Winforms - Replace a ConnectionString at runtime

Question

I'd like to allow my users to switch between different databases on the login page at runtime.

I currently have the ConnectionString stored in my App Settings file and all the datasets refer to this setting.

I have tried modifying this setting at runtime, but this seems impossible.

What is the best way to do this?

Iain Hoult · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-30 15:30:43Z

1

Could you not just have a second connection string in your config file? What sort of data access code have you got setup?

answered Jun 30, 2009 at 15:30

Iain Hoult

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2 Comments

Nathan Koop Over a year ago

all my datasets have their connectionstring as MyConnectionString (stored in app.setting)

Iain Hoult Over a year ago

Is your problem that all your datasets are individually accessing the value from the config file? If it is then why not create a single piece of code responsible for returning the connection string to your datasets, then have that code read the appropriate connection string.

Fredrik Mörk · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-30 15:38:02Z

1

You can force the code to pick up the connection string from disk by calling ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection prior to fetching the connection string:

ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings");
string connectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["someConnection"].ConnectionString;

answered Jun 30, 2009 at 15:38

Fredrik Mörk

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Comments

McAden · Accepted Answer · 2009-06-30 18:26:13Z

0

Is the database encrypted?

If it's not something that requires a large amount of privacy, you can store the connection string on a per-user basis.

For example:

System.Properties.Default.MyConnectionString = "Blah";
System.Properties.Default.Save();

or

string myConnectionString = System.Properties.Default.MyConnectionString;

EDIT: These can originally be set in VS by going to Project -> Properties -> Settings and make sure you put them in "User" Scope (Application Scope is read-only during runtime unless I'm mistaken).

EDIT2: Regarding comment below:

SqlConnection myConnection = new SqlConnection();
//Set from a normal String saved in user's settings
myConnection.ConnectionString = System.Properties.Default.MyConnectionString; 
myConnection.Open();

edited Jun 30, 2009 at 18:26

answered Jun 30, 2009 at 16:24

McAden

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3 Comments

Nathan Koop Over a year ago

Connection Strings are restricted to Application Scope :-( Thanks though

McAden Over a year ago

Unless I'm mistaken you can use the 'String' type though.

vaheeds Over a year ago

the connectiostring in properties.default is readonly, how is possible to change it?

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