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Connection String Not Working- Not Allowing Connection to Database made in VS (C# Visual Studio)

I am currently working on building an attendance tracker that will take the user's input data and add it to a database table. I'm running into an issue where my connection string will not connect to the database? I've copied it directly as is, and even tried a few different tutorials with alternative ways with no success. This is for an assignment however, our SQL portion was quite small and I'm not sure where to go from here. Please let me know if something in my code needs revisited.
When I run the code I get the "unable to connect" exception I created below. I need it to run and add the user input to the table.
I have also noticed that my database connection often disconnects unless I refresh, is this common?
namespace AttendanceTracker
{
public partial class Form1 : Form
{
public Form1()
{
InitializeComponent();
}
private void signInButton_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
string connectionString = null;
connectionString = #"Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB; AttachDbFilename = C:\Users\soupy\Desktop\AttendanceTracker\AttendanceTrackerDatabase.mdf; Integrated Security = SSPI";
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand();
cmd.Connection = con;
cmd.CommandText = ("INSERT into AttendanceTrackerDatabase VALUES (#studentName,#studentID,#Date,#class)");
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Student_Name", nameTextBox.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Student_ID", studentIDTextBox.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Class", classDropDown.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Date", attendanceDate.Value);
try
{
con.Open();
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
MessageBox.Show("Your sign in has been recorded successfully!");
con.Close();
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show("Unable to open attendance tracker for updating.");
}
}

When using Parameter objects, you should ensure that the variable names are consistent.
Please modify your code as follows
cmd.CommandText = ("INSERT into AttendanceTrackerDatabase VALUES (#studentName,#studentID,#Date,#class)");
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#studentName", nameTextBox.Text); // Modified to "studentName"
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#studentID", studentIDTextBox.Text); // Modified to "studentID"
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Date", attendanceDate.Value);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#class", classDropDown.Text); // Modified to "class"

How to insert data into local database using C#

I am working on my first project using local database on C#. I have searched on internet different code for inserting data, but nothing has worked for me. I am trying different code, the problem that occurs to me is the built in functions they are using doesn't show up in my code. Can someone share the authentic code for inserting, retrieving and deleting in local database ?
The recent code that I have tried, some exception is occurring in SqlCeConnection.
This is my code :
string str="Data Source=(localdb)shop_database;Initial Catalog=shop_database;Integrated Security=True";
SqlCeConnection con = new SqlCeConnection(str);
SqlCeDataAdapter sda = new SqlCeDataAdapter();
SqlCeCommand cmd = con.CreateCommand();
cmd.CommandText = "Insert into Account_details (Account_No,Customer_name,Customer_father_name,Profession,Mobile_No,Office_Address,House_Address,CNIC,Item_name,Item_color,Item_model,Item_engine_NO,Item_chasis_NO,Cash_price,Installment_price,Advance_given,Amount_left,Monthly_Installment,Monthly_Rent,Date_of_giving,Sponsor_name,Sponsor_father_name,Sponsor_profession,Sponsor_Address,Sponsor_CNIC,Sponsor_Mobile_No) values (#Account_No,#Customer_name,#Customer_father_name,#Profession,#Mobile_No,#Office_Address,#House_Address,#CNIC,#Item_name,#Item_color,#Item_model,#Item_engine_NO,#Item_chasis_NO,#Cash_price,#Installment_price,#Advance_given,#Amount_left,#Monthly_Installment,#Monthly_Rent,#Date_of_giving,#Sponsor_name,#Sponsor_father_name,#Sponsor_profession,#Sponsor_Address,#Sponsor_CNIC,#Sponsor_Mobile_No)";
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Account_No", this.Textbox0.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Customer_name", this.Textbox1.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Customer_father_name", this.Textbox2.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Profession", this.Textbox3.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Mobile_No", this.Textbox4.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Office_Address", this.Textbox5.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#House_Address", this.Textbox6.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#CNIC", this.Textbox7.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Item_name", this.Textbox14.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Item_color", this.Textbox15.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Item_model", this.Textbox16.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Item_engine_NO", this.Textbox17.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Item_chasis_NO", this.Textbox18.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Cash_price", this.Textbox19.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Installment_price", this.Textbox20.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Advance_given", this.Textbox21.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Amount_left", this.Textbox25.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Monthly_Installment", this.Textbox22.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Monthly_Rent", this.Textbox23.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Date_of_giving", this.Textbox24.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_name", this.Textbox8.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_father_name", this.Textbox9.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_profession", this.Textbox10.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_Address", this.Textbox11.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_CNIC", this.Textbox12.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#Sponsor_Mobile_No", this.Textbox13.Text);
try
{
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
MessageBox.Show("Successfully saved");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}

