C# Windows Form using Oracle connection how to keep it.

Question

I have a windows form to allow user to authenticate their credentials in a "Sign in Screen" Windows form

OracleConnection conn = new OracleConnection();

conn.ConnectionString = "User Id=" + lblUserID.Text +

";Password=" + txtPassword.Text +

";Data Source=" + "testDatabase;";

..

try

{

conn.Open();

..

it works fine. The problem is once they authenticate I want to open up a new windows form and execute queries there, but my connection is lost and in my code on the new form states that my connection "conn does not exist in the current content.

_cmd = new OracleCommand(sqlBuildString, conn)

How can you preserve your connection to multiple windowns once you have open it on your main Windows form (Sign in Screen)

Thanks I am new at this, that is why...

Nitin Sontakke · Answer

Typically, this is NOT the way a code is written. You should have a dedicated data access layer classes to connect to the database and perform any database related tasks, such authenticating users. In general the calls should be as follows: Button click on the form (for example, frmLogin cmdLogin_Click) -> Instantiate a business object (such as UserInfo) -> Call a method on the object and pass necessary parameters (such as userInfo.Authenticate) -> This in turn calls same / similar method on data access object (such as User.Authenticate) -> The executeScalar method from data access layer is called from above method. And you SHOULD be opening and closing connections as and when required and not keep open for the entire duration of your application execution. Should you need any more help, have more question(s), please do not hesitate to get in touch. Hope it helps!