What does “Data Source cannot be empty. Use :memory: to open an in-memory database” mean?

Question

I recently converted my SQL Server database into SQLite DB. But when I try to open my SQLite using .Open() it throws me this error:

Data Source          


        

Answer 1

Because your Data Source is empty. Add the Data Source paramater to your connection string. before opening the Sqlite database.

Answer 2

I had this same error recently when I actually was trying to use the in memory version of SQLite.

I was setting up the connection as follows:

var connection = new SQLiteConnection("Filename=:memory:");
connection.Open();

And getting the error

Data Source cannot be empty. Use :memory: to open an in-memory

I then changed it to this code, note the 'SQL' part is no longer capitalised:

var connection = new SqliteConnection("Filename=:memory:");
connection.Open();

And now it works.

The working, non capitalised version is from the Microsoft.Data.Sqlite.SqliteConnection namespace where as the SQLite version is from System.Data.SQLite.SQLiteConnection (I had version 1.0.113.6 referenced).

Answer 3

You haven't provided a data source name, aka where the sqlite file exists.

Answer 4

There's a space after your data source: Data Source= D:\XXX.db. Also, in your copy/paste, there's no closing quote to the connection string. Here's a connection string that works for me for the testing tool:

@"Data Source=C:\Temp\Test.db3;Pooling=true;FailIfMissing=false;Version=3"