Ceiled,

Thanks for your comments.  I have rewritten my code considering your points and have certainly moved forwards by identifying if the MFRCode is Null prior to running the Linq query and handling this situation.
However, I still do not have an elegant way to identify if the Linq query returns records or not.  I can iterate using a For Each loop to count the records to determine if something has been returned, but this seems a little clumsy.  

I have now set up a console app to test this piece of code using Northwind as follows:-

Imports System.Data.Linq
Module Module1

    Sub Main()
        Dim db As New NorthWindDataContext

        Dim Emps = From Employee In db.Employees _
                   Select Employee

        Debug.Print(Emps.Count)

        For Each emp In Emps
            Console.WriteLine("Code={0}, Name={1}", emp.EmployeeID, emp.FirstName)
        Next

        Console.ReadLine()
    End Sub

End Module

So it seems to be possible to test for the number of records returned by the Linq query in the console example using the count property.  However, if I port the code to my windows application, the equivalent statement to Debug.print(Emps.count ) statement does not work, indeed there is no count property on the object.  

Any ideas why this occurs?
regards,

Alan

Ceiled,

as requested, below is the full code for the section of the app that I am converting to use Linq.  As you will see this sub uses both Linq and ADO to access data from two different databases.
The problem I am currently having is that even though system.data.linq is imported, the option to use Mfrs.count does not appear in intellisense where I would use it (indicated below). I have also highlighted another issue which may be causing problems.

Imports System.Data.Linq


Module LinqModule

    Public Sub ValidateStandardSKUs()
        Dim sSQL As String
        Dim cConMDM As New Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection
        Dim cCMD As New Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand
        Dim reader As Data.SqlClient.SqlDataReader
        Dim SSKUCount As Long = 0
        Dim MFR_Valid As Boolean
        Dim TMO_Valid As Boolean
        Dim MktConst_Valid As Boolean
        Dim PType_Valid As Boolean
        Dim Db As New BusRulesDataContext

        Try
            With cConMDM
                .ConnectionString = My.Settings.cUsrConMDM
                .Open()
            End With
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Connection Error in ValidateStandardSKUs", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly, False)
            Exit Sub
        End Try

        'Get Count of Standard SKU's
        sSQL = "SELECT DISTINCT COUNT(STANDARD_SKU_CODE) AS SSKUCode" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "FROM         ATT_STANDARD_SKU AS p" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "WHERE     (END_DATE > GETDATE()) AND (START_DATE <= GETDATE()) AND (BE_ID <> '$NOOID')"
        Try
            With cCMD
                .CommandTimeout = 0
                .CommandType = Data.CommandType.Text
                .Connection = cConMDM
                .CommandText = sSQL
                reader = .ExecuteReader
            End With
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Command Error in ValidateStandardSKUs", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly, False)
            Exit Sub
        End Try

        If reader.HasRows Then
            reader.Read()
            SSKUCount = CLng(reader.Item(0))
        End If
        reader.Close()

        'Select Standard SKU and the attributes relevant to Standard SKU
        sSQL = "Select DISTINCT" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "p.STANDARD_SKU_CODE AS SSKUCode, p.STANDARD_SKU_NAME AS SSKUName, p.STANDARD_SKU_SHORT_NAME AS SSKUShortName, " & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "p.PROD_GRP_CODE AS PGCode, p.PROD_GRP_NAME AS PGName, p.MKT_CONSTRAINT_CODE AS MConstCode, " & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "p.MANUFACTURING_COMP_CODE AS MfrCode, p.TRADEMARK_OWNER_CODE AS TMOCode, p.PROD_TYPE_CODE AS PTypeCode" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "FROM         dbo.MAP_LOCAL_SKU_DIM AS L INNER JOIN" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "dbo.MAP_PRODUCT_DIM AS p ON p.BE_ID = L.L_SKU_RETAIL_SKU AND p.BE_ID = p.RETAIL_SKU AND p.START_DATE <= GETDATE() AND " & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "p.END_DATE > GETDATE() AND p.BE_ID <> '$NOOID'" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "WHERE     (L.START_DATE <= GETDATE()) AND (L.END_DATE > GETDATE()) AND (L.BE_ID <> '$NOOID') AND (L.BE_ID = L.LOCAL_SKU)" & vbLf
        'sSQL = sSQL & "AND (p.MANUFACTURING_COMP_CODE is null)" & vbLf
        sSQL = sSQL & "ORDER BY p.PROD_GRP_CODE, p.STANDARD_SKU_CODE"

