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Setting up a SQL Database and Writing Event Data to the Database

This topic references code examples about how to set up a database connection, how to specify a table to copy the event data, and so on. It also describes parts of the example that use certain data structures and constructs used for maintenance. For the code example, see Example code for Event Listening.

Example

Description

The example sets up a connection to the SQL database whose name and connection string is specified in the application settings. This topic describes the steps and illustrates the database-related operations by referencing code examples in this topic.

Useful classes and data structures

  1. To facilitate writing data to the SQL table, the example uses a hash table. This hash table maps the column names in the database table to the Xpath for the desired value in the event XML data.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' The in-memory mapping between the column name and Xml Xpath leading to value.
    ''' </summary>
    Dim nameToXPathMapping As New Hashtable()
    
    /// <summary>
    /// The in-memory mapping between the column name and Xml Xpath leading to value.
    /// </summary>
    Hashtable nameToXPathMapping = new Hashtable();
    
  2. The following shows how the hash table is used to fill in the data in the database table:

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Given the XML for an event, loads the event into a row-format and adds it to the eventDataSet.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="EventXml">Event XML to load into DataSet.</param>
    ''' <param name="eventDataSet">The dataset to load event into.</param>
    Private Sub AddEventIntoDataSet(ByVal EventXml As String, ByRef eventDataSet As DataSet)
    
        Dim newRow As DataRow = eventDataSet.Tables("Event").NewRow()
    
        For Each de As DictionaryEntry In nameToXPathMapping
    
            newRow(de.Key) = RunXPathOnDocument(de.Value, EventXml)
        Next
    
        newRow("EventXml") = EventXml
        eventDataSet.Tables("Event").Rows.Add(newRow)
    End Sub
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Given the XML for an event, loads the event into a row-format and adds it to the eventDataSet.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="EventXml">Event XML to load into DataSet.</param>
    /// <param name="eventDataSet">The dataset to load event into.</param>
    internal void AddEventIntoDataSet(string EventXml, ref DataSet eventDataSet)
    {
        DataRow newRow = eventDataSet.Tables["Event"].NewRow();
    
        foreach (DictionaryEntry de in nameToXPathMapping)
        {
            newRow[(string)de.Key] = RunXPathOnDocument((string)de.Value, EventXml);
        }
    
        newRow["EventXml"] = EventXml;
        eventDataSet.Tables["Event"].Rows.Add(newRow);
    }
    
  3. A dataset is created to store the incoming event data.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Event data set used to store incoming events.
    ''' </summary>
    Dim eventDs As New DataSet()
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Event data set used to store incoming events.
    /// </summary>
    DataSet eventDs = new DataSet();
    
  4. A bookmark tracks the progress of the example through the event log and enables subsequent runs of the example to start from where the last run stopped. The bookmark stream is saved to disk in the same directory as the running application and is called bookmark.stream.

    Dim bookMarkToStartFrom As EventBookmark = Nothing
    Dim fsBookmark As FileStream
    
    EventBookmark bookMarkToStartFrom = null;
    FileStream fsBookmark;
    
  5. The following shows how the bookmarks are used when reading event data is resumed.

    Try
        If System.IO.File.Exists("bookmark.stream") Then
    
            fsBookmark = New FileStream("bookmark.stream", FileMode.Open)
            Dim formatter As New BinaryFormatter()
            bookMarkToStartFrom = formatter.Deserialize(fsBookmark)
    
        Else
            fsBookmark = New FileStream("bookmark.stream", FileMode.Create)
        End If
    
    Catch e As Exception
    
        Console.WriteLine( _
        "Could not load or create bookmark on disk directory: " & _
        "{0} error: {1}.", System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), e.Message)
        bookMarkToStartFrom = Nothing
    End Try
    
    try
    {
        if (System.IO.File.Exists("bookmark.stream"))
        {
            fsBookmark = new FileStream("bookmark.stream", FileMode.Open);
            BinaryFormatter formatter = new BinaryFormatter();
            bookMarkToStartFrom = (EventBookmark)formatter.Deserialize(fsBookmark);
        }
        else
        {
            fsBookmark = new FileStream("bookmark.stream", FileMode.Create);
        }
    
    
    }
    catch (Exception e)
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Could not load or create bookmark on disk directory: {0} error: {1}.", System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(), e.Message);
        bookMarkToStartFrom = null;
    }
    
  6. The RunXPathOnDocument method helps resolve XPath to an actual value in an event. It uses classes and methods from the System.Xml namespace to manipulate the XML data.

