This article shows how to retrieve both remote and local XML data and display it in a data Web control.  Read more...

Learn how to retrieve just a subset of database data based on hard-coded values and values from the querystring, other Web controls on the page, session variables, and so on.  Read more...

This article shows how to use the SqlDataSource and AccessDataSource controls to query data from a relational database.  Read more...

This article explores the concepts and advantages of data source controls, and compares their usage in ASP.NET 2.0 to data access techniques in ASP.NET 1.x.  Read more...

ADO.NET in the next release of Visual Studio® code-named "Orcas" features the new Entity Framework.  Read more...

The third article in a four part series, this week Andy shows how to use the command object to work with stored procedure parameters.   Read more...

Perl has been a popular language for Unix administrators for years. It is flexible, easy to learn, and capable of doing some very powerful things with relatively few lines of code. In this article by Brian Kelly, he shows you how to connect to SQL Server via Perl.   Read more...

This article, the last in the Stored Procedure series, will focus on RETURN parameters.   Read more...

Part 1 of a 4 part series about ADO, this is a beginner level article designed to get you started using the ADO connection object. If you haven't used ADO so far, why not see what it's all about?   Read more...

How do you easily copy DTS packages from one server to another? DTS, BCP, T-SQL? Are there advantages to using one method over another? Andy did some research - read the article and see what works and what doesn't!   Read more...

This article looks at how partial classes can be used to implement business logic into datasets so that they are more business aware and intelligent. The dataset is an integral part of Microsoft’s new data access model ADO.NET. It introduces a simple offline method for retrieving and updating data. Before using the dataset, you should have an understanding of the Microsoft .NET platform and a basic understanding of the dataset model.   Read more...

One of the best ways to reduce the load on your server and increase application responsiveness is to reduce the number of "round trips" your application makes. This article by Andy Warren shows you a few ways to increase your performance by reducing round trips.   Read more...

In the beginning, there was the recordset, a central feature of classic ADO. Like a Swiss army knife, it wasn’t the perfect tool for every job, but given the correct configuration, it could do whatever you needed it to do. The recordset wasn’t always pretty to watch, however, and it came into prominence at a time when client/server applications for which it was optimized were being replaced by web applications. Its dark side included an amazing level of complexity and the number of special cases when it was used with particular providers.   Read more...

The Microsoft® .NET Framework 2.0 delivers an updated ADO.NET that will streamline your data access development efforts. The ADO.NET team has worked with both the System.Xml team and the SQL Server™ team to provide a consistently rich developer experience, crossing technology boundaries from ADO.NET to XML and back. This will all be apparent as you dig into ADO.NET 2.0. There are improvements on so many fronts that you will certainly be pleased. Rather than attempt to list every new and updated feature of ADO.NET 2.0, I will discuss in detail some of the more interesting improvements and focus on performance and flexibility.   Read more...

Learn how to use the new notification technologies in ADO.NET 2.0 and SQL Server 2005 to handle ad-hoc data refreshes.   Read more...

Developing applications for SQL Server usually results in a variety of access methods that the programmers use. A data access layer class, given to the developers, is usually seen as the best practice, but one that isn't usually implemented. In fact, in most software I've built, each developer uses his own method, or may cut and paste from another, but rarely is there a central access class. New Author Patryk Nowakowski brings us his solution using ADO.NET.   Read more...

Need to apply changes to customer (or internal) databases in a calm, controlled manner? Dinish proposes an alterative to standard scripts that uses XML and a small VB app.   Read more...

You point this application at a database and it generates a code unti that allows you to easily execute stored procedures and functions from Delphi. (Not Reviewed)   Read more...

Part two in the Introduction to ADO series, this beginner level article shows how to open a recordset, how to add and edit records, and touches lightly on how to select the best cursor type and locking mode. Good code samples help you get started fast!   Read more...

Andy returns to the Worst Practice series this week with a short article looking at how connection strings in applications affect what you see in sysprocesses. Perhaps less controversial (in our opinion) that some of the other worst practices, this is something easy to fix and definitely worth fixing! Read the article and post a comment - explore other points of view! Readers posting a comment will be entered in a drawing for a copy of the SQL Server 2000 Resource Kit.   Read more...