ASP .Net MVC 4, Invalid value for key 'attachdbfilename'

Question

I'm new to asp.net mvc 4

Below is my connection string

<add name="MovieDBContext"
     connectionString="Data Source=(LocalDB)\v11.0;
                       Initial Catalog=Movies;
                       AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Movies.mdf;
                       Integrated Security=True" 
     providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />

I'm getting following error when trying to access a particular control by url

Invalid value for key 'attachdbfilename'.

The error itself says it is due to a wrong connection string,but I cant find where the problem is. I'm using VisualStudio Management Studio.

`AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Movies.mdf` does this file exist? — Lotok, Nov 14 '13 at 11:42
im following this tutorial http://www.asp.net/mvc/tutorials/mvc-4/getting-started-with-aspnet-mvc4/adding-a-model How can i know wheather that file exists? — Daryl, Nov 14 '13 at 11:44
By Default |DataDirectory| is your application folder. Possibly also a duplicate of this: http://stackoverflow.com/questions/17525905/unable-to-retrieve-metadata-mvc-application/17526947#17526947 — Lotok, Nov 14 '13 at 11:46
No there is no such a file.so what am i supposed to do.Should i create a database manually inside that folder?But in this tutorials it doesnt say user to create a DB or something like that.. This turorial uses code first approach in Entity Framework — Daryl, Nov 14 '13 at 11:56
What db initializer are you using (I haven't read that tutorial)? Be sure it is one that can create the DB if it doesn't exist. DropAndCreateOnChange (may not be exact name) probably won't create it from scratch. — Lotok, Nov 14 '13 at 12:05

score 6 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 12:29

Try changing your connection string to:

<add name="MovieDBContext"
    connectionString="Data Source=.;Initial Catalog=Movies;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Movies.mdf;Integrated Security=True"
    providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />

Change Data Source to : Data Source=.; or Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;

After that, you need to configure access right to App_Data. For Win7, On Security tab in properties Add user network Service with full right.

Found similar question:

asp.net mvc Invalid value for key 'attachdbfilename'

Or in my opinion, it might be just a typo in your connection string. Because you don't have escape character for (LocalDB)\v11.

Try writing Data Source=(LocalDB)\\v11;

thank you very much freshbm.. You gave me the best solution :) — Daryl, Nov 21 '13 at 05:51

ASP .Net MVC 4, Invalid value for key 'attachdbfilename'

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