Connection String to Connect to .MDF

connection-string sql-server-express mdf datadirectory
kdmurray picture kdmurray · May 30, 2009 · Viewed 28k times · Source

I've created a new project in VS2008, and added a .MDF file to the project. This is the first time I've tried to use the MDF files and .SQLEXPRESS databases (I've always used extenal Oracle servers in the past).

I'm trying to document everything as I go, but I can't figure out what credentials are being used to connect to the .MDF file. Is there an easy way to find out?

Answer

bendewey picture bendewey · May 30, 2009

If you're using the *.mdf file in the App_Data folder of an ASP.NET app you can use this.

Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|mydbfile.mdf;Database=dbname; Trusted_Connection=Yes;

If it's not an ASP.NET application don't use the DataDirectory syntax and just use the full c:\... path.

Related questions

SQL Server Express connection string for Entity Framework Code First

I am working in Visual Web Developer 2010 Express, and using the Entity Framework code-first CTP. I am able to do this with the new SQL Server CE but I am unable to find a connection string to work with SQL …

Read More
SQL Express connection string: mdf file location relative to application location

I am using SQL Express databases as part of a unit test project in c#. My databases is located here: ./Databases/MyUnitTestDB.mdf I would like to use a relative path or variable in the app.config rather than having …

Read More
Point to localhost\sqlexpress using only localhost

Working on a common codebase, one developer is running SQL Server Express 2005 and the other 2 are running SQL Server 2005. Everything is working fine, but the connection strings differ. To maintain common configuration and build scripts we're looking to mask "localhost\…

Read More