  7. The LoadNameToXPathHash method loads the name to XPath mapping from the settings into memory for easier retrieval. The name is the key and the XPath is its value.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Loads the Name vs XPath from the settings into memory for easy retrieval.
    ''' Name is used as key.
    ''' Xpath is used as Value.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="SqlTableDefinition">The string Name=XPath mapping to EventXml (Example: ProviderName=Event/System/Provider/@Name,...).</param>
    ''' <param name="names">The Hashtable to load the mapping to.</param>
    Private Sub LoadNameToXPathHash(ByVal SqlTableDefinition As String, ByRef names As Hashtable)
    
        Dim sqlColumns() As String = SqlTableDefinition.Split(",")
        names.Clear()
    
        For Each sqlColumnExpr As String In sqlColumns
    
            Dim Pivot As Integer = sqlColumnExpr.IndexOf("=") + 1
            Dim Len As Integer = sqlColumnExpr.Length
    
            Dim Name As String = sqlColumnExpr.Substring(0, Pivot - 1).Trim()
            Dim Value As String = sqlColumnExpr.Substring(Pivot, Len - Pivot).Trim()
    
            Try
                names.Add(Name, Value)
    
            Catch dupName As DuplicateNameException
    
                Console.WriteLine( _
                "ERROR! Attempted to use ColumnName {0} twice," & _
                " which is not allowed. Edit the Configurations' SqlTableDefinition setting " & _
                "to remove duplicate names.", Name)
                Throw dupName
            End Try
        Next
    End Sub
    
    /// <summary>
        /// Loads the Name vs XPath from the settings into memory for easy retrieval.
        /// Name is used as the key.
        /// Xpath is used as the value.
        /// </summary>
        /// <param name="SqlTableDefinition">The string Name=XPath mapping to EventXml (Example: ProviderName=Event/System/Provider/@Name,...).</param>
        /// <param name="names">The Hashtable to load the mapping to.</param>
        internal void LoadNameToXPathHash(string SqlTableDefinition, ref Hashtable names)
        {
            string[] sqlColumns = SqlTableDefinition.Split(',');
            names.Clear();
    
            foreach (string sqlColumnExpr in sqlColumns)
            {
                int Pivot = sqlColumnExpr.IndexOf('=') + 1;
                int Len = sqlColumnExpr.Length;
    
                string Name = sqlColumnExpr.Substring(0, Pivot - 1).Trim();
                string Value = sqlColumnExpr.Substring(Pivot, Len - Pivot).Trim();
    
                try
                {
                    names.Add(Name, Value);
                }
                catch (DuplicateNameException dupName)
                {
                    Console.WriteLine("ERROR! Attempted to use ColumnName {0} twice, which is not allowed. Edit the Configurations' SqlTableDefinition setting to remove duplicate names.", Name);
                    throw dupName;
                }
            }
        }
    
  1. The SQL connection string specified in the application settings is used to open a connection to the SQL database.

    sqlConn = New SqlConnection(Settings.Default.SqlConnectionString)
    sqlConn.Open()
    
    sqlConn = new SqlConnection(Settings.Default.SqlConnectionString);
    sqlConn.Open();
    
  2. The CreateSqlSchemaDefinition method creates and executes the T-SQL statement to create a schema based on the Name to Xpath mapping from the settings file.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Creates and executes T-SQL statement to create a schema based on the Name=Xpath mapping from the config file.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="sqlConn">The active Sql connection to use.</param>
    ''' <param name="SqlTableDefinition"></param>
    Private Sub CreateSqlSchemaDefinition()
    
