Using multiple databases in one application

Question

I'm about to start a pretty large project, so I'm gathering informations about some problems that I predicted while reading project documentation and client requests. One of those problems is this:

My client is a company that has multiple subdivisions, and each of those subdivisions uses its own database. Now, I've my task is to make an administration application that all of those subdivisions will be using (they all perform the same tasks, they are just divided because of their geographical locations and some legal regulations that are not important for my question). So, my problem is how to make an application that will be able to switch between databases. Usually, I could do it by creating a WinForm that would contain fields for input (e.g textBoxes or comboBoxes) where user could choose which connection to use, but I have a problem with this approach because of reports that these applications have to generate. Up until now I've been working with .rdlc reports that use datasets created by TableAdapters. So if I create a dataset programmaticaly, I don't know how to generate a report. But, if I create report based on a TableAdapters dataset, I don't know how to change TableAdapters connection string (except for duplicating TableAdapters so each one uses another connection string but that is not efficient at all). I'm using C# to create WinForms and SQL to work with databases. Please help me with this problem. Thanks

Rick Hoving · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-12 08:21:23Z

2

Try using a combination of multiple webservices and a servicebus like the right hand tree in the following image:

enter image description here

Please note that this is advanced C# but very maintainable and its low coupled!

answered Apr 12, 2012 at 8:21

Rick Hoving

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1 Comment

NDraskovic Over a year ago

Can you share some links on how to do that, I've never worked with them before

Pranay Rana · Accepted Answer · 2012-04-12 08:24:07Z

2

For this I can suggest you go for Factory Design pattern for object creation this will help you to create proper database object even if you add any no of different database in your application

//factory inerface
public inteface DataBaseCommonFactory()
{
   ///you all coomon methods are here
  public bool createuser();
}


//DAtabase specifc classes

//sql server
public class SqlServer : DataBaseCommonFactory
{
   public bool createuser()
   {
      //implementation
   }
}

//oracle server
public class OracleServer : DataBaseCommonFactory
{
   public bool createuser()
   {
      //implementation
   }
}


//mysql server
public class MySqlServer : DataBaseCommonFactory
{
   public bool createuser()
   {
      //implementation
   }
}


public class DataBaseCreationFactory
{
   public DataBaseCreationFactory(string DatabaseType)//this might be enum
   {
      if(DatabaseType == "Sqlserver")
        return new SqlSErver();
      if(DatabaseType == "Oracleserver")
        return new OracleSErver();    //same for mysql or anyother datavase
   }
}


public class Client 
{
   public void mymethod()
   {
      DataBaseCommonFactory sqlobject =  new DataBaseCreationFactory("Sqlserver")
      sqlobject.CreateUser();
      //if oracle is ther than parameter is orcalserver - or anyother database
    }
}

answered Apr 12, 2012 at 8:24

Pranay Rana

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2 Comments

NDraskovic Over a year ago

I've read something about pulling the connection string from app.config, and applying that to TableAdapters. That way I could use the same TableAdapter on different databases (all tables in all databases have identical schema's, they just hold different data). Wouldn't that be easier? If yes, how do I do it?

Pranay Rana Over a year ago

@NDraskovic - thats ok you can go for that but i suggest go with this pattern so that you will able to mainitan code easily....for the diferent database there is differernt providers that you need to maange that you can do with this pattern..

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