        'For each record in the dataset
        'validate if the attribute value is valid according to the business rules established
        'if valid then List record with OK
        'if not valid then list record with validation errors
        UpdateStatus("Retrieving Standard SKU Records. Please wait...")
        Try
            With cCMD
                .CommandTimeout = 0
                .CommandType = Data.CommandType.Text
                .Connection = cConMDM
                .CommandText = sSQL
                reader = .ExecuteReader
            End With
        Catch ex As Exception
            MessageBox.Show(ex.Message, "Command Error in ValidateStandardSKUs", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Error, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly, False)
            Exit Sub
        End Try

        If reader.HasRows Then
            Dim recCount As Long = 0
            Dim errCount As Long = 0
            While reader.Read
                recCount = recCount + 1

                'Validate Manufacturing Company

                If IsDBNull(reader.Item("MFRCode")) Then
                    WritetoDGV(reader.Item("PGName"), reader.Item("SSKUCode"), reader.Item("SSKUShortName"), "Error: Manufacturing Co Code 'NULL' is invalid for this Standard SKU")
                    errCount = errCount + 1
                    MFR_Valid = False
                Else

                    Dim Mfrs = From Manufacturers In Db.ManufacturingCompanies _
                               Where Manufacturers.MANUFACTURING_COMP_CODE = Convert.ToString(reader.Item("MFRCode")) _
                               Select Manufacturers.MANUFACTURING_COMP_CODE

                    Dim itemCount As Integer = 0

                    For Each Mfrs In Mfrs                    '<<-- is this a problem?  If I change to For Each Mfr in MFrs
                                                                          '        I get an undeclared variable error.
                        itemCount = itemCount + 1
                    Next

''' AT THIS POINT I WOULD USE
'' If Mfrs.count = 0 then instead of the itemcount generated by the For Each loop above

                    If itemCount = 0 Then
                        'no records were returned so record error
                        WritetoDGV(reader.Item("PGName"), reader.Item("SSKUCode"), reader.Item("SSKUShortName"), "Error: Manufacturing Co Code '" & Convert.ToString(reader.Item("MFRCode")) & "' is invalid for this Standard SKU")
                        errCount = errCount + 1
                        MFR_Valid = False
                    Else
                        'a record was returned so no error
                        MFR_Valid = True
                    End If

                End If

                'Only show valid records if user wants them
                If frmAttributeValidation.rbAllRecs.Checked Then
                    If MFR_Valid Then
                        WritetoDGV(reader.Item("PGName"), reader.Item("SSKUCode"), reader.Item("SSKUShortName"), "Validated OK.")
                    End If
                End If

                UpdateStatus("Validating record " & recCount & " of " & SSKUCount & ". " & errCount & " errors found.")

            End While

            UpdateStatus(errCount & " errors found. Process completed.")

        Else

            MessageBox.Show("No records returned from MDM.", "ValidateStandardSKUts", MessageBoxButtons.OK, MessageBoxIcon.Information, MessageBoxDefaultButton.Button1, MessageBoxOptions.DefaultDesktopOnly, False)
            Exit Sub
        End If

        reader.Close()
        cConMDM.Close()
        cConMDM.Dispose()

    End Sub

End Module

Strangely enough, I have just copied the moduel to a new project and this has resolved all the issues. So I am wondering if this proble has something to do with the fact this is a Vb2005 project converted to VB2008?

Regards,


Alan

Ceiled,

Below is the vbproj file info as requested.  I checked the Option Explicit setting and it was set to ON. Whan I changed this, the issue where For Each MFR in MFRS was resolved but I still do not get the .Count property on MFRS either in intellisense nor when just running the code.

Many thanks for your continued help!

