[RESOLVED] How to put SQL database on a server and how to access it?

[NinjaNic]

Hi, I have many questions regarding SQL databases. I'm very new to this subject and I need to know how to upload (or create) a database on a server and where I can find the connection string. First of all, a database on a server can be accessed with any program with the correct connection string, right? Also, does it update in real-time? (I'm thinking of using Azure but I don't know the quality of the free trial.) And this is some example code I made to manage tables in a local database. Is there anything wrong with it or anything I may need to add? Like I said, I'm new to this and don't really know where to begin. Thanks in advance!
~Nic

Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Public Class Form1
 
    Dim connString As String = "Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename=""MY_LOCAL_FILE_PATH\Database1.mdf"";Integrated Security=True"
    Dim myConnection As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection(connString)
    Dim dr As SqlDataReader
 
    Private Sub CreateTable(TName As String)
        myConnection.Open()
        Dim command As String = $"
IF NOT EXISTS (SELECT * FROM sysobjects WHERE name='{TName}' AND xtype='U')
    CREATE TABLE [dbo].[{TName}]
    (
        intRecID Int IDENTITY(1,1) NOT NULL PRIMARY KEY,
        FirstName VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL,
        LastName VARCHAR(50) NOT NULL, 
        Email VARCHAR(50) NULL,
        Create_Date Smalldatetime DEFAULT GETDATE()
    )"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(command, myConnection)
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        myConnection.Close()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub AddEntry(TName As String, FName As String, LName As String, Email As String)
        myConnection.Open()
        Dim command As String = $"INSERT INTO {TName} (FirstName, LastName, Email) VALUES ('{FName}', '{LName}', '{Email}')"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(command, myConnection)
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        myConnection.Close()
    End Sub
 
    Private Function GetEntry(TName As String, Column As String, ColumnValue As String, ColumnNeeded As String) As String
        myConnection.Open()
        Dim command As String = $"SELECT {ColumnNeeded} FROM {TName} WHERE ({Column} = '{ColumnValue}')"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(command, myConnection)
        dr = cmd.ExecuteReader
        Dim str As String = ""
        While dr.Read
            str += dr(0).ToString
        End While
        myConnection.Close()
        Return str
    End Function
 
    Private Sub ClearTable(TName As String)
        myConnection.Open()
        Dim command As String = $"DELETE FROM {TName}"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(command, myConnection)
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        myConnection.Close()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub DeleteTable(TName As String)
        myConnection.Open()
        Dim command As String = $"DROP TABLE {TName}"
        Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand(command, myConnection)
        cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
        myConnection.Close()
    End Sub
 
    Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
 
        CreateTable("T1")
        ClearTable("T1")
        AddEntry("T1", "Dave", "Johnson", "[email protected]")
 
        MsgBox(GetEntry("T1", "FirstName", "Dave", "Email")) ' This retrieves Dave's email address.
 
    End Sub
 
End Class