Two Connections types in one method (SQL and OLEDB)

Question

I have two connections types to be used in my app. One is SQL Server, using the SqlClient.Connection type. The other one uses the OleDb.Connection type.

The question is, when using a DataAdapter , DataReader , and Command , how can I use one reference for each with both connections?

As an example, I want to use a reader like this:

Dim MyReader As OleDb.OleDbDataReader 

to check my data with an OleDbConnection , and then use same reader to check data from the second SqlClient connection. That is, I want to do something like this (pseudocode):

Dim con 
Dim MyReader
con = oledb.connection
MyReader = mymethod(con)
con = sql.sqlclient.conection
MyReader = mymethod2(con)

How can I do this in real code?

I need help in how to declare data components for two different connection types inside the same method or function.

Answer 1

You should declare multiple variables. It's really not a big deal to do so.

But, if you really want to do this (again: not the best idea) one thing you can keep in mind is these objects all inherit from a common set of types in the System.Data.Common namespace. So it possible to write code like this:

Dim con As System.Data.Common.DbConnection = New OleDbConnection("connection string here")
Dim cmd As System.Data.Common.DbCommand = New OleDbCommand("SELECT * ... ", con)

con.Open()
Dim rdr As System.Data.Common.DbDataReader = con.ExecuteReader()
While rdr.Read()
    ' ...
End While
con.Close()

con = New SqlClient.SqlConnection("connection string here")
cmd = New SqlClient.SqlCommand("SELECT * ...", con)
con.Open()
rdr = cmd.ExecuteReader()
While rdr.Read()
    ' ...
End While

But again: you really are better off using separate variables.