Question

I need to run a Windows Forms application (C#) in a client and the database on the other.

I want the user to select the database (SQL Server 2005) manually in the program. In case of that the database can be changed from one PC to other.

I need to avoid the computer name or IP number in the connection string or something helpful.

How can this be achieved?

Answer 1

You can use following code to prompt user with Build connection string dialog
You can find the original article here.

/// <summary>
/// Displays a Connection String Builder (DataLinks) dialog.
/// 
/// Credits:
/// http://www.codeproject.com/cs/database/DataLinks.asp
/// http://www.codeproject.com/cs/database/DataLinks.asp?df=100&forumid=33457&select=1560237#xx1560237xx
/// 
/// Required COM references:
/// %PROGRAMFILES%\Microsoft.NET\Primary Interop Assemblies\adodb.dll
/// %PROGRAMFILES%\Common Files\System\Ole DB\OLEDB32.DLL
/// </summary>
/// <param name="currentConnectionString">Previous database connection string</param>
/// <returns>Selected connection string</returns>
private string PromptForConnectionString(string currentConnectionString)
{
    MSDASC.DataLinks dataLinks = new MSDASC.DataLinksClass();
    ADODB.Connection dialogConnection;
    string generatedConnectionString = string.Empty;

    if (currentConnectionString == String.Empty)
    {
        dialogConnection = (ADODB.Connection)dataLinks.PromptNew();
        generatedConnectionString = dialogConnection.ConnectionString.ToString();
    }
    else
    {
        dialogConnection = new ADODB.Connection();
        dialogConnection.Provider = "SQLOLEDB.1";
        ADODB.Property persistProperty = dialogConnection.Properties["Persist Security Info"];
        persistProperty.Value = true;

        dialogConnection.ConnectionString = currentConnectionString;
        dataLinks = new MSDASC.DataLinks();

        object objConn = dialogConnection;
        if (dataLinks.PromptEdit(ref objConn))
        {
            generatedConnectionString = dialogConnection.ConnectionString.ToString();
        }
    }
    generatedConnectionString = generatedConnectionString.Replace("Provider=SQLOLEDB.1;", string.Empty);
    if (
            !generatedConnectionString.Contains("Integrated Security=SSPI")
            && !generatedConnectionString.Contains("Trusted_Connection=True")
            && !generatedConnectionString.Contains("Password=")
            && !generatedConnectionString.Contains("Pwd=")
        )
        if(dialogConnection.Properties["Password"] != null)
            generatedConnectionString += ";Password=" + dialogConnection.Properties["Password"].Value.ToString();

    return generatedConnectionString;
}