Managing A Debug and Release Connection String

Question

What is a good approach to managing a debug and release connection string in a .NET / SQLServer application?

I have two SQL Servers, a production and a build/debug and I

Answer 1

I usually set an Environment variable on my production servers that denotes the server is a production server. I then read the correct connection string from my web.config based on whether this Environment variable exists and is set to the production value.

Answer 2

Use preprocessor directives: when your project is configured to run in the debug mode, the debug connection string will be chosen, otherwise the release connection string will be chosen automatically.

In Visual studio you will notice that statements are dimmed exclusively according to the project configuration (debug or release).

Just add something like the following in your code:

string myConnectionString;
#if DEBUG
     myConnectionString = "your debug connection string";//may be read from your debug connection string from the config file
#else
     myConnectionString = "your release connection string"; //may be read from your relase connection string from the config file
#endif

for more detail,check this.

Answer 3

I can say other solution for this issue. In csproj file file create folow:

<Content Include="DB.config">
  <SubType>Designer</SubType>
</Content>
    <Content Include="DB.Debug.config">
  <DependentUpon>DB.config</DependentUpon>
  <SubType>Designer</SubType>
</Content>
    <Content Include="DB.Release.config">
  <DependentUpon>DB.config</DependentUpon>
  <SubType>Designer</SubType>
</Content>

In xml written set the two version for release and debug.

Answer 4

As of 2018 for newer versions of Visual Studio, Microsoft has taken over the SlowCheetah extension. Installing this will give you an option to split the app.config file into three separate files. One is a base file that has code that always applies, and then you get an app.debug.config file and an app.release.config file.

Note that pulling this as a NuGet package in the project is not enough. If you want the Visual Studio UI menu option, you need to actually download the installer from the site below and run it. Then, install SlowCheetah specifically on any projects you want to use this on using NuGet.

Also note that the original SlowCheetah program by the original developer still exists, but use the one published by Microsoft for newer versions of Visual Studio.

https://marketplace.visualstudio.com/items?itemName=VisualStudioProductTeam.SlowCheetah-XMLTransforms

Answer 5

Create a Debug and Release version of the Web.config file, e.g. Web.debug.config and Web.release.config. Then add a pre-compile condition that copies the relevant version into the web.config based upon the current Target.

Edit: To add the pre compile condition right click on you project and select "Properties" then goto the "Build Events" tab and add the code below to the precompile condition. Obviously, you will have to ammend the code to your needs, see image below.

@echo off

echo Configuring web.config pre-build event ...

if exist "$(ProjectDir)web.config" del /F / Q "$(ProjectDir)web.config"

if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Debug Test" goto test
if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Debug M" goto M
if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Debug BA" goto BA
if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Release Test" goto test
if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Release M" goto M
if "$(ConfigurationName)" == "Release BA" goto BA

echo No web.config found for configuration $(ConfigurationName). Abort batch.
exit -1
goto :end

:test
copy /Y "$(ProjectDir)web.config.test" "$(ProjectDir)web.config"
GOTO end

:BA
copy /Y "$(ProjectDir)web.config.BA" "$(ProjectDir)web.config"
GOTO end

:M
copy /Y "$(ProjectDir)web.config.M" "$(ProjectDir)web.config"
GOTO end

:end
echo Pre-build event finished

Project Properties http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1843/propsa.jpg

Answer 6

The good news is that .NET4 has a provision for just that, you can have separate configs for each Configuration (web.Release.config, web.Debug.config).

The bad news is ... you're probably not using that yet.