Get row count by 'ExecuteScalar'

   

using System;
using System.Data;
using System.Data.SqlClient;

   class CommandExampleScalar
   {
      static void Main() 
      {
         SqlConnection thisConnection = new SqlConnection("server=(local)SQLEXPRESS;database=MyDatabase;Integrated Security=SSPI");

         SqlCommand thisCommand = new SqlCommand("SELECT COUNT(*) FROM Employee", thisConnection);

         try {
            thisConnection.Open();

            Console.WriteLine("Number of Employees is: {0}",
               thisCommand.ExecuteScalar());
         }
         catch (SqlException ex) 
         {
            Console.WriteLine(ex.ToString());
         }
         finally 
         {
            thisConnection.Close();
            Console.WriteLine("Connection Closed.");
         }
      }
   }