I have been working with SQL-Server for awhile as part of my weekly routine, and since everything was setup in advance, I take everything for granted.
Start SQL Server, pick a Server name, pick SQL Server Authentication, then type my login and password
or from an application just use a given connection string and everything works like charm
Until all the sudden, a third party sent me an application sample that needs to be reviewed, and it includes a Northwind database, and from that point on I am having difficulty getting this sample to work.
Changing the connection name and pass to match SQL Server instance credential does not solve the problem
This is how my string usually looks like
I have SQL Server 2014 installed and also this is how the application folder structured
In Server Explorer in Visual Studio the connection is recognized and when I attempt to access, I get
How to think about this problem in order to solve it and get the sample running? There is a missing gap that I cannot point my finger to.
I have two solutions for you.
In Visual Studio, create a class library project. Delete the default class file. Right click the project name -> Add -> New item -> Select "ADO.NET Entity Data Model" name it what you want and click Add. Make sure "EF Designer from database" is selected and click Next. Click New Connection. Next to "Data Source" click Change. Select "Microsoft SQL Server Database File", click OK. Click Browse and select the .mdf file for the database. Select "Use SQL Server Authentication" and provide your login credentials, then click Test Connection. If the connection fails, your login is wrong (minus a random super rare occurrence). Click OK and finish out the menus. Go into the App.Config and copy the entire xml tag. Go into your application project, right click, the project name -> Manage NuGet Packages -> Browse -> Search for EntityFramework, select it and click Add on the right hand side. Accept the terms it provides. Go into your application projects App.Config and paste the xml tag you copied into the xml tag. To use it, copy the value of the name attribute from the tag from earlier and do the following
using (var db = new NameAttributeFromAddTag())
{
// Use standard link notation
var item = db.TableName.Where(i => i.Id == idYouWant);
}
(You can find more info about adding the connection here: https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj206878(v=vs.113).aspx)
Open up SQL Server Management Studio and connect wherever you want to (Such as computerName/SQLExpress (your default local DB server)). Right click Databases -> Attach -> select .mdf file for the database. Click Ok, click Ok again. Connect to that database as you would any other database. If it still says your login is incorrect, In SQL Server Manager look at Databases -> yourDatabase -> Security -> Users and check the properties of the user you are trying to use.
This is precisely how I got it to work:
Install SQL Server Express edition (Not SSMS)
Open SQL Server Management Studio (SSMS) and enter parameters as seen
Attach Database mdf file
In the application Config file add a connection string similar to
As a note:
.\sqlexpress Server name or Data Source in the connection string could be replaced with (local)\sqlexpress
I found this by chance while querying data in SSMS and looking at the bottom:
Also found this answer useful in explaining that dot, (local) and Computer name are all equivalents
I have created a very basic windows form application using visual studio 2015.
A service based database has been added (mdf database), and a table has been created..
The database has been added to the service explore, and i can see the connection string in the setting file.
I am simple trying to open a connection to the database to be able to write to it.. Cant seem to find any basic example..
Tried to use this :-
using (var con = new
SqlConnection(Properties.Settings.Default.MyConnectionString))
{
con.Open();
}
}
but no luck. Seem to get the following error
A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be opened, or it is located on UNC share."}
my connection string :-
Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Data\mydb.mdf;Integrated Security=True
I need your help.. maybe it's the small task which I am not able to solve but I don't know how to search that on any search engine
I am using an .mdf file (vs 2103) in my WPF login register desktop application.. Everything is working fine, no compilation errors. I inserted some data into the .mdf file by using query in Visual Studio and then try to login through application and it's working fine. Moreover I am also able to register, i.e., insert into .mdf file from the register option of application if I use the "absolute path" of the .mdf file. Problem begins when I try to insert into .mdf file using a "relative path"... it doesn't insert data into the .mdf....I don't know why.
(this absolute path is not working. I have .mdf file in the database folder)
//connection string
connetionString = #"Data Source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Database\Database1.mdf;Integrated Security=True";
//code
SqlCommand sqlCmd;
string sql = null;
SqlConnection sqlCnn = new SqlConnection(connetionString);
try
{
sqlCnn.Open();
sql = "insert into [NewTable] ( Name , Password ) values ('ABC' , '12345')";
sqlCmd = new SqlCommand(sql, sqlCnn);
sqlCmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
sqlCnn.Close();
MessageBox.Show("You have Been Registered");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show("" + ex);
}
It shows the message "You have Been Registered"
but is not visible in .mdf file...
