Question

How can I check if DatabaseLink`OpenSQLConnection was successful? My code is as follows

conn = OpenSQLConnection[JDBC["hsqldb", "file"], "Name"-> "test"];

Can I use something like Head[conn]?

Answer 1

The return value for successful connection will have head SQLConnection (in the DatabaseLink context)

More generally:

OpenSQLConnection returns $Failed when the connection failed for whatever reason:

In[25]:= OpenSQLConnection[JDBC["mysql", "localhost:3306/foo"], 
   "Username" -> "foo", "Password" -> "bar"]

During evaluation of In[25]:= JDBC::error: Access denied for user 'foo'@'localhost' (using password: YES) >>

Out[25]= $Failed 

… and unevaluated when its arguments were not of the proper form:

In[28]:= OpenSQLConnection[Sin[x]]

Out[28]= OpenSQLConnection[Sin[x]]

Therefore, you can look for a return value of $Failed and optionally also use Check[...] to trap and handle messages that were generated. As you guessed, you can use Head[returnvalue] to make sure the head of the return value does not equal OpenSQLConnection.