Entity Framework: Setting correct connection string to SQL Server Compact in ASP.NET MVC 4

Question

I want to use and embedded SQL Server Compact edition in my asp.net mvc 4 project. I try to approaches but I have problems with any approach:

First attempt

I have created a new data connection from visual studio and from server explorer of type Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5 and I store the .sdf file in my asp.net mvc 4 project under \App_Data folder (I add this .sdf file to this folder). I guess doing this I create and embedded SQL Server Compact database for my web application, am I right?

Finally, I create the following connection string in web.config:

<add name="DefaultConnection"
     providerName="System.Data.SqlServerCe.3.5"
     connectionString="Data Source=|DataDirectory|\App_Data\MyDatabaseSQLCe.sdf" />

I start my web application but an error occurs, database seems to be not found, well the error says something like:

SQL Server Compact is not intended for asp.net development

I am not sure if the connection string above described is the correct.

Second attempt

Also I have downloaded the SQL Server Compact 4.0 from here: http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/sqlserver/editions/2012-editions/compact.aspx and I have installed. Once installed If I go to create a data connection as above described it does not appears SQL Server Compact 4.0 from Visual Studio. I would like to use an embedded SQL Server Compact in my project but I am completely lost.

Conclusion: my goal is to use SQL Server Compact edition as embedded in my asp.net mvc 4 web application and put this .sdf file in my \App_Data folder and make it works with the correct string connection in web.config.

Answer 1

|DataDirectory|\App_Data yields App_Data\App_Data, if I am not incorrect. Try Data Source=|DataDirectory|\MyDatabaseSQLCe.sdf.

You can test this by dumping AppDomain.CurrentDomain.GetData("DataDirectory").ToString() on your webpage.

You should grab the toolkit for visual studio when dealing with Sql Server Compact.

http://visualstudiogallery.msdn.microsoft.com/0e313dfd-be80-4afb-b5e9-6e74d369f7a1