// detach the SqlParameters from the command object, so they can be used again.
			cmd.Parameters.Clear();
			return retval;
			
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a stored procedure via a SqlCommand (that returns a 1x1 resultset) against the specified SqlConnection 
		/// using the provided parameter values.  This method will query the database to discover the parameters for the 
		/// stored procedure (the first time each stored procedure is called), and assign the values based on parameter order.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// This method provides no access to output parameters or the stored procedure's return value parameter.
		/// 
		/// e.g.:  
		///  int orderCount = (int)ExecuteScalar(conn, "GetOrderCount", 24, 36);
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="connection">a valid SqlConnection</param>
		/// <param name="spName">the name of the stored procedure</param>
		/// <param name="parameterValues">an array of objects to be assigned as the input values of the stored procedure</param>
		/// <returns>an object containing the value in the 1x1 resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static object ExecuteScalar(SqlConnection connection, string spName, params object[] parameterValues)
		{
			//if we receive parameter values, we need to figure out where they go
			if ((parameterValues != null) && (parameterValues.Length > 0)) 
			{
				//pull the parameters for this stored procedure from the parameter cache (or discover them & populate the cache)
				SqlParameter[] commandParameters = SqlHelperParameterCache.GetSpParameterSet(connection.ConnectionString, spName);

				//assign the provided values to these parameters based on parameter order
				AssignParameterValues(commandParameters, parameterValues);

				//call the overload that takes an array of SqlParameters
				return ExecuteScalar(connection, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName, commandParameters);
			}
				//otherwise we can just call the SP without params
			else 
			{
				return ExecuteScalar(connection, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName);
			}
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a 1x1 resultset and takes no parameters) against the provided SqlTransaction. 
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  int orderCount = (int)ExecuteScalar(trans, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrderCount");
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="transaction">a valid SqlTransaction</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command</param>
		/// <returns>an object containing the value in the 1x1 resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static object ExecuteScalar(SqlTransaction transaction, CommandType commandType, string commandText)
		{
			//pass through the call providing null for the set of SqlParameters
			return ExecuteScalar(transaction, commandType, commandText, (SqlParameter[])null);
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a 1x1 resultset) against the specified SqlTransaction
		/// using the provided parameters.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  int orderCount = (int)ExecuteScalar(trans, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrderCount", new SqlParameter("@prodid", 24));
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="transaction">a valid SqlTransaction</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command</param>
		/// <param name="commandParameters">an array of SqlParamters used to execute the command</param>
		/// <returns>an object containing the value in the 1x1 resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static object ExecuteScalar(SqlTransaction transaction, CommandType commandType, string commandText, params SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
		{
			//create a command and prepare it for execution
			SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
			PrepareCommand(cmd, transaction.Connection, transaction, commandType, commandText, commandParameters);
			
			//execute the command & return the results
			object retval = cmd.ExecuteScalar();
			
			// detach the SqlParameters from the command object, so they can be used again.
			cmd.Parameters.Clear();
			return retval;
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a stored procedure via a SqlCommand (that returns a 1x1 resultset) against the specified
		/// SqlTransaction using the provided parameter values.  This method will query the database to discover the parameters for the 
		/// stored procedure (the first time each stored procedure is called), and assign the values based on parameter order.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// This method provides no access to output parameters or the stored procedure's return value parameter.
		/// 
		/// e.g.:  
		///  int orderCount = (int)ExecuteScalar(trans, "GetOrderCount", 24, 36);
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="transaction">a valid SqlTransaction</param>
		/// <param name="spName">the name of the stored procedure</param>
		/// <param name="parameterValues">an array of objects to be assigned as the input values of the stored procedure</param>
		/// <returns>an object containing the value in the 1x1 resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static object ExecuteScalar(SqlTransaction transaction, string spName, params object[] parameterValues)
		{
			//if we receive parameter values, we need to figure out where they go
			if ((parameterValues != null) && (parameterValues.Length > 0)) 
			{
				//pull the parameters for this stored procedure from the parameter cache (or discover them & populate the cache)
				SqlParameter[] commandParameters = SqlHelperParameterCache.GetSpParameterSet(transaction.Connection.ConnectionString, spName);

				//assign the provided values to these parameters based on parameter order
				AssignParameterValues(commandParameters, parameterValues);

				//call the overload that takes an array of SqlParameters
				return ExecuteScalar(transaction, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName, commandParameters);
			}
				//otherwise we can just call the SP without params
			else 
			{
				return ExecuteScalar(transaction, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName);
			}
		}

