C# – Extracting connection string from configuration manager

I have a problem. I am trying To extract a connection string through

sqlConnStr = new qlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["PlacementConnectionString"].ConnectionString);

but it keeps failing :

Object Ref not set to an instance of an object

I check with the debugger and this is the value of the connectionStr

{Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\Placement.accdb}

I have imported my database through VS2012's DataSet wizard so what am I doing wrong?

PS: I have tested the connection numerous times.

<connectionStrings>
   <add name="_201103578_P09.Properties.Settings.PlacementConnectionString" 
        connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;DataSource=|DataDirectory|\Placement.accdb"
        providerName="System.Data.OleDb" />
</connectionStrings>

Kind regards

Markus

[UPDATE]

I changed from

sqlAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter();

try
{
    sqlConnStr = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["PlacementConnectionString"].ConnectionString);
}

to

sqlAdapter = new SqlDataAdapter();
string s = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings[1].ConnectionString;

try
{
    sqlConnStr = new SqlConnection(s);
}

I inspect s and the value is

Provider=Microsoft.ACE.OLEDB.12.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\\Placement.accdb

Now an error is thrown

System.ArgumentException: Keyword not supported: 'provider'

At wits' end;

=================================================================

TO EVERYONE – THANK YOU the problem was (I forgot) when using an Access database you have to use OleDbCommand and not SqlCommand. Thank you everything works fine now! – Markus just now edit