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C# checking if order number already exists

I've been looking into How to check user id already exists to see how to do this.
I am trying to get this working in my code, however it's not working. I don't get errors or something, but it just write data in database even if order number already exists.
The function:
private void createorderButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SqlConnection myConnection = dbHelper.initiallizeDB();
String query = "INSERT INTO testtabel (knaam, korder) VALUES ('" + knaamTextBox.Text + "','" + kordernrTextBox.Text + "')";
SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(query, myConnection);
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from testtabel where korder = #korder", myConnection);
SqlParameter param = new SqlParameter();
param.ParameterName = "#korder";
param.Value = kordernrTextBox.Text;
cmd.Parameters.Add(param);
//sqlCommand.Connection.Open();
SqlDataReader reader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
if (reader.HasRows)
{
MessageBox.Show("Order already exist");
}
else
{
reader.Close();
}
// opens execute non query
int rows_inserted = sqlCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
if (rows_inserted > 0)
{
label2.Text = "Order has been created";
}
else
{
Console.Write("Oops! Something wrong!");
}
}
Sorry for this kinda well known and duplicated question, but for some reason I can't get it working.

You called the wrong command, change
SqlDataReader reader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
to
SqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();

The problem is here:
SqlDataReader reader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
You should execute the other command first
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from testtabel where korder = #korder", myConnection);
The latter command, when will be executed will tell you if there is any record in the testtabel table. If there is, then you should show the message:
Order already exist
Otherwise, you will execute your first command, that will insert the rows.
By the way, please try to avoid string concatenation, when you write sql queries. It is one of the most well known security holes. You code is open to SQL injections. You could use parameterized queries:
String query = "INSERT INTO testtabel (knaam, korder) VALUES (#knaam, #korder)";
SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(query, myConnection);
sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParamete("#knaam",knaamTextBox.Text));
sqlCommand.Parameters.Add(new SqlParamete("#korder",kordernrTextBox.Text));

While your code is full of problems (magic pushbutton, SQL injections, absence of usings), there is main one. The approach you want to implement will fail on concurrent inserts, and must not be used.
Imagine, that two users run this code against the same database, using the same korder value:
1st executes SELECT - record with the given value doesn't exist;
2nd executes SELECT - record with the given value doesn't exist;
1st executes INSERT - record with the given value does exist;
2nd executes INSERT - ooops... we have a duplicate;
To avoid duplicates you must use unique indexes in database. Do not rely on your code.

You check HasRows for INSERT INTO testtabel bla...bla..bla.. not for `elect * from testtabel where korder'
Maybe you can use this (it comes from my head and not compiled, please adjust it with your own case)
private void createorderButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SqlConnection myConnection = dbHelper.initiallizeDB();
String query = "INSERT INTO testtabel (knaam, korder) VALUES ('" + knaamTextBox.Text + "','" + kordernrTextBox.Text + "')";
SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(query, myConnection);
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from testtabel where korder = #korder", myConnection);
SqlParameter param = new SqlParameter();
param.ParameterName = "#korder";
param.Value = kordernrTextBox.Text;
//sqlCommand.Connection.Open();
SqlDataReader cmdReader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
if (cmdReader.HasRows)
{
MessageBox.Show("Order already exist");
}
else
{
cmdReader.Close();
}
SqlDataReader reader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
// opens execute non query
int rows_inserted = sqlCommand.ExecuteNonQuery();
if (rows_inserted > 0)
{
label2.Text = "Order has been created";
}
else
{
Console.Write("Oops! Something wrong!");
}
}

Invalid attempt to access a field before calling Read()

I am developing a windows app using mysql and c#. In my app there's a signin page having a sign in button. When i press sign in button it do not loads the values from database and gives me the following error:
Invalid attempt to access a field before calling Read().
Visual Studio indicates the my following code as error:
connection.Open();
string query2 = "SELECT * FROM newregistration where ID='" + id+"'";
MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlCommand myCommand2 = new MySql.Data.MySqlClient.MySqlCommand(query2, connection);
// First Name Reader
MySqlDataReader fnamereader = myCommand2.ExecuteReader();
fnamereader.Read();
Fname = fnamereader.GetString(fnamereader.GetOrdinal("FirstName"));
fnamereader.Close();
// Second Name Reader
MySqlDataReader snamereader = myCommand2.ExecuteReader();
snamereader.Read();
Sname = snamereader.GetString(snamereader.GetOrdinal("SecondName"));
snamereader.Close();
// EMAIL ID Reader
MySqlDataReader emailreader = myCommand2.ExecuteReader();
emailreader.Read();
EmailID = emailreader.GetString(emailreader.GetOrdinal("EmailID"));
emailreader.Close();
DataSet ds = new DataSet();
MyAdapter.Fill(ds);
if (ds.Tables[0].Rows.Count > 0)
{
profile windwo = new profile(this.id, this.Fname,this.Sname,this.EmailID);
AddUserProfileInformation win = new AddUserProfileInformation(this.id);
this.Hide();
windwo.Show();
}
else
{
MessageBox.Show("Sorry Wrong information entered.");
}
connection.Close();
Please help me in sorting out the problem as I am new to development.

