CODEWITHSUNDEEP
c#sqldatabasevisual-studio-2010
Ahmad
Ahmad

Reputation: 13436

How do I connect to an MDF database file?

I'm experimenting in connecting a C# app to an MDF database for the first time, and I need a little help ..

I made a small MDF database file in Visual Studio 2010, then created another project and imported the file into the project itself.

I am not trying to connect to the MDF file via code. Here the code I'm using:

namespace DBtestApp1
{
    public partial class Form1 : Form
    {
        public Form1()
        {
            InitializeComponent();
        }
        System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection con;
        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)
        {
            con = new System.Data.SqlClient.SqlConnection();
            con.ConnectionString = "DataSource=.\\SQLEXPRESS; AttachDbFilename =SampleDatabase.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True";
            con.Open();
            MessageBox.Show("Connection opened");
            con.Close();
            MessageBox.Show("Connection closed");
        }
    }
}

When I run the application, I get an exception at the line where I define the connection string, and the exception has this message at the top of the stack:

System.ArgumentException: Keyword not supported: 'datasource'.

Can someone point me in the right direction ?

Upvotes: 22

Views: 152958

Answers (8)

lava
lava

Reputation: 7451

Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename="C:\Users\hasif\Documents\Visual Studio 2015\Projects\vgsoft\SqlserverRepo\data\Database1.mdf";Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30

1

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2

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ConnectionString

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Upvotes: 1

f4d0
f4d0

Reputation: 1392

Alternative solution, where you can have the database in the folder you want inside the solution. That worked for me:

.ConnectionString(@"Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;
                    AttachDbFilename="+AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory+"Folder1\\Folder2\\SampleDatabase.mdf" + ";
                    Integrated Security=True;")

Upvotes: 1

July.Tech
July.Tech

Reputation: 1376

For Visual Studio 2015 the connection string is:

"Data Source=(localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|Database1.mdf;Integrated Security=True"

Upvotes: 8

Mahmmoud Qassem
Mahmmoud Qassem

Reputation: 283

Go to server explorer > Your Database > Right Click > properties > ConnectionString and copy the connection string and past the copied to connectiongstring code :)

Upvotes: 27

Mike James
Mike James

Reputation: 1

SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(@"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=E:\Samples\MyApp\C#\bin\Debug\Login.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True");

this is working for me... Is there any way to short the path? like

SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(@"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=\bin\Debug\Login.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True");

Upvotes: 0

user1943915
user1943915

Reputation: 133

string sqlCon = @"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;" +
                @"AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\SampleDB.mdf;
                Integrated Security=True;
                Connect Timeout=30;
                User Instance=True";
SqlConnection Con = new SqlConnection(sqlCon);

The filepath should have |DataDirectory| which actually links to "current project directory\App_Data\" or "current project directory" and get the .mdf file.....Place the .mdf in either of these places and should work in visual studio 2010.And when you use the standalone application on production system, then the current path where the executable file is, should have the .mdf file.

Upvotes: 10

KV Prajapati
KV Prajapati

Reputation: 94653

Add space between Data Source

 con.ConnectionString = @"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;
                          AttachDbFilename=c:\folder\SampleDatabase.mdf;
                          Integrated Security=True;
                          Connect Timeout=30;
                          User Instance=True";

Upvotes: 34

John Woo
John Woo

Reputation: 263933

Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=c:\mydbfile.mdf;Database=dbname; Trusted_Connection=Yes;

Upvotes: 1

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