Configuring SQL server express for VWD

For some reason I can't seem to be able to add SQL databases to VWD

I receive the following error message:

Connections to SQL Server Files (*.mdf) require SQL Server Express 2005 to function properly. Please verify the installation of the component or download from the URL: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=49251

I have reinstalled SQL server but I still have the same problem, I tried tweaking some of the Server configurations without success.

I searched for hours on the web for answers but couldn't find any.

If anyone has any idea what could be the problem please help me.

My OS is Windows XP Professional SP2
IIS is installed.

Do you have SQL Server Remote connections enabled on your machine ? Can you in addition post your connection string you are using.

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||Yes remote connections are allowed, configured in the Surface Area Configuration.

I'm able to connect to a database I've created with Management Studio. But i can't create databases in VWD.

Code Snippet

connectionString="Data Source=DENNIS;Initial Catalog=Inventaris;Integrated Security=True"

This is the one I use for an existing database.

I forgot to mention that both SQL Server express and VWD run on the same computer.

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That wonders me a bit, you error is stating that you are trying to connect to a userinstance, your connection string uses a server instance. Could it be that you are using a different connection string than you think ;-) ? This error message comes if you are either using a SQL Server Express instance which is not enabled for user instances or you use a "bigger" instance than SQL Server Express.

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||When I use add connection in the database explorer I can chose the "Microsoft SQL Server" option and it works so long as the database exists.
But if I use the "Microsoft SQL Server Database File (SQLClient)" option and browse to an existing database or try to create a new one, it doesn't work and produces an error saying that the SQL server probably doesn't allow remote connections. Although I'm pretty sure it does.

I also allowed userinstances with the use of a query in Management Studio.

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Having a SQLServer Express instance you will have to name it in the connection using the following syntax:

connectionString=@."Data Source=DENNIS\SqlExpress;Initial Catalog=Inventaris;Integrated Security=True"

Jens K. Suessmeyer

http://www.sqlserver2005.de

|||After changing DENNIS (the server name) to 127.0.0.1 it works.

I guess when running the server local this is required.

Thanks for your help and quick responses.