Execute SQL Query from within a C# function

I don't know how many times I've had to execute a stored procedure or a SQL statement from within a BizTalk map or within a C# class, so I'm putting this entry as a reminder to myself of how to do it.


//1. Create your SQL Connection
SqlConnection conn=null;
//2. Create and open a connection object
conn=new SqlConnection("Connection String Goes Here");
//3. Open the Connection
conn.Open();
//4. Create the SQL Command and assign it it a string
string strSQLCommand="SELECT * FROM TABLE";
//5. Execute the SQL Command
SqlCommand command=new SqlCommand(strSQLCommand, conn);
//6. Use ExecuteScalar() to return the first result
string returnvalue=(string) command.ExecuteScalar();
//7. Close the Connection
conn.Close();
//8. Return theValue
return returnvalue;