asked on 7/9/2011

.NET Windows App - How do I tweak the SQL Server connect string for the publish?

I've created my first Windows-based .NET apps that connects to SQL Server.
- The development copy connects to my development SQL Server and works fine.
- If I paste the contents of the project's bin\Release folder over to a production machine, modify the connect string found in MyApp.exe.config, it works fine.
- I want to do it right, however, by publishing the project. How do I tell the publish process to use a different connect string? Do I temporarily the connect string in app.config to configure it for the production server and then publish the project? I doubt it.
- What is the accepted way of doing this?

.NET Programming C#Visual Basic.NET

Last Comment

jdana

8/3/2011

SOLUTION

Wouter Boevink

7/9/2011

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Molly Fagan

7/10/2011

I don't use the "publish" process--I do the copy and paste what's in the bin\Release folder over. What I do though for test and production database servers, I put both connection strings in my app.config and have a test value that I set to true or false and compile for the scenario (e.g. we have test applications that are used for training purposes, as well as testing the enhancements that I push out onto a server for end users to use) and in my code, when I open a database connection, I check to see what that value is set at and then use the corresponding connection string.

Wouter Boevink

7/10/2011

From your question:

"How do I tell the publish process to use a different connect string?"

SOLUTION