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Get DataBase Connection Strings in an Easy Way

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4.80/5 (48 votes)
27 Sep 2013CPOL1 min read 113.4K   43   30
Communication with database in .NET is easy but sometimes one gets stuck by wrong format of connection string

Introduction

In computing, a connection string is a string that specifies information about a data source and the means of connecting to it. It is passed in code to an underlying driver or provider in order to initiate the connection. Whilst commonly used for a database connection, the data source could also be a spreadsheet or text file.

The connection string may include attributes such as the name of the driver, server and database, as well as security information such as user name and password (source Wikipedia[^]).

UDL file can be used to generate connection strings easily.

How to make UDL file?

  1. Make a text file, open it.
  2. Click on Save As.
  3. Write filename as something.udl, file type All files, click Save.
  4. Now run something.udl.
  5. Click on Provider tab. Select the provider and click Next.
  6. Give the DataBase Path, Give Username, Password, if any.
  7. Click on Test Connection.

If it's OK, then close it now.

Now open udl file as text file, connection string will be there in the last line.

Following is the connection string format for Oracle:

C#
private static string CONNECTION_STRING =
"User Id=myUserID;Password=myPassword;Data Source=(DESCRIPTION=" +
"(ADDRESS=(PROTOCOL=TCP)(HOST=myserver.server.com)(PORT=yourPort#))" +
"(CONNECT_DATA=(SID=yourSID)));" 

An alternate way of doing it is as follows:

  1. Add DataGridView in your Form.
  2. Provide DataSource by browsing, do the Settings, once all done, don't click OK, go back to the first step by clicking Previous.
  3. Click on Show Connection String.
  4. Copy it, and use where you want.

For more details with screenshots, see MY article Connection Strings[^].

Following are the links to websites which provide Connection Strings Format for various DBMS:

License

This article, along with any associated source code and files, is licensed under The Code Project Open License (CPOL)


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I am a learner.

Comments and Discussions

 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Soumitra Mithu30-Sep-13 0:05
professionalSoumitra Mithu30-Sep-13 0:05 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
adglopez28-Sep-13 3:15
professionaladglopez28-Sep-13 3:15 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Zia UL HASSAN27-Sep-13 23:46
Zia UL HASSAN27-Sep-13 23:46 
GeneralMy vote of 4 Pin
Champion Chen26-Sep-13 23:07
Champion Chen26-Sep-13 23:07 
GeneralMy vote of 5 Pin
Anthony Daly26-Sep-13 7:49
Anthony Daly26-Sep-13 7:49 
QuestionMy Vote 5 Pin
Tharaka MTR12-May-13 10:29
professionalTharaka MTR12-May-13 10:29 
GeneralMy vote of 1 Pin
Nikhil_S19-Jul-12 23:27
professionalNikhil_S19-Jul-12 23:27 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Hey Great tip Mr. Khan Pin
Pranit Kothari1-Feb-12 17:14
Pranit Kothari1-Feb-12 17:14 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Thanks! Pin
RC_Sebastien_C27-Jan-12 3:22
RC_Sebastien_C27-Jan-12 3:22 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Nice... My 5 Pin
Tejas Vaishnav10-Nov-11 0:07
professionalTejas Vaishnav10-Nov-11 0:07 
GeneralThanks a lot ! That's exactly what I was looking for. I kne... Pin
Eric Ouellet11-Oct-11 3:06
professionalEric Ouellet11-Oct-11 3:06 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Maybe old hat to some. New to me. Pin
wbherdle13-Jul-11 7:31
wbherdle13-Jul-11 7:31 
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Pritesh Aryan16-May-11 0:18
Pritesh Aryan16-May-11 0:18 
GeneralThanks for the tip. I've only seen this one time before; I ... Pin
Keith.Badeau1-Apr-11 8:34
Keith.Badeau1-Apr-11 8:34 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 nice tip Pin
jorge.villamil28-Mar-11 18:24
professionaljorge.villamil28-Mar-11 18:24 
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Torrey Betts23-Mar-11 10:39
Torrey Betts23-Mar-11 10:39 
GeneralReason for my vote of 1 Rehashed a thousand times on the web... Pin
Dave Kreskowiak2-Mar-11 9:12
mveDave Kreskowiak2-Mar-11 9:12 
GeneralReason for my vote of 4 different kind of approach. Pin
Kumar_P1-Mar-11 6:54
Kumar_P1-Mar-11 6:54 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 it is something Different new i thin... Pin
bipin928-Feb-11 23:03
bipin928-Feb-11 23:03 
GeneralRe: Actually, it's not rare at all. It's the most common method... Pin
Dave Kreskowiak2-Mar-11 9:11
mveDave Kreskowiak2-Mar-11 9:11 
GeneralReason for my vote of 1 Doesn't add to the sum total of huma... Pin
damnedyankee24-Feb-11 5:29
damnedyankee24-Feb-11 5:29 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 I like it Pin
RaviRanjanKr17-Feb-11 20:20
professionalRaviRanjanKr17-Feb-11 20:20 
GeneralRe: Thnx dear Pin
dontumindit20-Feb-11 4:27
dontumindit20-Feb-11 4:27 
Thnx dear
Generalthnx dear, lets keep helping others Pin
dontumindit17-Feb-11 0:49
dontumindit17-Feb-11 0:49 
GeneralReason for my vote of 5 Very nice trick. My 5 Pin
Pravin Patil, Mumbai16-Feb-11 22:02
Pravin Patil, Mumbai16-Feb-11 22:02 

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