SqlDataReader [0] is empty

Question

I'm wanting to display the first row of a SqlDataReader (its the only row/column the database returns) in a text field. I thought this was the correct syntax but i get 'no data' error. I can ensure that the sql query being used should definitely return an answer, i've checked it in SQL Server.

SqlCommand sqlCommand = new SqlCommand(sqlQuery, sqlConnection);
sqlConnection.Open();
SqlDataReader reader = sqlCommand.ExecuteReader();
Label1.Text = reader[0].ToString();

reader[0] doesn't seem to show anything.

Answer 1

You need to actually read the data if I remember correctly using:

reader.Read()

Which you can iterate through or just use the first value.

Answer 2

You need to call read() to move to the rows. It is usually used as

 while(reader.read())
 {
 // do something
 }

In you case put reader.read() before assigning to label.

*Also remember always to close it - so use it in using block. *

Answer 3

Please read the documentation for DataReader. The indexer provides a value based on the ordinal/column number. As you have not started (or are) moving through the reader, it will be empty.