ExecuteScalar

        /// <summary>
        /// Execute an OracleCommand that returns the first column of the first record against an existing database connection 
        /// using the provided parameters.
        /// </summary>
        /// <remarks>
        /// e.g.:  
        ///  Object obj = ExecuteScalar(conn, CommandType.StoredProcedure, "PublishOrders", new OracleParameter(":prodid", 24));
        /// </remarks>
        /// <param name="conn">an existing database connection</param>
        /// <param name="commandType">the CommandType (stored procedure, text, etc.)</param>
        /// <param name="commandText">the stored procedure name or PL/SQL command</param>
        /// <param name="commandParameters">an array of OracleParamters used to execute the command</param>
        /// <returns>An object that should be converted to the expected type using Convert.To{Type}</returns>
        public static object ExecuteScalar(OracleConnection connectionString, CommandType cmdType, string cmdText, params OracleParameter[] commandParameters) {
            OracleCommand cmd = new OracleCommand();

            PrepareCommand(cmd, connectionString, null, cmdType, cmdText, commandParameters);
            object val = cmd.ExecuteScalar();
            cmd.Parameters.Clear();
            return val;
        }