How to run multiple SQL commands in a single SQL connection?

Question

I am creating a project in which I need to run 2-3 sql commands in a single sql connection. Here is the code I have written:

SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(@"Data Source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\project.mdf;Integrated Security=True");
con.Open();
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select *  from " + mytags.Text + " ", con);
SqlDataReader rd = cmd.ExecuteReader();
if (rd.Read())
{
    con.Close();
    con.Open();
    SqlCommand cmd1 = new SqlCommand("insert into " + mytags.Text + " values ('fname.lname@gmail.com','" + TextBox3.Text + "','" + TextBox4.Text + "','" + TextBox5.Text + "','"+mytags.Text+"')", con);
    cmd1.ExecuteNonQuery();
    label.Visible = true;
    label.Text = "Date read and inserted";
}
else
{
    con.Close();
    con.Open();
    SqlCommand cmd2 = new SqlCommand("create table " + mytags.Text + " ( session VARCHAR(MAX) , Price int , Description VARCHAR(MAX), Date VARCHAR(20),tag VARCHAR(10))", con);
    cmd2.ExecuteNonQuery();
    con.Close();
    con.Open();
    SqlCommand cmd3 = new SqlCommand("insert into " + mytags.Text + " values ('" + Session + "','" + TextBox3.Text + "','" + TextBox4.Text + "','" + TextBox5.Text + "','" + mytags.Text + "')", con);
    cmd3.ExecuteNonQuery();
    label.Visible = true;
    label.Text = "tabel created";
    con.Close();
}

I have tried to remove the error and I got that the connection is not going to else condition. Please review the code and suggest if there is any mistake or any other solution for this.

Answer 1

Just change the SqlCommand.CommandText instead of creating a new SqlCommand every time. There is no need to close and reopen the connection.

// Create the first command and execute
var command = new SqlCommand("<SQL Command>", myConnection);
var reader = command.ExecuteReader();

// Change the SQL Command and execute
command.CommandText = "<New SQL Command>";
command.ExecuteNonQuery();

Answer 2

The following should work. Keep single connection open all time, and just create new commands and execute them.

using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
    connection.Open();
    using (SqlCommand command1 = new SqlCommand(commandText1, connection))
    {
    }
    using (SqlCommand command2 = new SqlCommand(commandText2, connection))
    {
    }
    // etc
}

Answer 3

just enable this property in your connection string:

sqb.MultipleActiveResultSets = true;

this property allows one open connection for multiple datareaders

(Please mark it as Answered and Vote up if answer is correct)

Answer 4

I have not tested , but what the main idea is: put semicolon on each query.

SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection();
SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand();
connection.ConnectionString = connectionString; // put your connection string
command.CommandText = @"
     update table
     set somecol = somevalue;
     insert into someTable values(1,'test');";
command.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
command.Connection = connection;

try
{
    connection.Open();
}
finally
{
    command.Dispose();
    connection.Dispose();
}

Update: you can follow Is it possible to have multiple SQL instructions in a ADO.NET Command.CommandText property? too

Answer 5

This is likely to be attacked via SQL injection by the way. It'd be worth while reading up on that and adjusting your queries accordingly.

Maybe look at even creating a stored proc for this and using something like sp_executesql which can provide some protection against this when dynamic sql is a requirement (ie. unknown table names etc). For more info, check out this link.

Answer 6

Here you can find Postgre example, this code run multiple sql commands (update 2 columns) within single SQL connection

public static class SQLTest
    {
        public static void NpgsqlCommand()
        {
            using (NpgsqlConnection connection = new NpgsqlConnection("Server = ; Port = ; User Id = ; " + "Password = ; Database = ;"))
            {
                NpgsqlCommand command1 = new NpgsqlCommand("update xy set xw = 'a' WHERE aa='bb'", connection);
                NpgsqlCommand command2 = new NpgsqlCommand("update xy set xw = 'b' where bb = 'cc'", connection);
                command1.Connection.Open();
                command1.ExecuteNonQuery();
                command2.ExecuteNonQuery();
                command2.Connection.Close();
            }
        }
    }