Regards,   Alan

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<Project DefaultTargets="Build" xmlns="http://schemas.microsoft.com/developer/msbuild/2003" ToolsVersion="3.5">
  <PropertyGroup>
    <Configuration Condition=" '$(Configuration)' == '' ">Debug</Configuration>
    <Platform Condition=" '$(Platform)' == '' ">AnyCPU</Platform>
    <ProductVersion>9.0.21022</ProductVersion>
    <SchemaVersion>2.0</SchemaVersion>
    <ProjectGuid>{4651F138-134E-46DA-AEF9-A04ED9C63232}</ProjectGuid>
    <OutputType>WinExe</OutputType>
    <StartupObject>MDM_BusRules.My.MyApplication</StartupObject>
    <RootNamespace>MDM_BusRules</RootNamespace>
    <AssemblyName>MDM_BusRules</AssemblyName>
    <MyType>WindowsForms</MyType>
    <ManifestCertificateThumbprint>F234C2F11B696B4A2D3F2ADE9BE0D80CF4DF061B</ManifestCertificateThumbprint>
    <ManifestKeyFile>MDM_BusRules_1_TemporaryKey.pfx</ManifestKeyFile>
    <GenerateManifests>true</GenerateManifests>
    <SignManifests>true</SignManifests>
    <IsWebBootstrapper>false</IsWebBootstrapper>
    <SignAssembly>true</SignAssembly>
    <AssemblyOriginatorKeyFile>MDM_BusRules_1_TemporaryKey.pfx</AssemblyOriginatorKeyFile>
    <FileUpgradeFlags>
    </FileUpgradeFlags>
    <UpgradeBackupLocation>
    </UpgradeBackupLocation>
    <OldToolsVersion>2.0</OldToolsVersion>
    <PublishUrl>C:\Publish\BusRules\</PublishUrl>
    <Install>true</Install>
    <InstallFrom>Disk</InstallFrom>
    <UpdateEnabled>false</UpdateEnabled>
    <UpdateMode>Foreground</UpdateMode>
    <UpdateInterval>7</UpdateInterval>
    <UpdateIntervalUnits>Days</UpdateIntervalUnits>
    <UpdatePeriodically>false</UpdatePeriodically>
    <UpdateRequired>false</UpdateRequired>
    <MapFileExtensions>true</MapFileExtensions>
    <CreateWebPageOnPublish>false</CreateWebPageOnPublish>
    <ApplicationRevision>0</ApplicationRevision>
    <ApplicationVersion>1.0.0.%2a</ApplicationVersion>
    <UseApplicationTrust>false</UseApplicationTrust>
    <BootstrapperEnabled>true</BootstrapperEnabled>
    <TargetFrameworkVersion>v3.5</TargetFrameworkVersion>
    <OptionExplicit>On</OptionExplicit>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Debug|AnyCPU' ">
    <DebugSymbols>true</DebugSymbols>
    <DebugType>full</DebugType>
    <DefineDebug>true</DefineDebug>
    <DefineTrace>true</DefineTrace>
    <OutputPath>bin\Debug\</OutputPath>
    <DocumentationFile>MDM_BusRules.xml</DocumentationFile>
    <NoWarn>42016,41999,42017,42018,42019,42032,42036,42020,42021,42022</NoWarn>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <PropertyGroup Condition=" '$(Configuration)|$(Platform)' == 'Release|AnyCPU' ">
    <DebugType>pdbonly</DebugType>
    <DefineDebug>false</DefineDebug>
    <DefineTrace>true</DefineTrace>
    <Optimize>true</Optimize>
    <OutputPath>bin\Release\</OutputPath>
    <DocumentationFile>MDM_BusRules.xml</DocumentationFile>
    <NoWarn>42016,41999,42017,42018,42019,42032,42036,42020,42021,42022</NoWarn>
  </PropertyGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Reference Include="DataGridViewColumns, Version=1.3.2.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=26596b3a8d7c8940, processorArchitecture=MSIL">
      <SpecificVersion>False</SpecificVersion>
      <HintPath>..\..\DataGridViewColumns.dll</HintPath>
    </Reference>
    <Reference Include="Microsoft.SqlServer.ConnectionInfo, Version=9.0.242.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91, processorArchitecture=MSIL" />
    <Reference Include="Microsoft.SqlServer.Smo, Version=9.0.242.0, Culture=neutral, PublicKeyToken=89845dcd8080cc91, processorArchitecture=MSIL" />
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    <Reference Include="System.Core">
      <RequiredTargetFramework>3.5</RequiredTargetFramework>
    </Reference>
    <Reference Include="System.Data" />
    <Reference Include="System.Data.Linq">
      <RequiredTargetFramework>3.5</RequiredTargetFramework>
    </Reference>
    <Reference Include="System.Drawing" />
    <Reference Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
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  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Import Include="Microsoft.VisualBasic" />
    <Import Include="System" />
    <Import Include="System.Collections" />
    <Import Include="System.Collections.Generic" />
    <Import Include="System.Drawing" />
    <Import Include="System.Diagnostics" />
    <Import Include="System.Linq" />
    <Import Include="System.Windows.Forms" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Compile Include="ApplicationEvents.vb" />
    <Compile Include="BulkUpdate.vb" />
    <Compile Include="BulkUpdate_PH.vb" />
    <Compile Include="BusRules.designer.vb">
      <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
      <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
      <DependentUpon>BusRules.dbml</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="BusRules.vb">
      <DependentUpon>BusRules.dbml</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="Enums.vb" />
    <Compile Include="frmAddAttributes.Designer.vb">
      <DependentUpon>frmAddAttributes.vb</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="frmAddAttributes.vb">
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
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      <DependentUpon>frmDuplicates.vb</DependentUpon>
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      <SubType>Form</SubType>
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      <DependentUpon>frmMktHierarchy.vb</DependentUpon>
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    <Compile Include="frmMktHierarchy.vb">
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
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    <Compile Include="frmAddBV.vb">
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      <SubType>Form</SubType>
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    <Compile Include="frmMDI.Designer.vb">
      <DependentUpon>frmMDI.vb</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="frmMDI.vb">
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
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      <DependentUpon>frmNameValidation.vb</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
