>>>I have a method that needs to return either OleDbDataReader or SqlDataReader (depends on the back-end database). Within the method I have IF/ELSE where the code is processed accordingly. But in the method signature I can only specify one type of reader. E.g.
>>>

>>>public OleDbDataReader MethodName()
>>>or
>>>public SqlDataReader MethodName()
>>>

>>>
>>>Does it mean that I have to split the method into two methods depending on the type of reader I need to return and deal with it at the calling level?
>>
>>You need to go generic. Here is an example:
>>
>>

>>        Private oCommand As IDbCommand = Nothing
>>        Private oCommandText As New Collection
>>        Private oDataAdapter As IDbDataAdapter = Nothing
>>        Private oDataParameter As IDbDataParameter = Nothing
>>        Private oDataReader As IDataReader = Nothing
>>

>>
>>Then, you can use the same properties no matter your backend.
>
>Thank you. Does it mean that in the signature of the method I will have
>

>public oDataReader MethodName()
>

No, it will be
public IDataReader MethodName() // that returns DataReader object

But do you need to return data reader back? You will not be able to use using then, I think?