Retreiving database table schemas

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VB

SQL

I have been creating an application recently and I need some help on database table schemas. I have programmed the application in vb.net 3.5 using a mysql database.

What the application does is not really important… except that I am trying to get the schema for a table in the database. To date the way I have been getting the schema for a table in the database is as follows

Dim conn As New MySqlConnection(ConnString) ‘ConnString is defined elsewhere
conn.Open()
Dim cmd As MySqlCommand = conn.CreateCommand
cmd.CommandText = "SELECT * FROM widgets WHERE widgetID=1"

‘Create a datareader and execute it
Dim dr As MySqlDataReader
dr = cmd.ExecuteReader()

‘Create a datatable to put the schema into
Dim dtSchema As New DataTable
dtSchema = dr.GetSchemaTable

I am seeking a way of getting the schema for the table above without having to execute the select command. This will help me in my quest to make my app work with more than one DB provider. I don’t want my app to have any SQL commands if at all possible. (my intention is to only use stored procedures in the database)

Any help is appreciated