I want to ask..why is it behaving like this....and I want to use the relative path as we cant judge the client system absolute path...what mistake I am doing? how to handle this (i guess self made) issue?
The whole AttachDbFileName= approach is flawed - at best! When running your app in Visual Studio, it will be copying around the .mdf file (from your App_Data directory to the output directory - typically .\bin\debug - where you app runs) and most likely, your INSERT works just fine - but you're just looking at the wrong .mdf file in the end!
If you want to stick with this approach, then try putting a breakpoint on the myConnection.Close() call - and then inspect the .mdf file with SQL Server Mgmt Studio Express - I'm almost certain your data is there.
The real solution in my opinion would be to
install SQL Server Express (and you've already done that anyway)
install SQL Server Management Studio Express
create your database in SSMS Express, give it a logical name (e.g. MyDatabase)
connect to it using its logical database name (given when you create it on the server) - and don't mess around with physical database files and user instances. In that case, your connection string would be something like:
Data Source=.\\SQLEXPRESS;Database=MyDatabase;Integrated Security=True
and everything else is exactly the same as before...
Also see Aaron Bertrand excellent blog article Bad habits to kick: Using AttachDbFileName for more in depth explanations and tips
I Created an application in c# with Visual Studio 2008, and i'am using SQL Server 2012 for implement databases for the applications.
My Question is :
How can i create an installation that contains the database without using the atach databse method.
Please F1 ! F1 !
You can export a script that will create and populate the database with data. What is the setup tool you are using ?
Or you can make the C# app create the database and default data in the first launch. In both cases you have to make a script file to create/populate the database.
To export the SQL script
right click on the database name in the SQL server manager
tasks->script
in C# open the scrip file using StreamReader and read all the lines. Then using SqlCommand execute the script file. First you need to open connections to Master database as you do not have your database created yet. Then modify the connection string and replace the master database with your database name.
The connection string can be stored in the Application Settings and you can provide a settings dialog to modify it for simplicity make the default connection string connect to the localhost computer and your database name.
The following code modify a setting key names Setting1
MessageBox.Show(Properties.Settings.Default.Setting1);
Properties.Settings.Default.Setting1 = "New Value";
Properties.Settings.Default.Save();
You can also create a custom action in your installer (.msi) file - here's a link that tells you the steps to do that. adding link to example with C# - here
I have created a database with SQL Server Management Studio, I would like to now use it in my C# application. I need the connection string?
Where can I find the connection string, and where is my database stored?
Do I have to publish it or something like that, or is it in my documents somewhere?
using (var conn = new SqlConnection("your connection string to the database"))
How do I obtain the connection string? Where can I find the connection string to copy paste into the above section?
How to I publish my database so that Visual Studio can pick it up? Then I can just pull the connection string of there?
The easiest way to get the connection string is using the "Server Explorer" window in Visual Studio (menu View, Server Explorer) and connect to the server from that window.
Then you can see the connection string in the properties of the connected server (choose the connection and press F4 or Alt+Enter or choose Properties on the right click menu).
Advanced connection string settings: when creating the connection, you can modify any of the advanced connection string options, like MARS, resiliency, timeot, pooling configuration, etc. by clicking on the "Advanced..." button on the bottom of the "Add connection" dialog. You can access this dialog later by right clicking the Data Connection, and choosing "Modify connection...". The available advanced options vary by server type.
If you create the database using SQL Server Management Studio, the database will be created in a server instance, so that, to deploy your application you'll have to make a backup of the database and deploy it in the deployment SQL Server. Alternatively, you can use a data file using SQL Server Express (localDB in SQL Server 2012), that will be easily distributed with your app.
I.e. if it's an ASP.NET app, there's an App_Datafolder. If you right click it you can add a new element, which can be a SQL Server Database. This file will be on that folder, will work with SQL Express, and will be easy to deploy. You need SQL Express / localDB installed on your machine for this to work.
A very simple way to retrieve a connection string, is to create a text file, change the extension from .txt to .udl.
Double-clicking the .udl file will open the Data Link Properties wizard.
Configure and test the connection to your database server.
