I'm creating a database application that will connect to Oracle. A textbox named txtFindByLastName and button named btnFindByLastName will search for a record in oracle that has the last name typed into the textbox. It keeps giving me an error. Can anyone see what I'm doing wrong? Visual Basic is telling me that it's having a problem with
"Dim dr As OracleDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()".


Private Sub btnFindByLastName_Click(ByVal sender As System.Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles btnFindByLastName.Click
Dim XE As String = "Data Source=(DESCRIPTION=(ADDRESS_LIST=" _
+ "(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=" + txtHost.Text + ")(PORT=1521)))" _
+ "(CONNECT_DATA=(SERVER=DEDICATED)(SERVICE_NAME=XE) ));" _
+ "User Id=system;Password=*******;"
Dim conn As New OracleConnection(XE)

conn.Open()

Dim cmd As New OracleCommand

cmd.Connection = conn
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT Employee_ID, First_Name, Last_Name, EMail, Phone_Number, Hire_Date, Job_ID, Salary, Commission_Pct, Manager_ID, Department_ID FROM hr.Employees WHERE Last_Name = " + txtFindByLastName.Text
cmd.CommandType = CommandType.Text

Dim dr As OracleDataReader = cmd.ExecuteReader()
dr.Read()
txtEmployeeID.Text = dr.Item("Employee_ID").ToString
txtFirstName.Text = dr.Item("First_Name").ToString
txtLastName.Text = dr.Item("Last_Name").ToString
txtEMail.Text = dr.Item("EMail").ToString
txtPhoneNumber.Text = dr.Item("Phone_Number").ToString
txtHireDate.Text = dr.Item("Hire_Date").ToString
txtJobID.Text = dr.Item("Job_ID").ToString
txtSalary.Text = dr.Item("Salary").ToString
txtCommission.Text = dr.Item("Commission_Pct").ToString
txtManagerID.Text = dr.Item("Manager_ID").ToString
txtDepartmentID.Text = dr.Item("Department_ID").ToString
txtFindByLastName.Text = ""

dr.Dispose()
cmd.Dispose()
conn.Dispose()
End Sub

it may help if you paste the error message and identify where the error is. its possible that someone who uses oracle as a back end db in VB could identify a fault without such information, but by not providing that information you are cutting down ther chances of you getting any useful help.

it also would help you to specify whether you are using VB or VB.NET, and which version of VB or VB.NET

on the face of it
Build a .NET Application on the Oracle Database could be a good reference for you

I believe that its because your CommandText string is incorrect - remember to put single quotes around your last name e.g.
Last_Name = '" + txtFindByLastName.Text + "'"