Search code examples
winformsc#-4.0entity-framework-4app-configconfiguration-files

How can i update app.config connectionstring Datasource value in C#?


Configuration config = ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings["MyConnectionString",String.Format("DataSource={0};")].ConnectionString=textBox1.Text;
config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified, true);
ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings");

I'm having trouble at line two. I cant seem to get the syntax correct. As you can see, i only want to update the DataSource value only. For example, if current value is Data Source=PC001\SQL2008EXPRESS, i want it to be updated to what the client enters in textBox1.

EDIT: Example ConnectionString

<add name="ERPDatabaseTables" connectionString="metadata=res://*/ERPTables.csdl|res://*/ERPTables.ssdl|res://*/ERPTables.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlClient;provider connection string=&quot;Data Source=PC001\SQL2008EXPRESS;Initial Catalog=MyDatabase.mdf;Integrated Security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True&quot;" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient"/>

so want to update Data Source=PC001\SQL2008EXPRESS portion only


Solution

  • What you actually want is:

    Configuration config = 
        ConfigurationManager.OpenExeConfiguration(ConfigurationUserLevel.None);
    
    // Because it's an EF connection string it's not a normal connection string
    // so we pull it into the EntityConnectionStringBuilder instead
    EntityConnectionStringBuilder efb = 
        new EntityConnectionStringBuilder(
            config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings["ERPDatabaseTables"]
                .ConnectionString);
    
    // Then we extract the actual underlying provider connection string
    SqlConnectionStringBuilder sqb = 
        new SqlConnectionStringBuilder(efb.ProviderConnectionString);
    
    // Now we can set the datasource
    sqb.DataSource = textBox1.Text;
    
    // Pop it back into the EntityConnectionStringBuilder 
    efb.ProviderConnectionString = sqb.ConnectionString;
    
    // And update...
    config.ConnectionStrings.ConnectionStrings["ERPDatabaseTables"]
        .ConnectionString = efb.ConnectionString;
    
    config.Save(ConfigurationSaveMode.Modified, true);
    ConfigurationManager.RefreshSection("connectionStrings");
    

    This presumes:

    1. Your EF connection string exists in the app's config file

    2. You have a reference to System.Data.Entity