Visual Studio 2005 App_Data DB to SQL

Chuck_aa · August 25th, 2006, 02:45 PM

Hello .NET experts !

Is there a proper way to move a DB created in Visual Studio 2005 App_Data Database.mdf , over to a SQL Server Machine and attach it ?

Thank you so very much !
Chuck

Imar · August 26th, 2006, 02:56 AM

Hi Chuck,

If you mean "SQL Server 2005" with "SQL Server Machine", then yes. You can simply copy the .mdf file to another machine and attach them there using SQL Server Management Studio.

If you mean "SQL Server 2000", then no, this is not possible. The formats are not compatible. You can create scripts for all the objects in the 2005 database, remove all 2005 specific features and run the script against the 2000 installation.

HtH,

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

Chuck_aa · August 28th, 2006, 09:27 AM

Hello Imar,
Thanks for your help. Oh boy, not compatible... that's really a shame, guess I'll have to upgrade eventually.
I'm on SQL 2000, and was unable to open the .mdf in EM. Thanks for your answer.

When I move my local host project with App_Data DB to the webserver, my pages cant find the App_Data DB.
What is the proper path to the App_Data folder, once it is uploaded to the webserver ?
Thanks Imar !

Chuck._aa

Chuck_aa · August 28th, 2006, 02:25 PM

One more question, does SQL Express 2005 have to be installed on the webserver too ?

Imar · August 28th, 2006, 05:00 PM

.NET allows you to use something like this in your connection string:

|DataDirectory|WebShop.mdf

At run-time, this expands to App_Data folder of your site. Where exactly this is, depends on your ISP. If you need the physical path to the folder, you need to ask them, or diagnose the Request object and write out its properties, like Request.PhysicalApplicationPath

And if you want to use SQL Server 2005, you need it on the server somehow (or on a different machine accessible by the server), whether it's the free Express Edition or one of the commercial versions.

Cheers,

Imar
---------------------------------------
Imar Spaanjaars
Everyone is unique, except for me.
Author of ASP.NET 2.0 Instant Results and Beginning Dreamweaver MX / MX 2004
Want to be my colleague? Then check out this post.

Quick209 · August 30th, 2006, 07:10 PM

SqlExpress does not have to be on the webserver itself but it does have to be on a machine accessible by the webserver if you want ot use it.