configuration system failed to initialize in visual studio 2010 windows form - c#

I'm currently facing this error while running my c# program:
configuration system failed to initialize
here is my app.config file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
<add name="FastConnection"
connectionString="DataSource=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=C:\Users\mustiondb.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True" />
</configSections>
</configuration>
I believe there is probably information lacking in this app.config file. However, I'm not sure what information. When I created an app config file from my windows form (visual studio 2010), the only information in the app config file was this:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
</configuration>
I tried searching for information to add in, but i'm not sure what and where to find these information.

If you want to use connection string use <connectionStrings> not <Configurations>
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="FastConnection" connectionString="DataSource=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=C:\Users\mustiondb.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True" />
</connectionStrings>
</configuration>
If you need to add custom application settings
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="Key0" value="0" />
<add key="Key1" value="1" />
<add key="Key2" value="2" />
</appSettings>
</configuration>

I faced the same issue. I had an & in one of the strings of app.Config and somehow Visual Studio didn't show the error while building. After replacing & with & it worked fine.

Related

How to move connectionString from App.config to code in C#?

I want to remove connectionString from App.config and add it to code. I'm using WinForms(C#) and .Net Framework 4.8. I have textBoxes and a datagridview on my form. I'm using Microsoft Access Database (.mdb). I want to do this because database's password is visible in App.config. Is there any way to do that
Here is my app.config XML code :
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
</configSections>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="Locker.Properties.Settings.pw_dbConnectionString"
connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\files\pw_db.mdb;Persist Security Info=True;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=XYZ"
providerName="System.Data.OleDb" />
</connectionStrings>
<startup>
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.8" />
</startup>
</configuration>
I would suggest you not to define the connection string in code, better you can encrypt it in the app.config file.
Please follow the following steps:
Rename app.config to web.config
Open command prompt and type:
%windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\aspnet_regiis -pef
"connectionStrings" path of the web.config>
Rename web.config back to app.config
If you open the file in notepad, you will see the encrypted value and you can continue using it as you were using before.

How to define and encrypt a connection string in app config file

I have created a application with c#. I define a connection string in app config file. Here is my app config file code:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
<startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy="True">
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0"/>
</startup>
<appSettings>
<add key="con" value="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\myFolder\Mydb.mdb;Persist Security Info=True;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=bd1234" />
</appSettings>
</configuration>
I want to create that code to this following format and encrypted password value.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
</configSections>
<appSettings>
<add key="ServerName" value="user"/>
<add key="Provider" value="Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0"/>
<add key="Data Source" value="C:\myFolder\Mydb.mdb"/>
<add key="Persist Security Info" value="True"/>
<add key="Jet OLEDB:Database Password" value="*******"/>
</appSettings>
<startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy="true">
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0"/>
</startup>
</configuration>
How can i do that?
Good question.
Ideally, if you can use windows authentication, this will solve your issue without having to protect your config file.
Try adding the following:
<add key="con" value="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=C:\myFolder\Mydb.mdb;Persist Security Info=False;Integrated Security=SSPI;Jet OLEDB:Database" />
Here is an MSDN doc with more details:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/visualstudio/ide/managing-application-settings-dotnet?view=vs-2017
If you do need to protect your app config, you can use the .NET famework "ProtectSection" function which will encrypt your config file (using machine.config key), and your application will be able to access the config details, but it is not easily visible.
Given the security implications it is worth having a detailed look of how it works:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/dotnet/framework/data/adonet/connection-strings-and-configuration-files
Have you tried below?
string value = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings[key];
Requires add reference System.Configuration
if you know that how you will do the encryption then you can save the encrypted password following this way
How to update app settings key value pair dynamically on app.config file in c# winforms
To do the encryption and save the app settings follow the link of #ksdev
Encrypt password in App.config

'Dynamic' connection string for ms-access C#

I have an access database connected to my code via a connection string as shown:
connection = new OleDbConnection(#"Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=C:\Users\Me\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Projects\Computing Project\Database.accdb;
Persist Security Info=False;");
However I would like this app to be able to be installed on other devices, so I'm guessing the connection string has to be dynamic and change on each system. How would I use this in my code?
Add an App.config to the solution with following content
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<startup>
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.5.1" />
</startup>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="MyCon" connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=C:\Users\Me\Documents\Visual Studio 2013\Projects\Computing Project\Database.accdb; Persist Security Info=False;"/ >
</connectionStrings>
</configuration>
Then in code,
connection = new OleDbConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["MyCon"].ToString());
PS: ConfigurationManager class is in assembly System.Configuration.
So please add a reference of this assembly before using it.

Setup of the project was unable to open database on another machine. my project is in c# windows application with sqlite database connection

I have inserted app.config file in my project.
Please help me out to overcome from this problem.
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuration>
<configSections>
</configSections>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="RConnString" connectionString="Data Source=C:\Users\user\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Pathology lab\Pathology lab\bin\Debug\Pathology.sqlite"
providerName="System.Data.Sqlite" />
<add name="Pathology_lab.Properties.Settings.PathologyConnectionString"
connectionString="data source="C:\Users\user\Documents\Visual Studio 2010\Projects\Pathology lab\Pathology lab\bin\Debug\Pathology.sqlite;"
providerName="System.Data.SQLite" />
<add name="screen_shot.Properties.Settings.PathorecordConnectionString"
connectionString="data source="C:\Users\user\Desktop\screen shot\screen shot\bin\Debug\Pathorecord.db""
providerName="System.Data.SQLite" />
</connectionStrings>
<startup useLegacyV2RuntimeActivationPolicy="true">
<supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.0"/>
</startup>
</configuration>
try to use this connection string
try to write connection string in |DataDirectory|/Databasename.db
And call App.domain () method

Connection String Problem

I'm new to Visual Studio and MySQL. I'm creating a Login Page and connect it with MySQL. But whenever I add a connection string. I always got an error.
Can anybody tell me what's the problem in here?
Please.
This is my config file:
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="ODBCDriver" value="Driver={MySQL ODBC 5.1 Driver};Server=localhost;Database=timekeeping;uid=root;pwd=admin;Option=3;"/>
</appSettings>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="ConnectionString" connectionString="Database=timekeeping;uid=root;pwd=admin;Option=3;" />
</connectionStrings>
</configuration>
I'm not entirely familiar with MySQL connections, but your config file should look more like this
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="ODBCDriver" value="Driver={MySQL ODBC 5.1 Driver};Server=localhost;"/>
</appSettings>
<connectionStrings>
<add name="ConnectionString" connectionString="Database=timekeeping;uid=root;pwd=admin;Option=3;" />
</connectionStrings>
</configuration>
You probably have a syntax error in your App.config file.
Check the InnerException for details.
This usually means there is a problem with your web.config file. Probably a tag out of place, not closed, or otherwise jacked.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/kevinmcneish/archive/2010/01/06/fixing-quot-configuration-system-failed-to-initalize-quot-exception.aspx
<configuration>
<appSettings>
<add key="ODBCDriver" value="Driver={MySQL ODBC 5.1 Driver};Server=localhost;Database=timekeeping;uid=root;pwd=admin;Option=3;"/>
</appSettings>
</configuration>
But whenever I add a connection
string. I always got an error.
Your web.config or app.config configuration is not legal in its current form - this could be because of a typo, i.e an unclosed tag, otherwise malformed XML or a section that is unknown or nested in a section where it doesn't belong.

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