I'm one of those programmers who's in love with Visual BASIC 6. Yes, it's a simple language, but that's what I love about it. Data manipulation in VB6 with database is done through RecordSet. A RecordSet will perform one continuous connection to the DBMS(MS SQL, MS Access) and retrieve requested data. When you're done with the retrieval, update or what so ever, you may close the connection.
Now in VB.Net, we have a Data Adapter, Data Set, SQL Command, and etc. Connection to DBMS in VB.Net is made when you request for the data. Basically, it connects to perform one operation, then disconnects. Unlike VB6 which is continuous. This is usefull for mass scaled database as a continuous connection will utilize server resources. In VB.Net, the data is retrieved onto the memory on a set of table, called 'DataSet'. To keep things short, here is the simplest way to make a connection to a MS SQL database and retrieve records in VB.Net. I created a simple login for so you could see how you can check on RecordCount as well to perform validations.
Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Public Class frmLogin
Public CN As New SqlConnection("Data Source=localhost\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=WMTGS;Persist Security Info=True;User ID=dbWMTGS;Password=12345")
Public SQL As String
Private Sub cmdLogin_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles cmdLogin.Click
SQL = "SELECT * FROM Administrator WHERE Username = '" & txtLogin.Text & "' AND Password = '" & txtPassword.Text & "'"
Dim DA As New SqlDataAdapter(SQL, CN)
Dim DS As New DataSet("Credentials")
DA.Fill(DS, "Credentials")
CN.Open()
If DS.Tables(0).Rows.Count = 0 Then
MsgBox("Invalid Login Credentials. Please Contact Administrator.")
CN.Close()
Exit Sub
End If
CN.Close()
Msgbox ("Login Successfull.")
End Sub
[The Ladies]
[The French & The Malaysian : Strangely both born on the same date] 
[My Attempt To Learn French From The Birthday Boy]
[The Gang]
