Can we connect two projects to the same SQL Server Express database?

Question

I am facing a very weird situation where by my company wants me to use SQL Server Express. But the issue is I need to use the same SQL Server Express database for connection by different projects.

How do I do that?

I am using Entity Framework and C#.

and what is the problem? sql express supports multiple connections — VladL, Oct 23 '13 at 17:13
just point your projects at it, same as you would sql server ??? — Tony Hopkinson, Oct 23 '13 at 17:14
How can i access the same sql express db from the second project? — vini, Oct 23 '13 at 17:19
@vini, just like you did in the first project. It doesn't matter. — Habib, Oct 23 '13 at 17:20
If i create an mdf file inside one of my projects (App_Data folder) its not accessible from the other project — vini, Oct 23 '13 at 17:23
Don't keep the MDF in the App_Data folder. "attach" it to your sql express server. Then your 2 projects can connect to it as if it was a db on a regular sql server. — David, Oct 23 '13 at 17:55

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

2

You'll need to copy your .mdf from your App_Data folder into SQL Server Express's data folder, attach the database to your Express instance, and then change your connection string to reference the instance instead of the location of the .mdf.

This answer to a similar question gives detailed, step-by-step instructions for this process.

edited May 23 '17 at 11:50

Community

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answered Oct 23 '13 at 17:55

Michael Fredrickson

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score 1 · Answer 2 · edited Oct 23 '13 at 18:45

It seems you are trying to attach local database file with AttachDbFilename= option in the connection string. But you can't simultaneously attach the same .mdf on a local drive with several concurrent applications (like you can do with MS Access).

Rather just install SQL Server Express on a central computer and open it up for remote TCIP/IP access, attach your database to it and change the connection string to an IP / instance one.

Can we connect two projects to the same SQL Server Express database?

2 Answers2