Auto width in a data grid to fit data

Intersting way to auto fit the column width in a data grid to fit the width of the data. You basically use the graphics for the data grid and use a function called MeasureString. Send in the string and the font that will be used, and get the width from this.

Dim i As Integer
Dim length As Integer = 0
Dim g As System.Drawing.Graphics = Me.dgr.CreateGraphics
Dim str As System.String
Dim strLength As Single

For i = 0 To ds.Tables(0).Rows.Count - 1
str = CType(ds.Tables(0).Rows(i).Item("Name"), System.String)
strLength = g.MeasureString(str, Me.Font).Width()
length = System.Math.Max(strLength, length)
Next

'Set Length
Me.col.Width = length

Tip on finding the connection string.

One quick way of find a connection string is to create a new text document and rename the extension to udl. Go through the wizard for connecting to a database like SQL Server. When done, open the file in a text editor and the data would look something like:

[oledb]
; Everything after this line is an OLE DB initstring
Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;Initial Catalog=ClientTracker;Data Source=ComputersName

Edit this by removing the "Provider=SQLOLEDB.1"

thats it.

Database Error 17: SQL Server does not exist or access denied.

Okay, I had to install VS.Net on top of VS 2005 and while I did that I figured I would update the security knowledge base from microsoft. Apparently it must of disabled the TCP/IP ports to prevent potential worms and such. So when I started one of our apps, I would now end up getting:

Database Error 17: SQL Server does not exist or access denied.

So here is the solution I found to work thanks to http://www.aspfaq.com/sql2005/show.asp?id=3

Step 1)
Make sure that SQL Server 2005 is functioning properly:

Start / Run... / type "CMD" without the quotes and hit OK
Type "SQLCMD" without the quotes and hit Enter
Verify that you have a "1>" prompt
Type "Exit" without the quotes and hit Enter

Step 2)
Start the SQL Browser service:
Start / Run... / type "NET START SQLBROWSER" without the quotes and hit OK

Step 3)
Make sure that named pipes and TCP/IP protocols are enabled:

Start / Programs / SQL Server 2005 / Configuration Tools / SQL Server Configuration Manager
Open "SQL Server 2005 Network Configuration"
Highlight "Client Protocols"
Right-click the Tcp node and make sure it is enabled (click "Enable" if it is available)
Repeat for the Named Pipes node


Step 4)
Restart SQL Server 2005 if you made any changes above:

Start / Run... / type "NET STOP MSSQL" without the quotes and hit OK
Start / Run... / type "NET START MSSQL" without the quotes and hit OK

Step 5)
If SQL Server 2000 is installed on the same machine, make sure that SP4 is installed prior to installing SQL Server 2005.