You don't need to use a seperate MySqlDataReader every column of your sql query. Just use one MySqlDataReader and read all column values in it.
Looks like, you just need to use something like;
if(fnamereader.Read())
{
Fname = fnamereader.GetString(fnamereader.GetOrdinal("FirstName"));
Sname = fnamereader.GetString(fnamereader.GetOrdinal("SecondName"));
EmailID = fnamereader.GetString(fnamereader.GetOrdinal("EmailID"));
}
But more important, you should always use parameterized queries. This kind of string concatenations are open for SQL Injection attacks.
string query2 = "SELECT * FROM newregistration where ID=#id";
MySqlCommand myCommand2 = new MySqlCommand(query2, connection);
myCommand2.Parameters.AddWithValue("#id", id);

You don't need to keep executing the datareader before each field
MySqlDataReader reader = myCommand2.ExecuteReader();
reader.Read();
Fname = reader.GetString(reader.GetOrdinal("FirstName"));
Sname = reader.GetString(reader.GetOrdinal("SecondName"));
EmailID = reader.GetString(reader.GetOrdinal("EmailID"));
reader.Close();
A couple of other things
Please use parameterised sql for binding variables - don't just concatenate the variable into sql text - this has security and performance benefits.
You should check the boolean result of the reader.Read() before using it

SQL Data Reader: Invalid attempt to read when no data is present

I am trying to use a SqlDataReader to run a query and then display the results in a messagebox, but I keep getting the error
Invalid attempt to read when no data is present.
Here is my code.
public void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string results = "";
using (SqlConnection cs = new SqlConnection(#"Server=100-nurex-x-001.acds.net;Database=Report;User Id=reports;Password=mypassword"))
{
cs.Open();
string query = "select stationipaddress from station where stationname = #name";
using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, cs))
{
// Add the parameter and set its value --
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#name", textBox1.Text);
using (SqlDataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader())
{
while (dr.Read())
{
label3.Text = dr.GetSqlValue(0).ToString();
results = dr.GetValue(0).ToString();
//MessageBox.Show(dr.GetValue(0).ToString());
//MessageBox.Show(results);
}
MessageBox.Show(results);
}
}
}
}

That's correct.
When you exit from the while loop the DataReader has reached the end of the loaded data and thus cannot be used to get the value of a non-existant current record.
The Read method advances the SqlDataReader (dr) to the next record and it returns true if there are more rows, otherwise false.
If you have only one record you could use the results variable in this way
MessageBox.Show(results);
Now, this will work because you have a TOP 1 in your sql statement, but, if you have more than one record, it will show only the value of the last record.
Also as noted by marc_s in its comment, if your table is empty, your code doesn't fall inside the while loop, so probably you could initialize the results variable with a message like:
results = "No data found";
EDIT: Seeing your comment below then you should change your code in this way
.....
// Use parameters **ALWAYS** -- **NEVER** cancatenate/substitute strings
string query = "select stationipaddress from station where stationname = #name";
using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(query, cs))
{
// Add the parameter and set its value --
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#name", textBox1.Text);
using (SqlDataReader dr = cmd.ExecuteReader())
{
while (dr.Read())
{
label3.Text = dr.GetSqlValue(0).ToString();
results = dr.GetValue(0).ToString();
}
}
}
.....

I ran into a similar issue trying to get a GUID I knew was there - I could run the same SQL directly in SQL Management Studio and get my result. So instead of trying to bring it back as a GUID (it was saved in a char(35) field, even though it really was a GUID!), I brought it back as a string, instead:
SqlConnection sqlConn = null;
string projId = String.Empty;
string queryString = "SELECT * FROM project WHERE project_name='My Project'";
try
{
sqlConn = new SqlConnection(connString);
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(queryString, sqlConn);
sqlConn.Open();
SqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();
if (reader.HasRows)
{
while (reader.Read())
{
projId = reader.GetSqlValue(0).ToString(); // <-- safest way I found to get the first column's parameter -- increment the index if it is another column in your result
}
}
reader.Close();
sqlConn.Close();
return projId;
}
catch (SqlException ex)
{
// handle error
return projId;
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
// handle error
return projId;
}
finally
{
sqlConn.Close();
}

Returning a single row

I'm trying to return a single row from a database:
using (connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["connection"]))
{
using (command = new SqlCommand(#"select top 1 col_1, col_2 from table1", connection))
{
connection.Open();
using (reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
reader.Read();
return reader["col_1"];
}
}
}
But I'm getting the following error message:
Compiler Error Message: CS0266: Cannot implicitly convert type 'object' to 'string'. An explicit conversion exists (are you missing a
cast?)
Line 90: return reader["col_1"];
I'm sure I am making a really obvious mistake, but I can't seem to find any single row examples, all I examples I find are for multiple returned rows using a while loop.

reader["col_1"] returns object.
You want something like reader.GetString(reader.GetOrdinal("col_1")).
Edit -> I just wanted to add a note here that, in addition to the concerns others have raised, a SELECT TOP without an ORDER BY can give you random results based on schema changes and/or merry-go-round scans.

