connectionStrings Element (ASP.NET Settings Schema)
Specifies a collection of database connection strings, as name/value pairs, for ASP.NET applications and features.
This element is new in the .NET Framework version 2.0.
<connectionStrings >
<add />
<clear />
<remove />
</connectionStrings>
Attributes and Elements
The following sections describe attributes, child elements, and parent elements for this element.
Attributes
None, except the attributes that are inherited by all section elements. For more information, see General Attributes Inherited by Section Elements.
Child Elements
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
add |
Adds a connection string as a name/value pair to the collection of connection strings. |
clear |
Removes all references to inherited connection strings, allowing only the the connection strings that are added by the current add element. |
remove |
Removes a reference to an inherited connection string from the collection of connections strings. |
Parent Elements
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
configuration |
Specifies the required root element in every configuration file that is used by the common language runtime and the .NET Framework applications. |
system.web |
Specifies the root element for the ASP.NET configuration settings in a configuration file and contains configuration elements that configure ASP.NET Web applications and control how the applications behave. |
Remarks
The connectionStrings element specifies a collection of database connection strings, as name/value pairs, for ASP.NET applications and features.
In previous versions of ASP.NET, connection strings were stored in the appSettings. In ASP.NET 2.0, features, such as Session, Membership, Personalization, and Role Manager, rely on connection strings that are stored in the connectionStrings element. You can also use the connectionStrings element to store connection strings for your own applications.
Default Configuration
Connection strings that are contained in a parent configuration file are inherited, unless the clear element is used in the child configuration file. The following default connectionStrings element is configured in the Machine.config file.
<connectionStrings>
<add
name="LocalSqlServer"
connectionString="data source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=SSPI;AttachDBFilename=|DataDirectory|aspnetdb.mdf;User Instance=true"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
/>
</connectionStrings>
Example
The following code example demonstrates how to configure two connection strings. The first connection string can be used by an ASP.NET application and the second connection string is used by the sqlCacheDependency element, which is configured later.
<configuration>
<!-- Other configuration settings -->
<connectionStrings>
<add name="Sales"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
connectionString= "server=myserver;database=Products;uid=salesUser;pwd=sellMoreProducts" />
<add name="NorthWind"
providerName="System.Data.SqlClient"
connectionString="server=.;database=NorthWind;Integrated Security=SSPI" />
</connectionStrings>
<cache>
<sqlCacheDependency enabled="true" pollTime="60000">
<databases>
<add name="Northwind" />
</databases>
</sqlCacheDependency>
</cache>
</configuration>
Element Information
Configuration section handler |
|
Configuration member |
|
Configurable locations |
Machine.config Root-level Web.config Application-level Web.config Virtual or physical directory–level Web.config |
Requirements |
Microsoft Internet Information Services (IIS) version 5.0, 5.1, or 6.0 The .NET Framework version 2.0 Microsoft Visual Studio 2003 or Visual Studio 2005 |
See Also
Tasks
How to: Lock ASP.NET Configuration Settings
Reference
configuration Element (General Settings Schema)
add Element for connectionStrings (ASP.NET Settings Schema)
clear Element for connectionStrings (ASP.NET Settings Schema)
remove Element for connectionStrings (ASP.NET Settings Schema)
Concepts
ASP.NET Configuration Overview
Securing ASP.NET Configuration
ASP.NET Data Access Overview
Installing the SQL Server Provider Database
Securing Data Access