ASP.NET Web Api: Project requires SQL Server Express

Question

I created a Web API project under VS 2010. After I switched to VS 2012, I always get a warning:

The Web project \'xxx\' requires SQL Server Express, whcih

Answer 1

you can also change the connection string to the new SQL 2014+ syntax "Data Source=(LocalDb)\MSSQLLocalDB;..." if you have a later version of SQL Express local db installed.

Answer 2

Change this part of the connection string "Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS" to

"Data Source=localhost\SQLEXPRESS"

Answer 3

It was created by Visual Studio to you. The reason is Web API projects are a sub class of MVC projects. And actually, Web API project can contain both: a web application and Web API itself.

As far as this project is a sub class of an MVC project you get all this extra features.

You can delete all that extra stuff as far as you don't need it. The things you can delete also:

In WebConfig:

• /configSections/section name="entityFramework"...
• /connectionStrings
• /system.web/pages
• /system.web/profile
• /system.web/membership
• /system.web/roleManager
• /entityFramework

You probably would also want to delete

NuGet packages:

Everything except razor, MVC, Web Api packages like:

• jQuery
• EntityFramework
• jQuery Validation
• jQuery UI
• Modernizr
• knockoutjs
• MS Unobtrusive AJAX
• MS Unobtrusive Validation

In Solution Explorer:

• /App_Data
• /Content
• /Images
• /Scripts
• /Views

But be cautious, because after that deletion you won't be able to add Web API Help page for example (which describes your API).