Home/ Questions/Q 8772091
In Process

The Archive Base Latest Questions

Editorial Team
  • 0
Asked: 2026-06-13T17:57:20+00:00

UPDATE 2 I fixed the error by adding System.Configuration to the reference file. I

  • 0

UPDATE 2

I fixed the error by adding System.Configuration to the reference file. I had already added it to my class with using System.Configuration;
I found the answer here: The name ‘ConfigurationManager’ does not exist in the current context

Any further issues will be addressed in a new question.

Original(ish) Post

I have Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio. In the studio I created a database called Logbook that exists locally on my computer.

I have also created a user interface using a Windows forms application in VS C# Express. I would like to connect it to my logbook database in order to update, select, delete, and insert entries into the database through the UI.

However, I cannot figure out how connect the two. I have played around with the “Add new data source” wizard to no avail. I also cannot find anything helpful in the MSDN or other tutorials online.

UPDATE

I created a new database and project to work with until I figure out how to properly do this so I don’t accidently break anything in my project.
The Schema is:

Student(sid: int, fname: char(10), lname: char(10), age:int, major:char(10))
Course(cid:int, desc:char(50), dept:char(10))
Enrolled(sid:int, cid:int, quarter:char(10), grade:char(10))

Here is the connection string generated by the “Add Data Source” wizard

<add name="boathouseLogConnectionString"
        connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=&quot;C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\MSSQL11.SQLEXPRESS\MSSQL\DATA\boathouseLog.mdf&quot;;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True"
        providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />

I have successfully gotten my database into the project. However, when I try running a stored procedure I get this error Argument Exception was unhandled. Format of the initialization string does not conform to specification starting at index 0.

The error occurs on line 2. 

        DataTable dt = new DataTable();
        SqlConnection sqlConn = new SqlConnection(selectedConnectionString);
        SqlCommand myCommand = new SqlCommand("proc_getMember", sqlConn);
        myCommand.CommandType = CommandType.StoredProcedure;
        SqlDataAdapter da = new SqlDataAdapter(myCommand);

the selectedConnectionString variable is set to boathouseLogConnectionString

Share

Leave an answer

You must login to add an answer.

Need An Account,

1 Answer

  1. Editorial Team

    Initial Hints

    If you want to see some examples for windows forms connecting to a database i can recommend the forms over data video series. Video 2 is about how to connect to a database.

    In the app.config file you can put your connection data

    <connectionStrings>
    <add name="OrderManager.My.MySettings.OMSConnectionString" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\OMS.mdf;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True"
        providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />
</connectionStrings>

    To be able to help you better i need more details. If you connect in management studio you can take a look at your connections properties. What are the values here and so on.

    Update

    There is another question with a similar problem. May be you are running user instances. Please add more details:

    • add information about your connection string (i am assuming your are using file attached connnections with a local data file)
    • where do you click on your database? Are you clicking on the mdf file or are you using management studio or visual studio
    • 0