Question

I am creating a Windows forms application and my SQL Server database is on a remote server. How can I connect to it using Visual C# and ADO.NET?

Answer 1

You need to investigate the SqlConnection, SqlCommand and possible SqlDataReader and SqlDataAdapter components in .NET (see the MSDN online docs).

Once you have that, you need to define your connection string – check that site link for a huge selection and explanation of connection strings.

Then you basically connect using:

using(SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection('your connection string here'))
{
    conn.Open();
    // do stuff
    conn.Close();
}

and you can do stuff in various ways, e.g. by filling data sets, reading values etc.

Read the MSDN ADO.NET Overview to get started! Or Google for “ADO.NET tutorial” – you’ll find tons of links.