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.NET Development
.NET Framework 3.5
SqlConnection Class
 Open Method
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This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Class Library
SqlConnection..::.Open Method

Opens a database connection with the property settings specified by the ConnectionString.

Namespace:  System.Data.SqlClient
Assembly:  System.Data (in System.Data.dll)
Visual Basic (Declaration)
Public Overrides Sub Open
Visual Basic (Usage)
Dim instance As SqlConnection

instance.Open()
C#
public override void Open()
Visual C++
public:
virtual void Open() override
JScript
public override function Open()

Implements

IDbConnection..::.Open()()()
ExceptionCondition
InvalidOperationException

Cannot open a connection without specifying a data source or server.

or

The connection is already open.

SqlException

A connection-level error occurred while opening the connection. If the Number property contains the value 18487 or 18488, this indicates that the specified password has expired or must be reset. See the ChangePassword method for more information.

The SqlConnection draws an open connection from the connection pool if one is available. Otherwise, it establishes a new connection to an instance of SQL Server.

NoteNote:

If the SqlConnection goes out of scope, it is not closed. Therefore, you must explicitly close the connection by calling Close.

NoteNote:

If you specify a port number other than 1433 when you are trying to connect to an instance of SQL Server and using a protocol other than TCP/IP, the Open method fails. To specify a port number other than 1433, include "server=machinename,port number" in the connection string, and use the TCP/IP protocol.

NoteNote:

The .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server requires the Security permission with "Allows calls to unmanaged assemblies" enabled (SecurityPermission with SecurityPermissionFlag set to UnmanagedCode) to open a SqlConnection with SQL Debugging enabled.

The following example creates a SqlConnection, opens it, and displays some of its properties. The connection is automatically closed at the end of the using block.

Visual Basic
Private Sub OpenSqlConnection(ByVal connectionString As String)
    Using connection As New SqlConnection(connectionString)
        connection.Open()
        Console.WriteLine("ServerVersion: {0}", connection.ServerVersion)
        Console.WriteLine("State: {0}", connection.State)
    End Using
End Sub
C#
private static void OpenSqlConnection(string connectionString)
{
    using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
    {
        connection.Open();
        Console.WriteLine("ServerVersion: {0}", connection.ServerVersion);
        Console.WriteLine("State: {0}", connection.State);
    }
}

Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP SP2, Windows XP Media Center Edition, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows XP Starter Edition, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows Server 2008, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2000 SP4, Windows Millennium Edition, Windows 98, Windows CE, Windows Mobile for Smartphone, Windows Mobile for Pocket PC

The .NET Framework and .NET Compact Framework do not support all versions of every platform. For a list of the supported versions, see .NET Framework System Requirements.

.NET Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 3.0, 2.0, 1.1, 1.0

.NET Compact Framework

Supported in: 3.5, 2.0, 1.0
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Transaction Binding=Explicit Unbind      MarkNicholson   |   Edit   |   Show History
You MUST explicitly specify "Transaction Binding=Explicit Unbind" in the connection string if you want SqlConnection to participate in any System.Transactions.Transaction. Failure to do so, can result in inconsistent data being committed to the database if a timeout ocurs on the transaction.

NB: This issue does NOT only apply to the TransactionScope object, it applies to any System.Transactions.Transaction, including CommittableTransaction.
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