ASP.NET web development with C# : centralize the connection string

Question

I am new to asp.net and C#. I am using a connection string in each and every page to connect to database and get results (the connection string is shown in the below code). Is there any way I can make the connection string centralized? So that I don't have to call it in each and every page?

Can anyone help me to solve this problem? please..

con = new SqlConnection("Data Source=localhost\\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=ewadb;Integrated Security=SSPI");

//data = new SqlDataAdapter("SELECT * FROM deals", con);
//dset = new DataSet();
//data.Fill(dset, "deal");

The following links should help: connectionstrings.com/store-connection-string-in-webconfig msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178411.aspx — kelsier
– kelsier, Commented Dec 23, 2013 at 10:15

RobH · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23 10:55:42Z

3

You can put the connection string in the web.config file:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<configuration>
 <connectionStrings>
    <add name="default" connectionString="Data Source=localhost\sqlexpress;Initial Catalog=ewadb;Integrated Security=SSPI" />
 </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

You can then get the value with the ConfigurationManager class:

ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["default"].ConnectionString;

Architecturally speaking, your pages shouldn't be handling data access directly.

See here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multitier_architecture for overview of n-tier architecture.

edited Dec 23, 2013 at 10:55

answered Dec 23, 2013 at 10:15

RobH

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2 Comments

2964349 Over a year ago

thank you. Robh.. but when i try to pass the connection string in to newsqlconnection function it gives an error saying "instance failure".. con = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["default"].ConnectionString);

RobH Over a year ago

Whoops. Remove the double slash from connection string. I'll edit answer now.

stevepkr84 · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23 10:14:12Z

2

You should place it in the web.config. This means you can change it easily and call it consistently from anywhere. Please see the following for an intro.

http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms178411.aspx

Also a simple explaination:

http://www.connectionstrings.com/store-connection-string-in-webconfig/

answered Dec 23, 2013 at 10:14

stevepkr84

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Comments

marc_s · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23 10:31:10Z

0

1) Use web.config file for store your connection string as this

<appSettings>
    <add key="connString_MyDB" value="Server=localhost;Integrated Security=false;Database=WORLD;Asynchronous Processing=True;user=sa;password=123;"/>
</appSettings>

2) to retrieve the connection string call as this in your class

  Private connString As String = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings.Get("connString_MyDB").ToString

edited Dec 23, 2013 at 10:31

marc_s

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answered Dec 23, 2013 at 10:15

Amila Thennakoon

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1 Comment

2964349 Over a year ago

thanks amila. but i need the value and pass it in to a new sqlconnection function. like this.. con = new sqlConnection(System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings.Get("connection")); is there any way i can pass the connection string in to the function..

marc_s · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23 10:31:29Z

0

Place the connection string into configuration section of your web.config file.

<configuration>
 <connectionStrings>
    <add name="default" connectionString="your connection string" />
 </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

Use below code to access connection string in page.

System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.
    ConnectionStrings["connectionStringName"].ConnectionString;

edited Dec 23, 2013 at 10:31

marc_s

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answered Dec 23, 2013 at 10:17

Girish Vadhel

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Comments

Jhabar · Accepted Answer · 2013-12-23 11:23:45Z

0

You can do that like below:

Web.Config:

Get the connection string in code: sqlConnection con = new sqlConnection(System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.AppSettings.Get("connect‌ion"));

answered Dec 23, 2013 at 11:23

Jhabar

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