Data Source

I have a problem connecting Visual Studio 2005 to my DataBase file. I've downloaded northwind.mdf . Three weeks ago I installed SQL express and I used Visual Studio in the following manner: From server Explorer tab I choose Add connection.. , Change data source and I selected Microsoft SQL Server Database File (SqlClient), next I've selected my NORTHWND.MDF and when I pressed Test connection , it succeded. Recently, I've purchsed SQL server developer edition. The problem is when I follow the steps above I reveive:

An error has occurred while establishing a connection to the server, When connecting to SQL Server 2005, this failture may be caused by the fact that under the default SQL Server does not allow remote connections. ( provider: SQL Network Interfaces, error: 26 - Error Locating Server/Instance Specified)

So , I've checked and changed remote connections to allow TCP/IP , but I receive the same error.

I've set up Visual Studio to SQL Server Instance Name : NAME , where NAME is the name assigned to my SQL Server. Worthless

The thing is it is working in another way : From server Explorer tab I choose Add connection.. , Change data source and I selected Microsoft SQL Server (SqlClient) , next I've selected server name to NAME , then Attach a database file . Test connection : succeded . This is because I do not have the northwind database attached directly in my SQL server ( and I do not want to ) .

Why with Developer edition I do not receive the same results ? Where is the mistake?

Thank you

Connecting to a database is a feature available only in SQL Server Express edition, but not in any other SQL Server version. This feature intention is to allow database applications development without the need to have a DBA who attaches the database files. For more information I would recommend to visit SQL Server 2005 Express Edition User Instances (http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnsse/html/sqlexpuserinst.asp).

If you want to use SQL Server developer edition, I would recommend attaching the database to SQL Server. For more information on this topic you can visit the following link: How to: Attach a Database File to SQL Server Express (http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/ms165673.aspx).

Thanks a lot,

-Raul Garcia

SDE/T

SQL Server Engine