To edit, insert, in general interact with your database you need the class SqlCommand. First you create a connection to your database with an SqlConnection object. Then you pass the SQL statement as a string and the connection into the constructor of the SqlConnection class. Little example:
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection("server=localhost;database=test_db;uid=root;password=yourpassword");
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from your_table", con);
To retreive the data from the database you need to use the SQL Statements. For example an SQL statement is something like:
insert into my_table (value1, value2)
values("Example", "Insertion");
When you created your SqlConnection and the SqlCommand you need to open the database connection and execute the command. Wether it's a command for receiving information from the database or editing the database you use ExecuteReader() or ExecuteNonQuery(). For example when you want to receive all the Information stored in one table you use:
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection("connection string as shown above");
SqlCommand cmd = new SqlCommand("select * from example_table", con);
con.Open();
SqlDataReader reader = cmd.ExecuteReader();
while(reader.Read())
Console.WriteLine(reader[<table_index or attribute Name>]);
And finally dont forget to call the close method on your SqlConnection and SqlDataReader object

You are probably making two mistakes:
Problem 1. Your connecting string looks like wrong. Instead of:
Data Source=(localdb)shop_database;Initial Catalog=shop_database;Integrated Security=True";
It should be:
Data Source=(LocalDb)\MSSQLLocalDB;Initial Catalog=shop_database;Integrated Security=True";
Problem 2. You are not opening the connection before executing the command. Your code in the block should be like this:
try
{
conn.Open(); // Open the connection
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
MessageBox.Show("Successfully saved");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}
finally
{
conn.Close(); // Close the connection
}
As a best practice, I recommend that you use "using" block to create your connection. In that case, you don't have to explicitly close the connection and set it to null:
try
{
using (SqlConnection connection = new SqlConnection(connectionString))
{
conn.Open();
// Remaining code
}
}
catch(Exception ex)
{
// Manage your exception here
}

How to properly store data into database

I'm facing a very simple problem, but I don't know how to solve it. I have a simple textBox, and local database, Database1.mdf, with one table: emp. Inserting data works fine, but when I restart application, then these data are lost.
I'm also using a dataSet, where I can see data in the table - the record is properly inserted, but it is lost when I restart the app. What am I missing?
I'm running a C# application (VS2013):
private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
SqlConnection cn = new SqlConnection(global::base.Properties.Settings.Default.Database1ConnectionString);
try {
string sql = "INSERT INTO emp (name) VALUES ('" + textBox1.Text + "')";
SqlCommand exesql = new SqlCommand(sql, cn);
cn.Open();
exesql.ExecuteNonQuery();
MessageBox.Show("Hooray!!");
this.empTableAdapter.Fill(this.database1DataSet.emp);
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
}
finally
{
cn.Close();
}
}

Set Database1.mdf's "Copy to Output Directory" property value to "Do not copy" from Properties box.

Bringing up pictures from a database as I search for the name

I need help with this program I'm trying to write. I'm a complete noob at this, so forgive my shortcomings but I'm trying to create a search feature, in which it completes the names from a database as soon as you write the first letter. I've done this succesfully, now I have to bring up pictures also from the same database, I'm getting some errors. Could you take a look at my code and tell me what's wrong? And also is this enough?
note: My aim is to bring up pictures AS they write the name.
void showpic(string queryStr)
{
SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection(#"server adress");
conn.Open();
SqlCommand execute = new SqlCommand("SELECT Pernr from View_PhoneBook where DisplayName=" + textBox1.Text, conn);
try
{
StringCollection View_Phonebook = new StringCollection();
SqlDataReader reader = execute.ExecuteReader();
while (reader.Read())
{
View_Phonebook.Add(reader.GetString(0));
}
pictureBox1.ImageLocation.Equals("url" + View_Phonebook + ".jpg");
}
catch (Exception ex)
{
}
conn.Close();
}
private void textBox1_TextChanged(object sender, EventArgs e)
{
showpic(textBox1.Text);
}

Add quotes to the string in this line, like so:
SqlCommand execute = new SqlCommand('SELECT Pernr from View_PhoneBook where DisplayName= #text', conn);
execute.Parameters.Add("text", SqlDbType.Text).Value = Textbox1.text;

I will suggest, you should do this using a StoredProc.
Its not a solution to the prob, but another way to do this.
That way you will not face any such probs.
Moreover, havign a StoredProc is better then constructing a query on every text change event.

