Database connection from WPF

Question

I have a folder 'Data' in my WPF application in which there is an .sdf database file. This file is the database for my application.

When developing my app I used a fixed path to my db like this:

'Data Source=P:\Dropbox\Projects\MembersApp\MembersApp\bin\Debug\Data\RF_db.sdf'

Now I want to use the |DataDirectory| value so that the app always can find the db, were ever the app is installed. I found this solution on StackOverflow:

string executable = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location;
string path = (System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(executable));
AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", path);
string dataSourceHome = "Data Source=|DataDirectory|\RF_db.sdf";

But is giving me an error on the last line 'Bad compile constant value'. I've tried with:

string dataSourceHome = @"Data Source=|DataDirectory|\RF_db.sdf";

But that doesn't work.

Any idea what's wrong here?

I found this solution here [StackOverflow][1] which works for me. Just needed to rename my 'Data' folder to 'App_Data' and use this code: string data = @"Data Source=App_Data\RF_db.sdf"; LocalConnection = new SqlCeConnection(data); This works for me when I run my app localy. However when I deploy my app with clickonce it fails. [1]: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/12932963/how-to-set-a-relative-path-to-a-sql-server-compact-database — PitAttack76, Dec 29 '12 at 22:07

score 1 · Answer 1 · answered Dec 29 '12 at 21:32

1

You could use:

string dataSourceHome = string.Format("Data Source={0}\\RF_db.sdf", Environment.CurrentDirectory);

or

 string dataSourceHome = string.Format("Data Source={0}\\RF_db.sdf", System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location));

answered Dec 29 '12 at 21:32

sa_ddam213

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If he is using an installer or ClickOnce the data directory may not be the application nor the assembly directory. In fact, from his edit it appears it is not. – Dour High Arch Dec 30 '12 at 02:45

Dour High Arch · Accepted Answer · 2013-01-03T17:10:51.897

1

Do not change DataDirectory in your code; it is set by the installer and changing it will prevent your app from knowing where the data was installed. Just use:

string dataSourceHome = @"Data Source=|DataDirectory|\RF_db.sdf";

And nothing else. Do not call AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", path); that's what is breaking things.

edited Jan 03 '13 at 17:10

answered Dec 30 '12 at 02:49

Dour High Arch

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score 0 · Answer 3 · edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

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It looks like your creating a ADO.Net connection string. Isn't there just information missing from your dataSourceHome? Have a look at this post.

Or a different approach to creating the connection might be found on ConnectionStrings.com.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:43

Community

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answered Dec 29 '12 at 21:14

Jacco

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Database connection from WPF

3 Answers3