Connecting to local SQL Server database using C#

Question

Suppose I have created a SQL Server database called Database1.mdf in the App_Data folder in Visual Studio with a table called Names. <

Answer 1

You try with this string connection

Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|Database1.mdf;Database=dbname; Trusted_Connection=Yes;

Answer 2

If you're using SQL Server express, change

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection("Server=localhost;" 
       + "Database=Database1;");

to

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection("Server=localhost\SQLExpress;" 
       + "Database=Database1;");

That, and hundreds more connection strings can be found at http://www.connectionstrings.com/

Answer 3

I like to use the handy process outlined here to build connection strings using a .udl file. This allows you to test them from within the udl file to ensure that you can connect before you run any code.

Hope that helps.

Answer 4

In Data Source (on the left of Visual Studio) right click on the database, then Configure Data Source With Wizard. A new window will appear, expand the Connection string, you can find the connection string in there

Answer 5

If you use SQL authentication, use this:

using System.Data.SqlClient;

SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();
conn.ConnectionString = 
     "Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" + 
     "User Instance=true;" + 
     "User Id=UserName;" + 
     "Password=Secret;" + 
     "AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|Database1.mdf;"
conn.Open();

If you use Windows authentication, use this:

using System.Data.SqlClient;
SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection();
conn.ConnectionString = 
     "Data Source=.\SQLExpress;" + 
     "User Instance=true;" + 
     "Integrated Security=true;" + 
     "AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|Database1.mdf;"
conn.Open();

Answer 6

SqlConnection c = new SqlConnection(@"Data Source=localhost; 
                           Initial Catalog=Northwind; Integrated Security=True");