asked on

Using the ConfigurationManager in a webcontrol.

I am using the following code to fetch all connectionstrings from web.config:

Dim ConnString As ConnectionStringSettings

For Each ConnString In System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings()
List.Add(ConnString.Name.ToString())
Next

This is working fine on codebehind of default.aspx, but as soon as I try to implement it in a webcontrol it does not fetch the connectionstrings anymore except for the 'standard' LocalSqlServer one.

Is this some security feature or should I address it differently from a webcontrol. Any insight would be great.

Cheers

ororiole

by a "webcontrol" do you mean a user control? that sould work fine. Or do you mean a custom web server control? You should probably post a snippet of your code for the control where you are using configmanager, we could help you better if you did.

Onthrax

ASKER

I mean a custom web server control. I have done some further experimenting and it seems it is working fine at run time but not on design time. I'll try to elaborate.

I have created the following function to fetch all connectionstring names:
Public Shared Function GetConnectionStringNames() As ArrayList

Dim ConnString As ConnectionStringSettings
Dim List As New ArrayList

For Each ConnString In System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings()
List.Add(ConnString.Name.ToString())
Next

Return List

End Function

When I import my control into the web page and call this function at run time the website displays the names perfectly.

However when I try to call this function at design time (visual studio) to incorporate at a property, only one name results back.

<TypeConverter(GetType(EnumConverter))> _
<Description("The connectionstring required to access the database.")> _
<Category("ValidationMessages")> _
Public Property ConnectionString() As String
Get

Throw New HttpException(GetConnectionStringNames.Count) <== this returns 1, not 3

Return CType(_ConnectionString, String)
End Get
Set(ByVal Value As String)
_ConnectionString = Value
End Set
End Property

Any idea's?

Onthrax

ASKER

Also why do you have a different picture (man icon) then everyone else?

Bob Learned

Is the web control in a DLL project, separate from the web site?

Onthrax

ASKER

Yes, but located in the bin folder of the website.

Bob Learned

The ConfigurationManager will not be looking for the web.config file, but a config file like dllassembly.dll.config.

Onthrax

ASKER

That would mean the web.config file is read by the server and it's contents put in dllassembly.dll.config as at run time the correct number of connectionstrings are returned. Correct?

If so, I would have to read the web.config as XML and extract the connectionstrings node to fetch the names. Might be tricky as multiple web.config files can exist. Not impossible though.

Bob Learned

No, not correct. Your DLL assembly would need an App.config, which would be turned into that config file for the DLL. The web.config file doesn't even come into play here. I agree that you would have to read the web.config file yourself. I do that for one of my DLL assemblies.

Onthrax

ASKER

Then I don't get why this function will return the correct number of connection strings at run time but not at designtime..

Public Shared Function GetConnectionStringNames() As ArrayList

Dim ConnString As ConnectionStringSettings
Dim List As New ArrayList

For Each ConnString In System.Configuration.ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings()
List.Add(ConnString.Name.ToString())
Next

Return List

End Function

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Bob Learned

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Bob Learned

Did you try a WebConfigurationManager?

Onthrax

ASKER

w000t I win.. but this time I don't want to win lol.

I didn't know WebConfigurationManager is similar, I'll check it out and get back..

Bob Learned

I thought we were playing stump the expert *BIG GRIN*

Onthrax

ASKER

Hehe.. well somehow it's comforting to know even an expert of status genius is yet unable to solve my problem :P

(still checking WebConfigurationManager though)

Bob Learned

It is a humble man that will admit that he doesn't know everything, despite what others might think. *WINK*.

Onthrax

ASKER

WebConfigurationManager turns out exactly the same.

Works at run time but does only return LocalSqlServer at design time. Very strange....

Onthrax

ASKER

I am leaning toward accepting ID 22659186 as answer :P

I went along with reading web.config as XML which is working fine now.
Thanks for all your help m8 :) Highly appreciated!

ororiole

>>Also why do you have a different picture (man icon) then everyone else?
If one of us can beat The Learned One in a head-to-head quiz, we get to wear the "leader" jacket. :)

j/k, its a new feature you can customize it in your profile.

Onthrax

ASKER

Already noticed it today :P But thnx for letting me know :D

Onthrax

ASKER

LOL @ recommendation :p

Thanks again for all your help m8. guess I forgot to close the question.. Cheers

Onthrax

ASKER

Something went wrong here. I had accepted an answer and rewarded points to 3 posts....