Question

I am trying to create a backup of my SQL Server Database in Visual Studio 2010.

I am using the following command to back up the database:

BACKUP DATABASE Db TO DISK = ‘c:\server.bak’

This is connection string that I am using.

<add name="ConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\Db.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>

However, when I run the command, I get the following error message.

Database ‘Db’ does not exist.

Here is a screenshot that describes my error:

http://www.cs.purdue.edu/homes/aerfanfa/sqlerror.jpg

Does anyone have a solution for my problem?
Thanks!

Answer 1

The problem is: your database db.mdf is not attached to the SQL Server Express instance – therefore, you cannot back it up.

This whole AttachDbFileName=..... story is a bit tricky – and quite a mess, if you ask me.

I would recommend to just forget about using that AttachDbFileName=... stuff, and instead:

• just attach the db.mdf file to your local SQL Server Express instance (using SQL Server Management Studio Express)

• talk to the attached database using it’s logical database name instead of messing around with a .mdf file

Once you’ve done that – then you can use commands like BACKUP DATABASE ... and everything else!

Your connection string would be much simpler, too!

<add name="ConnectionString" 
     connectionString="Server=.\SQLEXPRESS;Database=YourDatabaseName;Integrated Security=True;"
     providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"/>