C# using statement catch error

Question

I am just looking at the using statement, I have always known what it does but until now not tried using it, I have come up with the below code:

 using (SqlComma         


        

Answer 1

First, your code example should be:

using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(Settings.Default.qlsdat_extensionsConnectionString))
using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(reportDataSource, conn))
{
    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@Year", SqlDbType.Char, 4).Value = year;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@startDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = start;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@endDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = end;
    cmd.Connection.Open();

    DataSet dset = new DataSet();
    new SqlDataAdapter(cmd).Fill(dset);
    this.gridDataSource.DataSource = dset.Tables[0];
}

With the code in your question, an exception creating the command will result in the just-created connection not being disposed. With the above, the connection is properly disposed.

If you need to handle exceptions in construction of the connection and command (as well as when using them), yes, you have to wrap the entire thing in a try/catch:

try
{
    using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(Settings.Default.qlsdat_extensionsConnectionString))
    using (SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand(reportDataSource, conn))
    {
        cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@Year", SqlDbType.Char, 4).Value = year;
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@startDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = start;
        cmd.Parameters.Add("@endDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = end;
        cmd.Connection.Open();

        DataSet dset = new DataSet();
        new SqlDataAdapter(cmd).Fill(dset);
        this.gridDataSource.DataSource = dset.Tables[0];
    }
}
catch (RelevantException ex)
{
    // ...handling...
}

But you don't need to handle cleaning up conn or cmd; it's already been done for you.

Contrast with the same thing without using:

SqlConnection conn = null;
SqlCommand cmd = null;
try
{
    conn = new SqlConnection(Settings.Default.qlsdat_extensionsConnectionString);
    cmd = new SqlCommand(reportDataSource, conn);
    cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@Year", SqlDbType.Char, 4).Value = year;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@startDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = start;
    cmd.Parameters.Add("@endDate", SqlDbType.DateTime).Value = end;
    cmd.Connection.Open();

    DataSet dset = new DataSet();
    new SqlDataAdapter(cmd).Fill(dset);
    this.gridDataSource.DataSource = dset.Tables[0];
}
catch (RelevantException ex)
{
    // ...handling...
}
finally
{
    if (cmd != null)
    {
        try
        {
            cmd.Dispose();
        }
        catch { }
        cmd = null;
    }
    if (conn != null)
    {
        try
        {
            conn.Dispose();
        }
        catch { }
        conn = null;
    }
}
// And note that `cmd` and `conn` are still in scope here, even though they're useless

I know which I'd rather write. :-)