Multiple SQL queries asp.net c#

Question

I need to run several queries inside one function, will I have to create a new SqlConnection for each? Or having one connection but different SqlCommands works too?

Answer 1

Purely as an alternative to the using statements:

SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(myConnectionString);

SqlCommand cmd = con.CreateCommand();
cmd.CommandText = @"SELECT [stuff] FROM [tableOfStuff]";

con.Open();

SqlDataReader dr = null;
try
{
    dr = cmd.ExecuteReader();

    while(dr.Read())
    {
        // Populate your business objects/data tables/whatever
    }
}
catch(SomeTypeOfException ex){ /* handle exception */ }

// Manually call Dispose()...
if(con != null) con.Dispose();
if(cmd != null) cmd.Dispose();
if(dr != null) dr.Dispose();

The major difference between this and the using statements, is this will allow you to handle exceptions more cleanly.