[RESOLVED] Database Connection Issue

[CADman69]

Can sombody please tell me where I am going wrong, please. I am trying to teach myself how to connect to a database that is not attached to my project.

I am using VB2010 Express with SQL express.

Here's the code I have;

    Private Sub Button2_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button2.Click
        Dim con As New OleDb.OleDbConnection
        Dim dbProvider As String
        Dim dbSource As String
        Dim ds As New DataSet
        Dim da As OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter
        Dim sql As String
        
        dbProvider = "PROVIDER=Microsoft.SQLEXPRESS;"
        ' I've tried other versions of provider names such as, Provider=SQLEXPRESS.  
        dbSource = "Data Source=C:\MarketPlaceDatabase.mdf"

        con.ConnectionString = dbProvider & dbSource

        con.Open()
        sql = "Select * From tblManagersTable"
        da = New OleDb.OleDbDataAdapter(sql, con)

        MsgBox("Database is now open")
        con.Close()
        MsgBox("Database is now closed")

    End Sub

The form is simple, 1 single button on it. Press it and it is suppose to connect and display a message box, but I keep getting an error.

Every project I have ever created has a SQL database attached to it so I a baffled to what is wrong. Also am wondering what the difference is between a MDF and MDB database extension. Mine always safe as a MDF, but all the articles I have read reference a MDB file.