retrieving connection string

Question

hi

i'm developing a win form application that needs to setup a connection with the database only once after it is installed. since the connection string varies through different system, what is the best way to store it in a way that the client himself could set it? the variable which holds the connection string shouldn't change each time the application runs. i appreciate any precise and quick answer...

Answer 1

In the app.config files there's a connectionString element. You should add your connection string here :

<connectionStrings>

<add name="MyConn" connectionString="........" providerName="" />

</connectionStrings>

 You can read it with :

string strConn = System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["MyConn"].ConnectionString;

 You have to reference System.Configuration.dll in your project references

Answer 2

thanks, but how can i let the client (who has not access to the source code) configure this line and doesn't it change whenever the application runs? i have to provide a visual interface so the client can change it once.

Answer 3

A Connection string setting can't be changed at runtime. If you create a Form to modify the app.config, i will not affect your application until you restart it.

Look at Lindia Liu response in this post you may find it usefull

 

Answer 4

1. Create a .udl (User Data Link) on application launch to C:\Temp

2. Launch the .udl to create the connection string.

3. Use a streamreader to read the connection string.

4. Delete the .udl from C:\Temp

Adam

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