How to copy an access database file to my application?

Question

In my Visual Basic application, I have an access database file that I use. It is displayed in the solution explorer window. Everything works fine until I install. For some reason, the database file does not work with the installation. I think I need to edit the connection string at runtime, but I'm not sure. I have not done anything like this before, and I cannot find information about it.

If someone can send me to a workbook or give a brief explanation of how to use the access database after installing the application.

When my program starts, it creates a directory in

User\App Data\Roaming\CreatedFolder\Resources\DatabaseFile.accdb 

So, how do I set this path without knowing the full path to the application data?

Answer 1

you can use

 Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) 

or

 Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("APPDATA") 

Both of them should return something similar to

 C:\Users\Gord\AppData\Roaming 

so that you can build your connection string as follows:

 Dim dbPath = _ Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData) & _ "\CreatedFolder\Resources\DatabaseFile.accdb" Dim connStr As String = "Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=" & dbPath 

Answer 2

I would do this:

• Select Add New Data Source . . . Add New Data Source . . . in a data source window in Visual Studio
• Select Database from the list that appears and click
• Click next
• On the Choose your data connection page of the wizard, click New connection
• Select Microsoft Access Database File from the list and click Next.
• Select a copy of the database file not in your directory and enter any login information
• Click OK

• Now Visual Studio will ask you:

  The selected connection uses a local data file that is not in the current project. Do you want to copy the file to the project and change the connection?

  If you copy the data file to your project, it will be copied to the output project each time the application starts. Press F1 for information on controlling this behavior.

Click Yes, and Visual Studio will add the database to your project and create a connection string that points to the copied database.

9. Now, you probably want to save the connection string in App.Config so you don't have to rebuild it every time you want to use the database. Most likely, this will save a connection string that uses |DataDirectory| . Modify the contents of this page as you wish.
10. Go through the rest of the wizard and set up your database as needed.

The wizard should configure the connection string and build the information so that your application works regardless of where you take it.

EDIT - my connection string saved in App.config looks like

  <connectionStrings> <add name="SOAccessDatabase.My.MySettings.Students_2000formatConnectionString" connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Students_2000format.mdb" providerName="System.Data.OleDb" /> </connectionStrings> 

I also have a Build Action database file set to "Copy Always".