When I work with SqlDataAdapter, I usually follow this pattern. Especially, please note the using/fill combination. It's basically a one-liner. The other stuff is just the facility around it.

private void PopulateData(DataTable table, long index)
{
  SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(
    commandText.Replace("{ID}", "" + index), Connection);

  using (SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(command))
    adapter.Fill(table);
}

Now, I'll be getting a number of scalars, so naturally I'm prone to use the appropriate method for that. However, I'm not certain how to make the code shorter without affecting readability.

private String GetString(long index)
{
  String output;
  using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(CommandText, Connection))
  {
    command.Connection.Open();
    output = command.ExecuteScalar() as String;
    command.Connection.Close();
  }
  return output;
}

Preferably I'd like to get using/returning of the scalar value to be done as a one-liner too. Is it at all possible?

Or is the pattern of open-get-close inside the using-scope the best way to go? Perhaps it depends on the different circumstances? In such case - which?

When I work with SqlDataAdapter, I usually follow this pattern. Especially note the using/fill combination, which is basically a one-liner. The other stuff is just the facility around it.

private void PopulateData(DataTable table, long index)
{
  SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(
    commandText.Replace("{ID}", "" + index), Connection);

  using (SqlDataAdapter adapter = new SqlDataAdapter(command))
    adapter.Fill(table);
}

Now, I'll be getting a number of scalars, so naturally I'm prone to use the appropriate method for that. However, I'm not certain how to make the code shorter without affecting readability.

private String GetString(long index)
{
  String output;
  using (SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(CommandText, Connection))
  {
    command.Connection.Open();
    output = command.ExecuteScalar() as String;
    command.Connection.Close();
  }
  return output;
}

Preferably I'd like to get using/returning of the scalar value to be done as a one-liner too. Is it at all possible?

Or is the pattern of open-get-close inside the using-scope the best way to go? Perhaps it depends on the different circumstances? In such case - which?