Use the Execute Scalar to return a single value.  Optional parameters may be passed in.

 

'Get the current instance of the helper

Dim db As IDataHelper = DataHelper.SessionFactory()

　　

'Create a new Person to save to the database

Dim currentPerson As New Person()

currentPerson.FirstName = "John"

currentPerson.LastName = "Smith"

　

'Save it to the database

db.Save(currentPerson)

　　

Dim parms As New Dictionary(Of String, Object)()

parms.Add("FirstName", "John")

parms.Add("LastName", "Smith")

Dim sql As String = "SELECT COUNT(1) FROM Person WHERE FirstName=@FirstName AND LastName=@LastName"

　

　

Dim results As Long = CLng(Fix(db.ExecuteScalar(sql,parms)))