Is there a way to set SQL connection string automatically?

Question

I am making C# windows form application - is connected to database, so I need connection with it.

The "problem" is that my application should work on any PC.

But, as we know, every PC has different SQL connection string. It would be a little bit unpractical to change connection string in code every time when someone runs application.

So, my question is, is there a way to avoid this?

Are you also installing the database as part of your application? If so you can just use "localhost" to reference the database. — Sorean
– Sorean, Commented Apr 17, 2016 at 19:03
Usually connectionstrings are stored in the app.config file as a plain text. It is a job of your setup app to change the connectionstring to match the server and other parts of this connectionstring as required by your customer environment — Steve
– Steve, Commented Apr 17, 2016 at 19:06
Your application is connecting to a server/database stored locally on the computer running the application? Use "(local)" as your server name. Also have a look at emoreau.com/Entries/Articles/2009/05/… to see how to store your connection string in a config file — emoreau99
– emoreau99, Commented Apr 17, 2016 at 19:06

Fabien ESCOFFIER · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-17 19:37:11Z

2

Usually, your connection strings goes in a xml .config file :

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
    <connectionStrings>
        <add name="Test" connectionString="Data Source=SERVER;Initial Catalog=DATABASE;User Id=USER;Passwor=PASSWORD" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
    </connectionStrings>
</configuration>

And you get them using the ConfigurationManager :

var connectionString = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Test"].ConnectionString;

You will still need to update the .config file on each PC, but not recompile the source.

answered Apr 17, 2016 at 19:37

Fabien ESCOFFIER

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1 Comment

misty Over a year ago

Thank you, this is exactly what I needed :)

user5993035 · Accepted Answer · 2016-04-17 21:37:26Z

0

This is a example to connect to the same database from all PC

    //Geting Connection to database
    static SqlConnection GetConnection()
    {
        return new SqlConnection(@"Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS; Initial Catalog=Northwind; Integrated Security=SSPI");
    }

answered Apr 17, 2016 at 21:37

user5993035

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