How Can I Use a Relative Path for a SQL Express Connection String in My Unit Test Project?

Relative Path for SQL Express Connection String in Unit Test Project

In your question, you inquire about using a relative path or variable in the app.config file for a SQL Express database connection string. You've been using an absolute path to specify the location of the MDF file, but you're seeking a more flexible approach.

To achieve this, you can indeed utilize the |DataDirectory| placeholder in the connection string. However, you're incorrect in your assumption that it's only applicable to web applications. |DataDirectory| is a special variable that points to the directory where the executable assembly for the application resides. This is a convenient way to refer to a specific location without having to provide an absolute path.

To implement this, you can modify the connection string in your app.config file as follows:

<add name="MyConnectionString"
    connectionString="Server=.\SQLExpress;AttachDbFilename=|DataDirectory|\MyUnitTestDB.mdf;Database=MyDatabaseForTesting;Trusted_Connection=Yes;" />

This will instruct the application to locate the MDF file in the same directory as the executable assembly.

To set the |DataDirectory| property, you can use the following code in your unit test class:

[TestInitialize]
public void TestInitialize()
{
    AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData("DataDirectory", System.IO.Path.Combine(AppDomain.CurrentDomain.BaseDirectory, "Databases"));
    
    // Rest of initialize implementation ...
}

This line will set the |DataDirectory| property to the specified directory, where your MDF file is located. By using this approach, you can maintain a relative connection string that will work regardless of the application's location.

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