VB.NET connection to MySQL Add Model - vb.net

Question

I'm very new to .NET. I am trying to use a code example from the first person that posted a response, here: Connect to remote MySQL database using VB.NET 2010
I would like to instantiate the MySqlVB model object but when I add the following code into the controller, I get a not found error. I don't know how to resolve this.
The error is: Warning 1 Namespace or type specified in the Imports 'MySql.Data.MySqlClient' doesn't contain any public member or cannot be found. Make sure the namespace or the type is defined and contains at least one public member. Make sure the imported element name doesn't use any aliases.
What I need is to run a MySQL query and to return the dataset to the controller. Can someone show me how to do this, please?
I'm using VB 2010 Express to do this.
This is the controller
Public Class Form1
Private Sub PrintBtn_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles PrintBtn.Click
Dim data As New MySqlVB
With data
If .Connection Then
MessageBox.Show("Database Conneted.")
Else
MessageBox.Show(.ErrorMessage)
End If
End With
End Sub
End Class
And this is my model object
Imports MySql.Data.MySqlClient
Public Class MySqlVB
Private _connection As New MySqlConnection
Private _errormessge As String
Private _servername As String = "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"
Private _databasename As String = "testdb"
Private _userid As String = "theuser"
Private _password As String = "thepass"
Public WriteOnly Property ServerName() As String
Set(ByVal value As String)
_servername = value
End Set
End Property
Public WriteOnly Property DatabaseName() As String
Set(ByVal value As String)
_databasename = value
End Set
End Property
Public WriteOnly Property UserID() As String
Set(ByVal value As String)
_userid = value
End Set
End Property
Public WriteOnly Property Password() As String
Set(ByVal value As String)
_password = value
End Set
End Property
Public ReadOnly Property ErrorMessage() As String
Get
Return _errormessge
End Get
End Property
Public Function Connection() As Boolean
Try
_connection.ConnectionString = "Server=" & _servername & ";Port=3306;Database=" & _databasename & ";User ID=" & _userid & ";Password=" & _password & ""
_connection.Open()
If _connection.State = ConnectionState.Open Then
_connection.Close()
Return True
End If
Catch ex As Exception
_errormessge = ex.Message
Return False
End Try
End Function
End Class

Answer 1

Assuming you have fixed your reference to MySql.Data.MySqlClient I think your class could use some work.
Public Class DataAccess
Private ConnectionString As String
Public Sub New(UserName As String, Password As String)
Dim builder As New MySqlConnectionStringBuilder With {
.Server = "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx",
.Database = "testdb",
.UserID = UserName,
.Password = Password
}
ConnectionString = builder.ConnectionString
Debug.Print(ConnectionString) 'just to see what the builder created
End Sub
Public Function TestConnecion() As Boolean
Using cn As New MySqlConnection(ConnectionString)
Try
cn.Open()
Catch ex As Exception
Debug.Print(ex.Message) 'just to see what is wrong with connection
Return False
End Try
End Using
Return True
End Function
Public Function GetData() As DataTable
Dim dt As New DataTable
Using cn As New MySqlConnection(ConnectionString)
Using cmd As New MySqlCommand("Select * From SomeTable")
cn.Open()
dt.Load(cmd.ExecuteReader)
End Using
End Using
Return dt
End Function
End Class
Assuming you have a DataGridView to display data and 2 text boxes for user id and password, you can use your class in your form like this.
Private Sub FillGrid()
Dim daClass As New DataAccess(txtUser.Text, txtPassword.Text)
Dim dt = daClass.GetData
DataGridView1.DataSource = dt
End Sub
Of course you will need to add error handling. Also you need to salt and hash passwords. Plain text passwords should never be stored.