rowsets
Applies to: 
SQL Server
Azure SQL Database
Azure SQL Managed Instance
Azure Synapse Analytics
Analytics Platform System (PDW)
A rowset is a set of rows that contain columns of data. Rowsets are central objects that enable all OLE DB data providers to expose result set data in tabular form.
After a consumer creates a session by using the IDBCreateSession::CreateSession method, the consumer can use either the IOpenRowset or IDBCreateCommand interface on the session to create a rowset. The OLE DB Driver for SQL Server supports both of these interfaces. Both of these methods are described here.
Create a rowset by calling the IOpenRowset::OpenRowset method.
This is equivalent to creating a rowset over a single table. This method opens and returns a rowset that includes all of the rows from a single base table. One of the arguments to OpenRowset is a table ID that identifies the table from which to create the rowset.
Create a command object by calling the IDBCreateCommand::CreateCommand method.
The command object executes commands that the provider supports. With the OLE DB Driver for SQL Server, the consumer can specify any Transact-SQL statement, such as a SELECT statement or a call to a stored procedure. The steps for creating a rowset by using a command object are:
The consumer calls the IDBCreateCommand::CreateCommand method on the session to get a command object requesting the ICommandText interface on the command object. This ICommandText interface sets and retrieves the actual command text. The consumer fills in the text command by calling the ICommandText::SetCommandText method.
The user calls the ICommand::Execute method on the command. The rowset object built when the command executes contains the result set from the command.
The consumer can use the ICommandProperties interface to get or set the properties for the rowset returned by the command executed by the ICommand::Execute interfaces. The most commonly requested properties are the interfaces the rowset must support. In addition to interfaces, the consumer can request properties that modify the behavior of the rowset or interface.
Consumers release rowsets with the IRowset::Release method. Releasing a rowset releases any row handles held by the consumer on that rowset. Releasing a rowset does not release the accessors. If you have an IAccessor interface, it still has to be released.