Close the wizard and open the .udl file with the text editor of your choice and simply copy the connection string (without the Provider=<driver>part) to use it in your C# application.
sample udl file content
[oledb]
; Everything after this line is an OLE DB initstring
Provider=SQLNCLI11.1;Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;User ID="";Initial Catalog=YOURDATABASENAME;Data Source=YOURSERVERNAME;Initial File Name="";Server SPN=""
what you need to copy from it
Integrated Security=SSPI;Initial Catalog=YOURDATABASENAME;Data Source=YOURSERVERNAME;
If you want to specify username and password you can adopt from other answers.
Tutorial: https://teusje.wordpress.com/2012/02/21/how-to-test-an-sql-server-connection/
Open SQL Server Management Studio and run following query. You will get connection string:
select
'data source=' + ##servername +
';initial catalog=' + db_name() +
case type_desc
when 'WINDOWS_LOGIN'
then ';trusted_connection=true'
else
';user id=' + suser_name() + ';password=<<YourPassword>>'
end
as ConnectionString
from sys.server_principals
where name = suser_name()
If you have installed and setup MS SQL Server and Management Studio, go to Visual Studio (Visual Studio not SQL Server Management Studio).
1] In Visual Studio go to Tools -> Connect to Database.
2] Under Server Name Select your Database Server Name (Let the list Populate if its taking time).
3] Under Connect to a Database, Select Select or enter a database name.
4] Select your Database from Dropdown.
5] After selecting Database try Test Connection.
6] If Test Connection Succeeds, Click Ok.
7] In Visual Studio go to View -> Server Explorer.
8] In Server Explorer window, Under Data Connections Select your Database. Right Click your Database -> Click Properties.
9] In Properties window you will see your Connection String.
On connectionstrings.com you can find the connection string for every DB provider. A connection string is built up with certain attributes/properties and their values. For SQL server 2008, it looks like this (standard, which is what you'll need here):
Data Source=myServerAddress;Initial Catalog=myDataBase;User Id=myUsername;Password=myPassword;
on myServerAddress, write the name of your installed instance (by default it's .\SQLEXPRESS for SQL Server Express edition). Initial catalog = your database name, you'll see it in SSMS on the left after connecting. The rest speaks for itself.
edit
You will need to omit username and password for windows authentication and add Integrated Security=SSPI.
My solution was to use excel (2010).
In a new worksheet, select a cell, then:
Data -> From Other Sources -> From SQL Server
put in the server name, select table, etc,
When you get to the "Import Data" dialog,
click on Properties in the "Connection Properties" dialog,
select the "Definition" tab.
And there Excel nicely displays the Connection String for copying
(or even Export Connection File...)
If one uses the tool Linqpad, after one connects to a target database from the connections one can get a connection string to use.
Right click on the database connection.
Select Properties
Select Advanced
Select Copy Full Connection String to Clipboard
Result: Data Source=.\jabberwocky;Integrated Security=SSPI;Initial Catalog=Rasa;app=LINQPad
Remove the app=LinqPad depending on the drivers and other items such as Server instead of source, you may need to adjust the driver to suit the target operation; but it gives one a launching pad.
put below tag in web.config file in configuration node
<connectionStrings>
<add name="NameOFConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=Server;Initial Catalog=DatabaseName;User ID=User;Password=Pwd"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
then you can use above connectionstring, e.g.
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection();
con.ConnectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["NameOFConnectionString"].ToString();
The sql server database will be stored by default in the following path
<drive>:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL.X\MSSQL\Data\
, where <drive> is the installation drive and X is the instance number (MSSQL.1 for the first instance of the Database Engine). Inorder to provide the connection string you should know what is the server name of the sql server database, where you have stored followed by instance of the database server.
Generally the server name will be like the ip address of the machine where the database is attached and the default instance will be SqlExpress
A connection string contains Data Source name i.e., server name, Initial catalog i.e., database name, user id i.e., login user id of the database, password i.e., login password of the database.
Easiest way my friends, is to open the server explorer tab on visual studio 2019 (in my case), and then try to create the connection to the database. After creating a succesful connection just right click on it and go to propierties. There you will find a string connection field with the correct syntax!...This worked for me because I knew my server's name before hand....just couldn't figure out the correct syntax to run my ef scaffold...
If you created Connection Manager in your project then you can simply pull the connection string from there.
String connection = this.dts.connections["<connection_manager_name>"];
And use this connection in:
using (var conn = new SqlConnection(connection))
Please correct me if I am wrong.
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection();
con.ConnectionString="Data Source=DOTNET-PC\\SQLEXPRESS;Initial Catalog=apptivator;Integrated Security=True";