Cannot add data into database in visual c#

As a beginner to c#, and I actaully spent a lot of time researching this:
I cannot add some data into the database, I can extract data from it, but cannot add anything into the database. I use sql server as my database.
try {
fname = fname_tb.Text;// first name
sname = sname_tb.Text; // second name
q = "insert into beforebath1(firstname,secondname) values(#fname,#sname)";
conn_string = Properties.Settings.Default.beforebath_connection_string;
SqlConnection co = new SqlConnection(conn_string);
SqlCommand cmd;
co.Open();
cmd = new SqlCommand(q, co);
cmd.Connection = co;
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#fname", fname_tb.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#sname", sname_tb.Text);
cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
co.Close();
}
catch(Exception err) {
MessageBox.Show(err.toString());
}
my sql connection string is this:
Data Source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\beforebath_db.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30
It is automatically generated when I created the database. Please help me insert the text in the two textboxes (fname_tb.Text and sname_tb.Text) into the table called beforebath1 of the database called beforebath_db.mdf.
Is it something to do with my data directory?

I see a couple of mistakes in your code.
First, why catch an exception that will only be shown in a message?
It is often best to let the exception bubble up to have the stack trace in debug. This is not the same if this is production code, which I doubt.
Second, make sure to dispose your objects adequately.
The Using Statement is the most prefered way to work with disposeable items such as a database connection and a command.
using (var cnx = new SqlConnection(connectionString)) {
cnx.Open();
var sql = #"insert into beforebath1 (first_name, second_name)
values (#fname, #lname)";
using (var cmd = new SqlCommand(sql, cnx)) {
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#fname", fname_tb.Text);
cmd.Parameters.AddWithValue("#lname", lname_tb.Text);
try {
int rowsAffected = cmd.ExecuteNonQuery();
if (0 < rowsAffected) MessageBox.Show("Success!");
else MessageBox.Show("Failed!");
} catch (SqlException ex) {
// It is almost prefered to let the exception be thrown freely
// so that you may have its full stack trace and have more
// details on your error.
MessageBox.Show(ex.Message);
} finally {
if (cnx.State == ConnectionState.Open) cnx.Close();
}
}
}
This way, wrapping your disposable objects within using blocks, you make sure that everything is getting to get disposed automatically when exiting the code block.
As for your "it doesn't work" problem, I guess the problem be either at the connection string level, or at your table_name level.
You wish to insert into beforebath1, and your insert statement states table_name. Make sure you put the right table name where it belongs so that it may work properly.

Can you change you connection string to this:
Server=(LocalDB)\v11.0;Database=beforebath_db;Trusted_Connection=True;
This means the your app and other programs using the Db will all share the same instance.
Also, as mentioned by #Will, you should wrap your SQLConnection in a using statement for garbage collection.

For better implementations you can use stored_procedures like bellow:
Step1: Declare Stored Procedure for your Query:
CREATE PROCEDURE [dbo].[ADD_TO_BEFORE_PATH_SP]
/*Type of this variables should be their column types*/
#fname varchar(MAX),
#lname varchar(MAX)
AS
BEGIN
INSERT INTO [dbo].[beforebath1] (fname, lname)
VALUES (#fname,#lname)
END
Step2: Using Stored Procedure where you need:
SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(connectionString);
SqlCommand com = new SqlCommand("ADD_TO_BEFORE_PATH_SP", con);
com.Parameters.AddWithValue("#fname", fname_tb.Text);
com.Parameters.AddWithValue("#lname", lname_tb.Text);
com.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
try
{
con.Open();
com.ExecuteNonQuery();
}
catch (Exception)
{
throw;
}
finally
{
if (con.State == ConnectionState.Open)
con.Close();
}