How to connect Microsoft SQL Server Compact or .sdf format database in C#.NET

It shows how to connect Microsoft SQL Server Compact or .sdf format database file into our project using C#.NET

Keywords: database, sql, C#.net, connection.

Steps to add .sdf file database into our project.

Step 1: download Microsoft SQL Server Compact setup from here

Step 2: After installation, you can see two setup file (SSCERuntime_x64-ENU and SSCERuntime_x86-ENU), install SSCERuntime_x86-ENU if you are using WINXP.

Step 3: After installation, open your project and create a new database connection, through selecting “Connect to Database”

Step 4: Then change data source into “Microsoft SQL Server Compact 3.5” and press OK

Step 5: Now click browse in connection properties to choose the .sdf file

Step 6: Then test your connection through clicking ‘Test Connection’ and click OK to exit

 

Step 7: Imp: you have to add a reference to your project named: “System.Data.SqlServerCe.dll”(located in “C:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\v3.5\Desktop”)

 

Step 8: To check this add a datagridview into your project and type the below code into your project.

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.ComponentModel;

using System.Data;

using System.Drawing;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

using System.Windows.Forms;

using System.Data.SqlServerCe;

namespace testc

{

    public partial class Form1 : Form

    {

        SqlCeConnection sqlceCon = new SqlCeConnection();

        SqlCeCommand sqlCeCom = new SqlCeCommand();

        DataTable dt = new DataTable();

        public Form1()

        {

            InitializeComponent();

        }

        private void Form1_Load(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            sqlceCon = new SqlCeConnection("Data Source=C:\\Program Files\\Microsoft SQL Server Compact Edition\\v3.5\\Samples\\Northwind.sdf");

            sqlceCon.Open();

            SqlCeDataAdapter adptrOdbc = new SqlCeDataAdapter("select * from customers", sqlceCon);

            adptrOdbc.Fill(dt);

            dataGridView1.DataSource = dt;

        }      

    }

}

Note: you can create new database at Connection adding time, through selecting Create option in Connection Properties

How to create MDI Parent form in C#.NET

It shows how to create MDI parent and child form in C#.NET

Keywords: C#.NET, C Sharp.NET, MDI, ismdicontainer.

The foundation of a Multiple-Document Interface (MDI) application is the MDI parent form. This is the form that contains the MDI child windows, which are the sub-windows wherein the user interacts with the MDI application. Creating an MDI parent form is easy, both in the Windows Forms Designer and programmatically.

Steps to create MDI Parent.

Step 1: Click on the main form and takes its isMdiContainer propert in Property box, default value is false, change to true that will set your selected form to mdi parent. (your form background become grey color)

Steps to create MDI child.

For this add a button to your form and write below code into the button click event to open the child form.

using System;

using System.Collections.Generic;

using System.ComponentModel;

using System.Data;

using System.Drawing;

using System.Linq;

using System.Text;

using System.Windows.Forms;

namespace testc

{

    public partial class Form1 : Form

    {

        Form2 frm2 = new Form2();

        public Form1()

        {

            InitializeComponent();

        }

        private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e)

        {

            frm2.MdiParent = this;

            frm2.Show();

        }

    }

}

Here your new form will open inside the main form.