C# – LocalDB not recognized in Visual Studio 2015

asp.netclocaldbsql servervisual studio

I'm trying to create a database-first ASP.NET MVC app with Entity Framework in Visual Studio.

Starting with a blank project template, I open up the Server Explorer and try to add a data connection. I use Microsoft SQL Server as the Data Source, and "(localdb)\v11.0" as the Server Name. This gives me the error:

"The Data Source value in the connection string specifies an instance
of SQL server that is not installed. To resolve the issue, either
choose to install the matching instance of SQL Server or modify the
Data Source value in the connection string."

The tutorial I'm following (and a few other places I've googled) mentions that localdb is installed with Visual Studio. Either way, I have also installed LocalDB found here but it's not showing up.

I've tried following the directions in this post, but get the error "Cannot create an automatic instance."

How do I get Visual Studio to connect to LocalDB?

Best Answer

The default instance name is changed to (localdb)\MSSQLLocalDB independent of version numbers for VS 2015.

More info here: http://thebillwagner.com/Blog/Item/2015-02-05-VersionindependentlocalDBinVisualStudio2015

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Visual-studio – Adding a guideline to the editor in Visual Studio

This is originally from Sara's blog.

It also works with almost any version of Visual Studio, you just need to change the "8.0" in the registry key to the appropriate version number for your version of Visual Studio.

The guide line shows up in the Output window too. (Visual Studio 2010 corrects this, and the line only shows up in the code editor window.)

You can also have the guide in multiple columns by listing more than one number after the color specifier:

RGB(230,230,230), 4, 80

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Be sure to pick a line color that will be visisble on your background. This color won't show up on the default background color in VS. This is the value for a light grey: RGB(221, 221, 221).

Here are the registry keys that I know of:

Visual Studio 2010: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\10.0\Text Editor

Visual Studio 2008: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\9.0\Text Editor

Visual Studio 2005: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\8.0\Text Editor

Visual Studio 2003: HKCU\Software\Microsoft\VisualStudio\7.1\Text Editor

For those running Visual Studio 2010, you may want to install the following extensions rather than changing the registry yourself:

These are also part of the Productivity Power Tools, which includes many other very useful extensions.

Best Answer

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Visual-studio – Should I add the Visual Studio .suo and .user files to source control

Visual-studio – Adding a guideline to the editor in Visual Studio

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