        Dim sqlComnd As SqlCommand = sqlConn.CreateCommand()
    
        sqlComnd.CommandText = String.Format("USE [{0}]", Settings.Default.DatabaseName) & Environment.NewLine & _
                               "IF  EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[dbo].[Event]') AND type in (N'U'))" & _
                               Environment.NewLine & "DROP TABLE [dbo].[Event]" & Environment.NewLine & _
                               "CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Event](" & Environment.NewLine
    
        For Each de As DictionaryEntry In nameToXPathMapping
            sqlComnd.CommandText += String.Format( _
            "[{0}] [nvarchar](max) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS NULL,", de.Key) & Environment.NewLine
        Next
    
        sqlComnd.CommandText += "[EventXml] [xml] NULL" & Environment.NewLine
        sqlComnd.CommandText += ") ON [PRIMARY]"
    
        sqlComnd.ExecuteNonQuery()
    
        ClearBookmark()
    End Sub
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Creates and executes T-SQL statement to create a schema based on the Name=Xpath mapping from the config file.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="sqlConn">The active Sql connection to use.</param>
    /// <param name="SqlTableDefinition"></param>
    internal void CreateSqlSchemaDefinition()
    {
        SqlCommand sqlComnd = sqlConn.CreateCommand();
    
        sqlComnd.CommandText = String.Format("USE [{0}]\n", Settings.Default.DatabaseName) +
                               "IF  EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[dbo].[Event]') AND type in (N'U'))\n" +
                               "DROP TABLE [dbo].[Event]\n" +
                               "CREATE TABLE [dbo].[Event](\n";
    
        foreach (DictionaryEntry de in nameToXPathMapping)
        {
            sqlComnd.CommandText += String.Format("[{0}] [nvarchar](max) COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS NULL,\n", de.Key);
        }
    
        sqlComnd.CommandText += "[EventXml] [xml] NULL\n";
        sqlComnd.CommandText += ") ON [PRIMARY]";
    
        sqlComnd.ExecuteNonQuery();
    
        ClearBookmark();
    }
    
  3. The DoesDbTableExist method verifies that the database with the specified name exists on the server.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Runs a query to check if a database exists on a SQL server.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="sqlConn">An active sql connection.</param>
    ''' <param name="TableName">The table name to check on.</param>
    ''' <returns>true if table exists, false if it doesn't exist, exception on error.</returns>
    Private Function DoesDbTableExist(ByVal TableName As String) As Boolean
    
        Dim eventDA As New SqlDataAdapter( _
        String.Format("SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[dbo].[{0}]')", _
        TableName), sqlConn)
        Dim mySqlCommandBuilder As New SqlCommandBuilder(eventDA)
    
        If Not eventDA.SelectCommand.ExecuteScalar() Is Nothing Then
            Return True
        End If
    
        Return False
    End Function
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Runs a query to check if a database exists on a SQL server.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="sqlConn">An active sql connection.</param>
    /// <param name="TableName">The table name to check on.</param>
    /// <returns>true if table exists, false if it doesn't exist, exception on error.</returns>
    internal bool DoesDbTableExist(string TableName)
    {
        SqlDataAdapter eventDA = new SqlDataAdapter(String.Format("SELECT * FROM sys.objects WHERE object_id = OBJECT_ID(N'[dbo].[{0}]')", TableName), sqlConn);
        SqlCommandBuilder mySqlCommandBuilder = new SqlCommandBuilder(eventDA);
    
        if (null != eventDA.SelectCommand.ExecuteScalar())
        {
            return true;
        }
    
        return false;
    }
    
  4. The DoesDbSchemaNeedRecreating method compares the database schema and the name to Xpath mapping to decide if the existing data base table is adequate for writing the event data or a new one must be created.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Runs a comparison between DB schema and the name-To-Xpath mapping.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <param name="eventDs">The filled in DataSet, from DB.</param>
    ''' <returns>true if DB schema does not match, else false.</returns>
    Private Function DoesDbSchemaNeedRecreating(ByVal eventDs As DataSet) As Boolean
    
