If you dig into the vi.lib\addons\database\connection.llb, there is a VI called "Conn Get Properties.vi". You might be able to use this VI to check the status of a connection. If a connection is already open, this VI will return the connection string, database, and provider. If the connection is not valid, it returns nothing and an error 1. You can also use the "Conn GetData.vi" which returns a cluster of data including the ADODB._Connection ActiveX refnum. This will also return an error if the connection reference is not valid.