Connection string with relative path to the database file

Question

I load data from sdf database in winforms App. I use full path to the database file . Example :

conn = new SqlCeConnection  {  ConnectionString ="Data Source=F:\\My Documents\\Project1\\bin\\Debug\\Database.sdf"  }; 

I d like use a relative path to the database file. For example. I have sdf file in folder F:\My Documents\Project1\bin\Debug\Data\file.sdf and I want use relative path in connection string. Any advice ? Thank you.

Answer 1

Relative path:

ConnectionString = "Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Database.sdf"; 

Modifying DataDirectory as executable's path:

string executable = System.Reflection.Assembly.GetExecutingAssembly().Location; string path = (System.IO.Path.GetDirectoryName(executable)); AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", path); 

Answer 2

Try this code to the working directory if database file exists like below.

D:\HMProject\DataBase\HMProject.sdf

string Path = Environment.CurrentDirectory; string[] appPath =  Path.Split(new string[] { "bin" }, StringSplitOptions.None); AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", appPath[0]); 

Connection string for .sdf file

<add name="LocalDB" connectionString="metadata=res://*/Client.HMProject.csdl|res://*/Client.HMProject.ssdl|res://*/Client.HMProject.msl;provider=System.Data.SqlServerCe.4.0;provider connection string=&quot;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Database\HMProjectDB.sdf;Password=HMProject;Persist Security Info=False;&quot;" providerName="System.Data.EntityClient" />

Thanks

ck.Nitin (TinTin)