I am new to .net and sql server and I'm having some problems with basic stuff. I've created a stored procedure that inserts a new record into a table but I have been unable to call it from the .net environment. I'm using VB to call the SP. I keep getting the error message:

System.ArgumentException: Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification starting at index 0

It seems to be referring to the line:

Dim conn As New SqlConnection(connstr)

I'm trying to follow a code example I found on the internet, but I may have it all wrong. This is my code:

Partial Class _Default
Inherits System.Web.UI.Page

Protected Sub Button1_Click(ByVal sender As Object, ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click

Dim connstr As String = "ConnectionStrings:DatabaseConnectionString1()"
Dim conn As New SqlConnection(connstr)
Dim cmd As New SqlCommand("insert_goal", conn)

cmd.CommandType = Data.CommandType.StoredProcedure

cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@year", Data.SqlDbType.NChar, 10))
cmd.Parameters("@year").Value = "2009-2010"
cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@unit", Data.SqlDbType.VarChar, 50))
cmd.Parameters("@unit").Value = "welding"
cmd.Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@ignum", Data.SqlDbType.TinyInt, 2))
cmd.Parameters("@ignum").Value = 1

conn.Open()
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
conn.Close()

End Sub
End Class

Try this:

1. Open your web.config file and in the <ConnectionStrings> section add the following:

<connectionStrings>
        <clear/>
        <remove name="LocalSQLServer"/>
        <add name="YOURPREFERREDCONNECTIONSTRINGNAME" connectionString="Data Source=YOURDATASOURCE;Initial Catalog=DATABASENAME;User ID=USERNAME;Password=PASSWORD" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>
    </connectionStrings>

2.  Open your code behind file and import the follwing

Imports System.Data.SqlClient
Imports System.Configuration

3. Modify your code to the following

            Dim conn As SqlConnection = New SqlConnection()
            Dim cmd As SqlCommand = New SqlCommand()

            Try
                conn.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings("YOURPREFERREDCONNECTIONSTRINGNAME").ConnectionString
                cmd.Connection = conn
                cmd.CommandText = "NAMEOFYOURSTOREDPROCEDURE"
                cmd.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure
                
                'Pass parameters required by the stored procedure
                With cmd
                    .Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@year", Data.SqlDbType.NChar, 10))
                    .Parameters("@year").Value = "2009-2010"
                    .Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@unit", Data.SqlDbType.VarChar, 50))
                    .Parameters("@unit").Value = "welding"
                    .Parameters.Add(New SqlParameter("@ignum", Data.SqlDbType.TinyInt, 2))
                    .Parameters("@ignum").Value = 1
                End With
                conn.Open()
                cmd.ExecuteNonQuery()
                conn.Close()
            Catch ex As Exception
                Response.Write(ex)
            End Try