Author : MD TAREQ HASSAN
What is LocalDB
- LocalDB is a lightweight version of the SQL Server Express Database Engine that starts on demand and runs in user mode
- LocalDB runs in a special execution mode of SQL Server Express that enables you to work with databases as
.mdf
files - typically, LocalDB database files are kept in the App_Data folder of a web project
- LocalDB is installed by default with Visual Studio
(localdb)\\mssqllocaldb
is the name of LocalDB instance
Connection String for LocalDB
connect to the automatic instance owned by the current user (in visual studio) by using the connection string
appsettings.json
{
"ConnectionStrings": {
"FooDB": "Server=(localdb)\\mssqllocaldb;Database=FooDB;Trusted_Connection=True;"
},
}
Generate .mdf
file
Code First
- create entities & DbContext
- add DbContext in
Startup.cs
- set connection string in
appsettings.json
Open Package Manager Console (View > Other Windows > Package Manager Console)
Add-Migration <migrationName>
Update-Database
If everything goes well, FooDB.mdf
will be created in you user folder (Users/foouser)
Database First
- use SQL Server Management Studio to create database (insert data if you want)
- right click on database > Detach
- find
.mdf
file : Program Files > Microsoft SQL Server > MSSQL14.SQLEXPRESS > MSSQL > DATA
Using .mdf
file
Create AppData folder in Project Folder and put .mdf
in AppData
appsettings.json
{
"ConnectionStrings": {
"DefaultConnection": "Server=(localdb)\\mssqllocaldb;Database=EmployeeDB;AttachDbFileName=%CONTENTROOTPATH%\\AppData\\EmployeeDB.mdf;Trusted_Connection=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=true"
}
}