        Dim DbSchemaColumnCount As Integer = eventDs.Tables("Event").Columns.Count
    
        ' Db Schema always has one additional column for the complete Event Xml
        If Not nameToXPathMapping.Count = DbSchemaColumnCount - 1 Then
            Return True
        End If
    
        For Each dc As DataColumn In eventDs.Tables("Event").Columns
    
            If 0 <> (String.Compare(dc.ColumnName, "EventXml", True) AndAlso _
                Not nameToXPathMapping.ContainsKey(dc.ColumnName)) Then
                Return True
            End If
        Next
    
        Return False
    End Function
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Runs a comparison between DB schema and the name-To-Xpath mapping.
    /// </summary>
    /// <param name="eventDs">The filled in DataSet, from DB.</param>
    /// <returns>true if DB schema does not match, else false.</returns>
    internal bool DoesDbSchemaNeedRecreating(DataSet eventDs)
    {
        int DbSchemaColumnCount = eventDs.Tables["Event"].Columns.Count;
    
        // Db Schema always has one additional column for the complete Event Xml
        if (nameToXPathMapping.Count != DbSchemaColumnCount - 1)
        {
            return true;
        }
    
        foreach (DataColumn dc in eventDs.Tables["Event"].Columns)
        {
            if (0 != String.Compare(dc.ColumnName, "EventXml", true) &&
                !nameToXPathMapping.ContainsKey(dc.ColumnName))
                return true;
        }
    
        return false;
    }
    
  5. The LoadSchemaAndEvents method connects to SQL to fill or create a new table if none exists. When writing to an XML file instead of the database, it simply creates the schema in the dataset.

    ''' <summary>
    ''' Initializes program state. Specifically, connects to SQL to fill and/or re/create in 
    ''' the schema for the DataSet. When in "XML mode" simply creates the schema in the dataset.
    ''' </summary>
    ''' <returns>true upon success else false and errorcode is set.</returns>
    Private Function LoadSchemaAndEvents() As Boolean
    
        eventDs.DataSetName = "Events"
    
        If Not Settings.Default.XmlMode Then
    
            Dim eventDA As New SqlDataAdapter("select * from Event", sqlConn)
            Dim mySqlCommandBuilder As New SqlCommandBuilder(eventDA)
            Dim DbEventTableCreated As Boolean = DoesDbTableExist("Event")
    
            If DbEventTableCreated Then
    
                eventDA.MissingSchemaAction = System.Data.MissingSchemaAction.AddWithKey
                eventDA.FillSchema(eventDs, System.Data.SchemaType.Source, "Event")
    
                'check to see if schema in DB is in sync with schema in the config file (SqlTableDefinition)
                If DoesDbSchemaNeedRecreating(eventDs) Then
    
                    Dim selection As ConsoleKey = ConsoleKey.N
    
                    ' Schema is out of sync so we need to delete the table and re-create it in the Db
                    ' Ask user if it is O.K. to delete the old schema
                    Console.WriteLine("Schema in configuration is out of sync with the SQL database, " & _
                    "the Event table needs to be recreated.")
                    Console.WriteLine("WARNING: All existing rows/data in database {0} " & _
                    "from the Event Table will be deleted. Proceed? " & _
                    "(At the console press y/n)", Settings.Default.DatabaseName)
    
                    Do
                        selection = Console.ReadKey().Key
    
                        If selection = ConsoleKey.Y Then
    
                            CreateSqlSchemaDefinition()
    
                        ElseIf selection = ConsoleKey.N Then
    
                            Console.WriteLine("Schema not in sync, cannot continue.")
                            Environment.ExitCode = 87
                            Return False
    
                        Else
    
                            Console.WriteLine("")
                            Console.WriteLine("Invalid input, expected (y)es or (n)o, try again...")
                        End If
    