This is how I would style (and fix) the code:
using (var connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["connection"]))
using (var command = new SqlCommand(#"select top 1 col_1, col_2 from table1", connection))
{
connection.Open();
using (var reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
if (reader.Read()) // Don't assume we have any rows.
{
int ord = reader.GetOrdinal("col_1");
return reader.GetString(ord); // Handles nulls and empty strings.
}
return null;
}
}
Using the index reader[] will give you object types, these need casting. However, I hardly touch that style and always favour the slightly more verbose, but more robust use of ordinals and asking for types in a strongly-typed manner.
If you only need the value in the first column of the first row, you can use ExecuteScalar instead, again this returns an object that can be cast and doesn't need a reader:
using (var connection = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.AppSettings["connection"]))
using (var command = new SqlCommand(#"select top 1 col_1, col_2 from table1", connection))
{
connection.Open();
var result = command.ExecuteScalar();
return result == null ? "" : (string)result;
}

The problem is the return type. The method you are in is expecting you to return a string, but reader["col_1"] is an object. I suggest returning reader["col_1"].ToString() or Convert.ToString(reader["col_1"]).

To me it seems, you don't want a single row, only a single value:
SqlConnection sqlConnection = new SqlConnection("Your Connection String");
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
Object returnValue;
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT TOP 1 col_name FROM Customers";
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
cmd.Connection = sqlConnection1;
sqlConnection.Open();
returnValue = cmd.ExecuteScalar();
sqlConnection.Close();
return returnValue.ToString(); //Note you have to cast it to your desired data type

Instead of:
using (reader = command.ExecuteReader())
{
reader.Read();
return reader["col_1"];
}
You need to cast the reader["col_1"] to string, either reader["col_1"].ToString() or reader.GetString(0) like:
return reader.GetString(0);

reader["col_1"] returns an object. I assume your function has a return type of string, which is where the error is coming from, it cannot implicitly convert the object to a string.
You probably expect a string returned from col_1 so you can just cast it: (string)reader["col_1"].

You can use an if statement if your query only returns one value
[...]
string x = string.Empty;
if(reader.Read()) {
// make sure the value is not DBNull
if(DBNull.Value != reader["col_1"]) {
x = reader.GetString(0);
}
}
[...]

First of all you can use the cast (string)reader["col_1"]. You are probably expecting a string and reader["col_1"] is an object.

the reader returns object which you should cast it to what you need, in this case a string.
you can use any of this codes :
return reader.GetString(0);
return reader["col_1"].ToString();
return Convert.ToString(reader["col_1"]);
return reader["col_1"] as string;
but dont forget to close the connection and reader before leaving the function.
string ret = reader.GetString(0);
reader.Close();
connection.Close();
return ret;

Follow the following steps to select a single colume, and display them.
//create a connection
SqlConnection sqlConnection = new SqlConnection("Your Connection String");
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
cmd.Connection = sqlConnection;
//open the connection
sqlConnection.Open();
//Your command query string
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT TOP 1 col_name FROM Customers";
//Execute the reader
SqlDataReader result = cmd.ExecuteReader();
result.Read();
//close the connection
sqlConnection.Close();
return result["coiumn_name"].ToString();

How to use executeReader() method to retrieve the value of just one cell

I need to execute the following command and pass the result to a label. I don't know how can i do it using Reader. Someone can give me a hand?
String sql = "SELECT * FROM learer WHERE learer.id = " + index;
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql,conn);
learerLabel.Text = (String) cmd.ExecuteReader();
As you can see i create the SQL statement and i execute it, but it does not work. Why?
The console says:
Cannot implicitly SqlDataReader to
String...
How can i get the desired results as String so the label can display it properly.

using (var conn = new SqlConnection(SomeConnectionString))
using (var cmd = conn.CreateCommand())
{
conn.Open();
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM learer WHERE id = #id";
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#id", index);
using (var reader = cmd.ExecuteReader())
{
if (reader.Read())
{
learerLabel.Text = reader.GetString(reader.GetOrdinal("somecolumn"))
}
}
}

It is not recommended to use DataReader and Command.ExecuteReader to get just one value from the database. Instead, you should use Command.ExecuteScalar as following:
String sql = "SELECT ColumnNumber FROM learer WHERE learer.id = " + index;
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(sql,conn);
learerLabel.Text = (String) cmd.ExecuteScalar();
Here is more information about Connecting to database and managing data.

ExecuteScalar() is what you need here

Duplicate question which basically says use ExecuteScalar() instead.