How to Retrieve Data

Creating connection string information requires that you create an object that is derived from the IConnectionString class, such as DB2OdbcConnectionString or DB2OleDbConnectionString. After you create the string, you can save, modify, or retrieve information from it by using the associated properties.

Retrieve and modify connection string information

1. Create a new connection string by calling the specific type of connection string constructor, using the file path of the .udl file that contains the specified connection string.

   Or, you can call ReadUDL for the specified ConnectionString type. Many of the ConnectionString classes also have a Clone method that you may want to use. Note that Clone does not load the current instance into active memory, but instead makes a copy that you can later modify and save to disk.

   If you are attempting to retrieve data from a connection string that you currently have an instance of, you can call Load. For example, if you recently created a new connection string and called Save, you can retrieve the object from storage and into active memory by calling Load on the object again.

   If you use a path that describes a file that does not exist, the system creates a .udl new file using the path described.

2. Retrieve the connection data from your current instance by using GetString or by accessing the relevant property.

   Using GetString enables you to manipulate the connection string as though it were a standard text string. In contrast, accessing the value as a property is usually simpler and safer.

3. When you are finished viewing or manipulating the relevant value, return the value to the object by calling SetString or by setting the appropriate property.

4. When you are finished, save your changes to secondary storage by calling Save.

   The following code example demonstrates how to retrieve, change, and save connection string data.

static System.Exception ChangeCommentInUDL(string connString, string newComment)  
{  
   try  
   {  
      IConnectionString udl = DB2OleDbConnectionString.ReadUDL(connString);  
      udl.Comment = newComment;  
      udl.Save();  
      System.Exception noException = null;  
      return noException;  
  
   }  
   catch (System.Exception ex)  
   {  
      return ex;  
   }  
}  

See Also

Creating a Connection String