SQL Server Express Attach

24 Feb 2006 10:09 AM

elziko

I am trying to create a conneciton to an SQL Server Express database from
..NET. Here is my connection string:

'Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename="c:\database.mdf";Integrated
Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True'

However, I get the following error:

'An attempt to attach an auto-named database for file c:\database.mdf
failed. A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be
opened, or it is located on UNC share.'

I then used SSEUtil to list all attached databases and it was not there, and
I also tried to detach it anyway but I was told that 'No valid database path
matches teh value specified.' and rightly so.

But then I tried to attach the database from within SSEUtil and it quite
happily attached the database just fine. Surely if I can't attach using
ADO.NET that why can I attach using SSEUtil?

Any ideas?

TIA

24 Feb 2006 1:01 PM

Andrew J. Kelly

See if these help:

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sseoverview.asp
Express Overview
http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165672.aspx Comparing Express
with MSDE
http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sqlexpuserinst.asp
User Instances
http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm Configuring Express
for Remote Access

--
Andrew J. Kelly SQL MVP

Show quote

"elziko" <elz***@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:O4urfpSOGHA.3984@TK2MSFTNGP14.phx.gbl...
>I am trying to create a conneciton to an SQL Server Express database from
>.NET. Here is my connection string:
>
> 'Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;AttachDbFilename="c:\database.mdf";Integrated
> Security=True;Connect Timeout=30;User Instance=True'
>
> However, I get the following error:
>
> 'An attempt to attach an auto-named database for file c:\database.mdf
> failed. A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be
> opened, or it is located on UNC share.'
>
> I then used SSEUtil to list all attached databases and it was not there,
> and I also tried to detach it anyway but I was told that 'No valid
> database path matches teh value specified.' and rightly so.
>
> But then I tried to attach the database from within SSEUtil and it quite
> happily attached the database just fine. Surely if I can't attach using
> ADO.NET that why can I attach using SSEUtil?
>
> Any ideas?
>
> TIA
>
>
>

27 Feb 2006 9:53 AM

elziko

Andrew J. Kelly wrote:

> See if these help:
>
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sseoverview.asp
> Express Overview
> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165672.aspx Comparing
> Express with MSDE
> http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sqlexpuserinst.asp
> User Instances
> http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm Configuring
> Express for Remote Access

Thanks, I read through those links and didn't find anythig that really
helped. From what I see teh way I'm connecting shouldn't cause any problems!
It almost seems like SSE things the database is still attached when its not.
FWIW, the mdf I'm using is on my local machine.

27 Feb 2006 6:28 PM

Roger Wolter[MSFT]

How are you trying to attach from .NET? are you using C# or an ASP.Net
Page? I assume you're using .Net 2.0. Can you attach from the IDE? How
did you create this database in the first place?

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Show quote

"elziko" <elz***@yahoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:%232BBnO4OGHA.140@TK2MSFTNGP12.phx.gbl...
> Andrew J. Kelly wrote:
>> See if these help:
>>
>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sseoverview.asp
>> Express Overview
>> http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165672.aspx Comparing
>> Express with MSDE
>> http://msdn.microsoft.com/sql/default.aspx?pull=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sqlexpuserinst.asp
>> User Instances
>> http://www.datamasker.com/SSE2005_NetworkCfg.htm Configuring
>> Express for Remote Access
>
> Thanks, I read through those links and didn't find anythig that really
> helped. From what I see teh way I'm connecting shouldn't cause any
> problems! It almost seems like SSE things the database is still attached
> when its not. FWIW, the mdf I'm using is on my local machine.
>

27 Feb 2006 11:15 PM

elziko

Roger Wolter[MSFT] wrote:

> How are you trying to attach from .NET? are you using C# or an
> ASP.Net Page? I assume you're using .Net 2.0. Can you attach from
> the IDE? How did you create this database in the first place?

I found a tiny typo when I was building my connection string where I was
using a forward slash instead of a back-slash. Very frustrating!

Thanks to both of you for helping though!