Connection string with relative path to the database file

Question

I load data from sdf database in winforms App. I use full path to the database file . Example :

conn = new SqlCeConnection

{

ConnectionString =\"Data Sou         


        

Answer 1

I had the same issue trying to specify the relative file path for a database connected to a Windows Forms application. I was able to resolve the issue by following the directions for adding a data source to Windows Forms from Microsoft (e.g., for connecting an Access database).

By using this method, Visual Studio will set the relative file paths to your database for you instead of trying to set it manually. If your database is external to your application, it will create a copy of the database and add it to your application in the proper location. Although you can manually alter you connection string in App.config and/or Settings.settings or within one of your scripts, I've found this method to be error prone. Instead, I've found it best to follow the Microsoft instructions, in general.

Answer 2

This worked for me:

string Connection = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source="
    + HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("\\myPath\\myFile.db")
    + ";Extended Properties=\"Excel 12.0 Xml;HDR=YES\"";

I'm querying an XLSX file so don't worry about any of the other stuff in the connection string but the Data Source.

So my answer is:

HttpContext.Current.Server.MapPath("\\myPath\\myFile.db")

Answer 3

Relative path:

ConnectionString = "Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Database.sdf";

Modifying DataDirectory as executable's path:

string executable = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location;
string path = (System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(executable));
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", path);

Answer 4

Try this code to the working directory if database file exists like below.

D:\HMProject\DataBase\HMProject.sdf

string Path = Environment.CurrentDirectory;
string[] appPath =  Path.Split(new string[] { "bin" }, StringSplitOptions.None);
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", appPath[0]);

Connection string for .sdf file

<add name="LocalDB" connectionString="metadata=res://*/Client.HMProject.csdl|res://*/Client.HMProject.ssdl|res://*/Client.HMProject.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0;provider connection string=&quot;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Database\HMProjectDB.sdf;Password=HMProject;Persist Security Info=False;&quot;" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient" />

Thanks

ck.Nitin (TinTin)