		#endregion ExecuteScalar	

		#region ExecuteXmlReader

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset and takes no parameters) against the provided SqlConnection. 
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  XmlReader r = ExecuteXmlReader(conn, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrders");
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="connection">a valid SqlConnection</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command using "FOR XML AUTO"</param>
		/// <returns>an XmlReader containing the resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static XmlReader ExecuteXmlReader(SqlConnection connection, CommandType commandType, string commandText)
		{
			//pass through the call providing null for the set of SqlParameters
			return ExecuteXmlReader(connection, commandType, commandText, (SqlParameter[])null);
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset) against the specified SqlConnection 
		/// using the provided parameters.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  XmlReader r = ExecuteXmlReader(conn, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrders", new SqlParameter("@prodid", 24));
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="connection">a valid SqlConnection</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command using "FOR XML AUTO"</param>
		/// <param name="commandParameters">an array of SqlParamters used to execute the command</param>
		/// <returns>an XmlReader containing the resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static XmlReader ExecuteXmlReader(SqlConnection connection, CommandType commandType, string commandText, params SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
		{
			//create a command and prepare it for execution
			SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
			PrepareCommand(cmd, connection, (SqlTransaction)null, commandType, commandText, commandParameters);
			
			//create the DataAdapter & DataSet
			XmlReader retval = cmd.ExecuteXmlReader();
			
			// detach the SqlParameters from the command object, so they can be used again.
			cmd.Parameters.Clear();
			return retval;
			
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a stored procedure via a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset) against the specified SqlConnection 
		/// using the provided parameter values.  This method will query the database to discover the parameters for the 
		/// stored procedure (the first time each stored procedure is called), and assign the values based on parameter order.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// This method provides no access to output parameters or the stored procedure's return value parameter.
		/// 
		/// e.g.:  
		///  XmlReader r = ExecuteXmlReader(conn, "GetOrders", 24, 36);
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="connection">a valid SqlConnection</param>
		/// <param name="spName">the name of the stored procedure using "FOR XML AUTO"</param>
		/// <param name="parameterValues">an array of objects to be assigned as the input values of the stored procedure</param>
		/// <returns>an XmlReader containing the resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static XmlReader ExecuteXmlReader(SqlConnection connection, string spName, params object[] parameterValues)
		{
			//if we receive parameter values, we need to figure out where they go
			if ((parameterValues != null) && (parameterValues.Length > 0)) 
			{
				//pull the parameters for this stored procedure from the parameter cache (or discover them & populate the cache)
				SqlParameter[] commandParameters = SqlHelperParameterCache.GetSpParameterSet(connection.ConnectionString, spName);

				//assign the provided values to these parameters based on parameter order
				AssignParameterValues(commandParameters, parameterValues);

				//call the overload that takes an array of SqlParameters
				return ExecuteXmlReader(connection, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName, commandParameters);
			}
				//otherwise we can just call the SP without params
			else 
			{
				return ExecuteXmlReader(connection, CommandType.StoredProcedure, spName);
			}
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset and takes no parameters) against the provided SqlTransaction. 
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  XmlReader r = ExecuteXmlReader(trans, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrders");
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="transaction">a valid SqlTransaction</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command using "FOR XML AUTO"</param>
		/// <returns>an XmlReader containing the resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static XmlReader ExecuteXmlReader(SqlTransaction transaction, CommandType commandType, string commandText)
		{
			//pass through the call providing null for the set of SqlParameters
			return ExecuteXmlReader(transaction, commandType, commandText, (SqlParameter[])null);
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset) against the specified SqlTransaction
		/// using the provided parameters.
		/// </summary>
		/// <remarks>
		/// e.g.:  
		///  XmlReader r = ExecuteXmlReader(trans, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "GetOrders", new SqlParameter("@prodid", 24));
		/// </remarks>
		/// <param name="transaction">a valid SqlTransaction</param>
		/// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
		/// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or T-SQL command using "FOR XML AUTO"</param>
		/// <param name="commandParameters">an array of SqlParamters used to execute the command</param>
		/// <returns>an XmlReader containing the resultset generated by the command</returns>
		public static XmlReader ExecuteXmlReader(SqlTransaction transaction, CommandType commandType, string commandText, params SqlParameter[] commandParameters)
		{
			//create a command and prepare it for execution
			SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
			PrepareCommand(cmd, transaction.Connection, transaction, commandType, commandText, commandParameters);
			
			//create the DataAdapter & DataSet
			XmlReader retval = cmd.ExecuteXmlReader();
			
			// detach the SqlParameters from the command object, so they can be used again.
			cmd.Parameters.Clear();
			return retval;			
		}

		/// <summary>
		/// Execute a stored procedure via a SqlCommand (that returns a resultset) against the specified 
		/// SqlTransaction using the provided parameter values.  This method will query the database to discover the parameters for the 
		/// stored procedure (the first time each stored procedure is called), and assign the values based on parameter order.
		/// </summary>
		/// <r