                    Loop While Not selection = ConsoleKey.Y
                End If
    
            Else
    
                ' DB schema doesn't exist, create new one
                CreateSqlSchemaDefinition()
            End If
    
            ' Load schema into the DataSet
            eventDA.FillSchema(eventDs, System.Data.SchemaType.Source, "Event")
    
        Else
    
            ' In XML mode load schema into DataSet, XML will be saved straight out of eventDs dataSet
            Dim dt As DataTable = eventDs.Tables.Add("Event")
    
            For Each de As DictionaryEntry In nameToXPathMapping
    
                dt.Columns.Add(de.Key, GetType(String))
            Next
    
            dt.Columns.Add("EventXml")
        End If
    
        Return True
    End Function
    
    /// <summary>
    /// Initializes program state. Specifically, connects to SQL to fill and/or re/create in 
    /// the schema for the DataSet. When in "XML mode" simply creates the schema in the dataset.
    /// </summary>
    /// <returns>true upon success else false and errorcode is set.</returns>
    internal bool LoadSchemaAndEvents()
    {
        eventDs.DataSetName = "Events";
    
        if (!Settings.Default.XmlMode)
        {
            SqlDataAdapter eventDA = new SqlDataAdapter("select * from Event", sqlConn);
            SqlCommandBuilder mySqlCommandBuilder = new SqlCommandBuilder(eventDA);
            bool DbEventTableCreated = DoesDbTableExist("Event");
    
            if (DbEventTableCreated)
            {
                eventDA.MissingSchemaAction = System.Data.MissingSchemaAction.AddWithKey;
                eventDA.FillSchema(eventDs, System.Data.SchemaType.Source, "Event");
    
                //check to see if schema in DB is in sync with schema in the config file (SqlTableDefinition)
                if (DoesDbSchemaNeedRecreating(eventDs))
                {
                    ConsoleKey selection = ConsoleKey.N;
    
                    //Schema is out of sync so we need to delete the table and re-create it in the Db
                    //Ask user if it is O.K. to delete the old schema
                    Console.WriteLine("Schema in configuration is out of sync with the SQL database, the Event table needs to be recreated.");
                    Console.WriteLine("WARNING: All existing rows/data in database {0} from the Event Table will be deleted. Proceed? (At the console press y/n)", Settings.Default.DatabaseName);
    
                    do
                    {
                        selection = Console.ReadKey().Key;
    
                        if (selection == ConsoleKey.Y)
                        {
                            CreateSqlSchemaDefinition();
                        }
                        else if (selection == ConsoleKey.N)
                        {
                            Console.WriteLine("Schema not in sync, cannot continue.");
                            Environment.ExitCode = 87;
                            return false;
                        }
                        else
                        {
                            Console.WriteLine("");
                            Console.WriteLine("Invalid input, expected (y)es or (n)o, try again...");
                        }
                    }
                    while (selection != ConsoleKey.Y);
                }
            }
            else
            {
                //DB schema doesn't exist, create new one
                CreateSqlSchemaDefinition();
            }
    
            //Load schema into the DataSet
            eventDA.FillSchema(eventDs, System.Data.SchemaType.Source, "Event");
        }
        else
        {
            //In XML mode load schema into DataSet, XML will be saved straight out of eventDs dataSet
            DataTable dt = eventDs.Tables.Add("Event");
    
            foreach (DictionaryEntry de in nameToXPathMapping)
            {
                dt.Columns.Add((string)de.Key, typeof(string));
            }
    
            dt.Columns.Add("EventXml");
        }
    
        return true;
    }
    

Compiling the Code

This code example requires references to the System.dll and System.Core.dll files. Additionally, it references the System.Data.dll and System.Xm.dll to manipulate the event XML and write out the data to a SQL database.

See Also

Concepts

How to: Listen for Events and Store Them in a SQL Database
Event Log Scenarios
How to: Subscribe to Events in an Event Log

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