Function giving me "not all code paths return a value"

Here's my function:

Code:

---

        public static BindingSource GetAllRecords(string table)
        {
            string sSQL = null;
            System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection cnGetRecords = new SqlConnection(DataMSSQL.GetConnectionString("MSSQLConnection"));
            System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand cmdGetRecords = new SqlCommand();

            switch (table)
            {
                case "clients":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaClients";
                    break;
                case "counties":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaCounties";
                    break;
                case "employees":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaEmployees";
                    break;
                case "jobs":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_NumJobs";
                    break;
                case "states":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaStates";
                    break;
                case "subdivisions":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSubdivisions";
                    break;
                case "surveys":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSurveys";
                    break;
                case "surveysCounties":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSurveysCounties";
                    break;
                case "types":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaTypes";
                    break;
                case "units":
                    sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaUnits";
                    break;
            }
            //string sSQL = "GetAllRecords";
            SqlDataAdapter daGetRecords;
            DataTable dtGetRecords;
            cmdGetRecords.CommandText = sSQL;
            cmdGetRecords.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
            try
            {
                HandleConnection(cnGetRecords);
                System.Windows.Forms.BindingSource oBindingSource = GetBindingSource(cmdGetRecords);
                if (oBindingSource != null)
                {
                    return oBindingSource;
                }
                else
                {
                    throw new Exception("There was no BindingSource returned");
                }
            }
            catch (Exception ex)
            {
                MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
            }
            cnGetRecords.Close();
        }

---

How do I make this error go away? It is returning oBindingsource if all goes well. Is this just a warning or an actual error that prevents me from building?

Thanks!

It's an actual error. A function must return a value. This only returns one if the condition is true, not when it is false. Either make it a sub and return the value via a global variable or return the null and respond to it in your calling sub.

the problem is that you're not returning a BindingSource upon all possible conditional outcomes based on the logic within your function. If the conditions aren't met for places where you return a BindingSource, then there is no BindingSource returned, therefore, "not all code paths return a value".

Would changing the else in the try/catch to this:

return null;
throw new Exception("There was no BindingSource returned");

not fix the issue? I've added that code and it's still giving me the same error.

You don't need a return there - adding it before the 'throw' would mean that the 'throw' never executes.
You need a return statement in the 'catch' (or after the 'catch').

so I can just put "return null;" in my catch?

Yes - and you probably want to add a 'finally' block and close the SqlConnection object there instead.

c# Code:

public static BindingSource GetAllRecords(string table)
{
    System.Windows.Forms.BindingSource oBindingSource = null;
    string sSQL = null;
    System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection cnGetRecords = new SqlConnection(DataMSSQL.GetConnectionString("MSSQLConnection"));
    System.Data.SqlClient.SqlCommand cmdGetRecords = new SqlCommand();
 
    switch (table)
    {
    case "clients":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaClients";
        break;
    case "counties":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaCounties";
        break;
    case "employees":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaEmployees";
        break;
    case "jobs":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_NumJobs";
        break;
    case "states":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaStates";
        break;
    case "subdivisions":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSubdivisions";
        break;
    case "surveys":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSurveys";
        break;
    case "surveysCounties":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaSurveysCounties";
        break;
    case "types":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaTypes";
        break;
    case "units":
        sSQL = "SELECT * FROM vw_AlphaUnits";
        break;
    }
    
    cmdGetRecords.CommandText = sSQL;
    cmdGetRecords.CommandType = CommandType.Text;
    try
    {
        HandleConnection(cnGetRecords);
        oBindingSource = GetBindingSource(cmdGetRecords);
        if (oBindingSource == null)
        {
            throw new Exception("There was no BindingSource returned");
        }
    }
    catch (Exception ex)
    {
        MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
    }
    finally
    {
        if (cnGetRecords.State <> ConnectionState.Closed) { cnGetRecords.Close(); }
        cmdGetRecords.Dispose();
        cnGetRecords.Dispose();
    }
    
    //If either of the two exceptions are thrown, this line will not be reached anyways
    return oBindingSource;
}

I would also suggest you adding a case default to the bottom in case none of those cases are true. That way you could throw an exception stating a valid table name is required.