using System; using System.Collections.Generic; using System.ComponentModel; using System.Data; using System.Drawing; using System.Text; using System.Windows.Forms; using MySql.Data.MySqlClient; using System.Net.Sockets; namespace WindowsApplication1 { public class BaseForm : Form { public MySqlConnection ConnectAndShowStatus() { this.toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Connecting..."; string connectionStatus = "Connected"; MySqlConnection Conn = new MySqlConnection(ConnectionString); Conn.Open(); try { Conn = cl1.Connect(); } catch (Exception) { connectionStatus = "FAILED"; } this.toolStripStatusLabel1.Text = connectionStatus; // SHOW UP toolStripStatusLabel1 return Conn; } } public partial class Form1 : BaseForm { public Form1() { InitializeComponent(); } private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e) { // call BaseForm's (it returns null if fails) MySqlConnection Conn = ConnectAndShowStatus(); } } }