Reading next row in a SQL table using DataReader

The .Read() moves to the next record, so you can just do something like this:

While thisReader.Read()
    'Do something with value
    MsgBox(thisReader(0).ToString)
End While

Jaime makes a good point.  The HasRows property is good to use before reading from SqlDataReader, but as you can see moving to next record is achieved by looping through thisReader.Read().

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/system.data.sqlclient.sqldatareader_members.aspx

I appreciate your guys' help and I've managed to have each cell loop and provide me the information, but maybe I didn't explain what I'm trying to do.

I don't want to use a loop for the program to start from the beginning cell and eventually loop through every value until I reach the last cell in that column. I want the value from what ever cell i want when i want it.

If i want the value from the 6th cell in the column, i want to call that cell, not loop through each one.

Thank you

My apologies from the confusion i've caused the readers and experts, i re-read the title of this question and understand it doesn't correctly portray the method i'm trying to accomplish.

I would get your data back in a DataTable then and not a DataReader.  Then you can access whichever row/column combination you want.  If you want to maintain code that gets the data into DataReader, you can just use the DataReader to create DataSet or DataTable and then use that to display the exact data you want.

Here is an example: http://blogs.vbcity.com/drydo/archive/2007/10/17/8785.aspx.

The underlying concept is you use DataAdapter's to fill DataTables from DataReaders.

Hope that helps.

Regards,
Kevin

to read each cell, you can do something like:

Dim cell as String
thisReader.Read()
ForEach o As Object In this.Reader
     cell = o.ToString()
     ' do something with 'cell'
End If

I'm confused just reading that website you gave me, i'm so new to VB and what certain objects mean and do but i'm sure it contains the answer i'm looking for, I just don't know where to start lol. I'm going to post my entire code to show you what i have.

All I want the program to do (simply) without another 10 lines of useless code is to simply read the second cell of the ProductName column, or the third, or the fourth.

For example, if 0 inside the Reader is equal to the first cell, why cant i simply use 1 or 2 or 3. This is whats driving me up the wall, I don't understand why it can't be as simple as that.

Thank you for your patience.

Private Sub Button4_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button4.Click
 
        Dim thisConnection As New SqlConnection("Data Source=192.168.0.4,1433;Network Library=DBMSSOCN;Initial Catalog=TestData;User ID=******;Password=******;")
 
        Dim thisCommand As New SqlCommand _
           ("SELECT ProductName FROM Products", _
            thisConnection)
 
        Try
            ' Open Connection
            thisConnection.Open()
            MsgBox("Connection Opened")
 
            ' Execute Query
            Dim thisReader As SqlDataReader = thisCommand.ExecuteReader()
 
            If thisReader.HasRows Then    ' important, check if there are rows first, to avoid exception
                While thisReader.Read()
 
                    MsgBox(thisReader(0).ToString)
                    Last.Text = thisReader(0).ToString
 
                End While
            End If
 
 
            'Close DataReader
            thisReader.Close()
 
 
        Catch ex As SqlException
            ' Display error
            MsgBox("Error: " & ex.ToString())
        Finally
            ' Close Connection
            thisConnection.Close()
            MsgBox("Connection Closed")
 
        End Try
    End Sub
End Class

                                              

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