VS C# constring for Microsoft SQL Server Express 2008 R2

Question

I'm making a C# application that uses SQL Server 2008 R2 Express on Windows 7 64bit. The problem I'm facing is I can't connect to my database because my connection string is wrong. I'm using a .udl file to make the connection string and this is what it gave me:

Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;Initial Catalog=Restorant;
DataSource=.\SQLEXPRESS

This connection string is creating an error that says that there is an unrecognized escape value. I tried to change my data source to (local), since my friends said it works on their projects, but I couldn't connect because of an unknown instance name error.

Is there any way other for me to connect to my database?

for future reference Sandy when ever you have a return character in a string`\` you should always use the `@` symbol otherwise in C# you need to use `\\` — MethodMan, Jan 06 '13 at 16:50

score 3 · Answer 1 · edited Jan 06 '13 at 17:28

3

In C# the character \ is considered the first char in an escaping sequence.
Because the \S of your Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS is not recognized as a valid escape sequence you get the error.

So you need to construct your connection string prefixing it with the character @ or double the escaping character \\ See Working With Strings for the explanation of the @ character

string conString = @"Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;" + 
                   @"Initial Catalog=Restorant;Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS";

Remember to make more than one string verbatim with this method if you have to.

Also note the little error in the Data Source part of your connection string. It needs a space between the Data and Source. See connectionstrings.com

edited Jan 06 '13 at 17:28

VisualMelon

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answered Jan 06 '13 at 16:41

Steve

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thank you for your explanation, since i'm new in C# i don't this kind of rule ^^ – Sandy Budiyanto Jan 06 '13 at 16:58
Glad to be of help. Please, remember to accept the answer if it is useful for you. – Steve Jan 06 '13 at 17:03

codingbiz · Answer 2 · 2013-01-06T17:56:37.143

1

Right now your connection string is trying to escape S e.g. .\S. Change to this

//double the backslash to escape the slash
string connectionString = "Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;
          Initial Catalog=Restorant; Data Source=.\\SQLEXPRESS";

OR

//precede the string with @
string connectionString = @"Integrated Security=SSPI;Persist Security Info=False;
          Initial Catalog=Restorant; Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS";

edited Jan 06 '13 at 17:56

answered Jan 06 '13 at 16:46

codingbiz

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thanks for help me, it's work now :) i'm using your first suggestion since i think it's more easy to remember for me :) – Sandy Budiyanto Jan 06 '13 at 17:01

score 0 · Answer 3 · answered Jan 06 '13 at 16:45

0

Try changing the datasource name to datasource Data Source=localhost\SQLExpress

answered Jan 06 '13 at 16:45

Srinivas

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VS C# constring for Microsoft SQL Server Express 2008 R2

3 Answers3