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      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="frmPrint.Designer.vb">
      <DependentUpon>frmPrint.vb</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
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      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="frmSMO.designer.vb">
      <DependentUpon>frmSMO.vb</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="frmSMO.vb">
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      <DependentUpon>frmMain.vb</DependentUpon>
      <SubType>Form</SubType>
    </Compile>
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      <DependentUpon>MDM_BusRulesDataSet.xsd</DependentUpon>
      <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
      <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="MDM_BusRulesDataSet.vb">
      <DependentUpon>MDM_BusRulesDataSet.xsd</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="modMain.vb" />
    <Compile Include="My Project\AssemblyInfo.vb" />
    <Compile Include="My Project\Application.Designer.vb">
      <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
      <DependentUpon>Application.myapp</DependentUpon>
    </Compile>
    <Compile Include="My Project\Resources.Designer.vb">
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      <DesignTime>True</DesignTime>
      <DependentUpon>Resources.resx</DependentUpon>
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    <Compile Include="My Project\Settings.Designer.vb">
      <AutoGen>True</AutoGen>
      <DependentUpon>Settings.settings</DependentUpon>
      <DesignTimeSharedInput>True</DesignTimeSharedInput>
    </Compile>
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    <Compile Include="AttributeValidation.vb" />
    <Compile Include="ObjectDumper.vb" />
    <Compile Include="xlModule.vb" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
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      <DependentUpon>BusRules.dbml</DependentUpon>
    </None>
    <EmbeddedResource Include="frmAddAttributes.resx">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
      <DependentUpon>frmAddAttributes.vb</DependentUpon>
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      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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      <DependentUpon>frmDuplicates.vb</DependentUpon>
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      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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    <EmbeddedResource Include="frmAddBV.resx">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
      <DependentUpon>frmAddBV.vb</DependentUpon>
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    <EmbeddedResource Include="frmAddProduct.resx">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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    </EmbeddedResource>
    <EmbeddedResource Include="frmAttributeValidation.resx">
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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    <EmbeddedResource Include="frmBusRules.resx">
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      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
      <DependentUpon>frmPrint.vb</DependentUpon>
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      <DependentUpon>frmSMO.vb</DependentUpon>
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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      <Generator>VbMyResourcesResXFileCodeGenerator</Generator>
      <LastGenOutput>Resources.Designer.vb</LastGenOutput>
      <CustomToolNamespace>My.Resources</CustomToolNamespace>
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
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  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
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      <Generator>SettingsSingleFileGenerator</Generator>
      <CustomToolNamespace>My</CustomToolNamespace>
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  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Net.Framework.2.0">
      <Visible>False</Visible>
      <ProductName>.NET Framework 2.0 %28x86%29</ProductName>
      <Install>true</Install>
    </BootstrapperPackage>
    <BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Net.Framework.3.0">
      <Visible>False</Visible>
      <ProductName>.NET Framework 3.0 %28x86%29</ProductName>
      <Install>false</Install>
    </BootstrapperPackage>
    <BootstrapperPackage Include="Microsoft.Net.Framework.3.5">
      <Visible>False</Visible>
      <ProductName>.NET Framework 3.5</ProductName>
      <Install>false</Install>
    </BootstrapperPackage>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <None Include="Resources\sortedAscending.gif" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <None Include="Resources\UpArrow_Red.bmp" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <None Include="BusRules.dbml">
      <Generator>MSLinqToSQLGenerator</Generator>
      <LastGenOutput>BusRules.designer.vb</LastGenOutput>
      <SubType>Designer</SubType>
    </None>
    <None Include="Resources\DownArrow_Red.bmp" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <COMReference Include="Excel">
      <Guid>{00020813-0000-0000-C000-000000000046}</Guid>
      <VersionMajor>1</VersionMajor>
      <VersionMinor>5</VersionMinor>
      <Lcid>0</Lcid>
      <WrapperTool>primary</WrapperTool>
      <Isolated>False</Isolated>
    </COMReference>
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Service Include="{3259AA49-8AA1-44D3-9025-A0B520596A8C}" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <ItemGroup>
    <Folder Include="My Project\DataSources\" />
  </ItemGroup>
  <Import Project="$(MSBuildBinPath)\Microsoft.VisualBasic.targets" />
  <!-- To modify your build process, add your task inside one of the targets below and uncomment it.
       Other similar extension points exist, see Microsoft.Common.targets.
  <Target Name="BeforeBuild">
  </Target>
  <Target Name="AfterBuild">
  </Target>
  -->
</Project>

Ceiled,

you nailed it!  Many thanks for your help.

Regards,


Alan