[RESOLVED] An Attempt to Attach Database

Im creating a hangman game on an windows app form.. I keep getting a message when I debug on the part I have marked red on my Game Form code...


System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException
HResult=0x80131904
Message=An attempt to attach an auto-named database for file C:\Users\ENJ1105\source\repos\HangmanApp\HangmanApp\bin\Debug\HangmanDB.mdf failed. A database with the same name exists, or specified file cannot be opened, or it is located on UNC share.

Code:

---

Public Class GameForm
    ' Define variables
    Dim dsQuestions As String          'Object variable
    Dim numWord As Integer              ' To hold index of word
    Dim word As String                  ' Hold actual word
    Dim numWrongGuesses As Integer      ' Hold number of wrong guesses
    Dim numRightGuesses As Integer      ' Hold number of right guesses
    Dim gameStarted As Boolean = False  ' Indicate if game has started or not

    Private Sub GameForm_Load(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load
        ' Disable txtGuess textbox.
        txtGuess.Enabled = False
        ' Set numWord variable.
        Dim numWord As Integer = 0

        ' Call the Load Data method.
        LoadData()

    End Sub

    Private Sub QuitToolStripMenuItem_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles QuitToolStripMenuItem.Click
        ' Close the form
        Me.Close()
    End Sub

    Private Sub NewToolStripMenuItem_Click(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles NewToolStripMenuItem.Click
        Dim dsQuestions As New HangmanDBDataSet
        Dim numWord As Integer = 1
        numWord += 1
        Dim word As String
        Dim numWrongGuesses As Integer = 10
        Dim numRightGuesses As Integer = 5
        Dim gameStarted As Boolean = True

        ' Initialize controls
        lblUnitDescription.Text = "Choose a game"
        txtGuess.Text = lblGuessALetter.Text

        ' Clear text of all labels.
        lblUnitDescription.Text = String.Empty
        txtGuess.Clear()
        lblLetter0.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter1.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter2.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter3.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter4.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter5.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter6.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter7.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter8.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter9.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter10.Text = String.Empty
        lblLetter11.Text = String.Empty
        ' Enable txtGuess.
        txtGuess.Enabled = True
        ' Set the focus to txtGuess.
        txtGuess.Focus()

        ' Gets word column row

        Try
            word = CStr(dsQuestions.Words(numWord)(1))
            ' Gets unit description
            lblUnitDescription.Text = CStr(dsQuestions.Words(numWord).UnitsRow(1))

        Catch

            ' Set label control for character.
            lblLetter0.Text = "_"
            lblLetter1.Text = "_"
            lblLetter2.Text = "_"
            lblLetter3.Text = "_"
            lblLetter4.Text = "_"
            lblLetter5.Text = "_"
            lblLetter6.Text = "_"
            lblLetter7.Text = "_"
            lblLetter8.Text = "_"
            lblLetter9.Text = "_"
            lblLetter10.Text = "_"
            lblLetter11.Text = "_"


            Dim ch As Char = CChar(CStr(0))
            Dim ch1 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch2 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch3 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch4 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch5 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch6 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch7 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch8 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch9 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch10 As Char = "_"
            Dim ch11 As Char = "_"
        End Try
    End Sub

    Private Sub txtGuess_TextChanged(sender As Object, e As EventArgs) Handles txtGuess.TextChanged
        Dim gameStarted As Boolean = True
        Dim word As String = ""
        Dim numRightGuesses As Integer = 5
        Dim ch As Char

        If gameStarted = True Then
            If word.Contains(txtGuess.Text) Then
                SetRightLetterLabels(word, ch)
                numRightGuesses += 1
            End If

        ElseIf word.Contains(txtGuess.Text) = False Then
            pboxHangman.ImageLocation = “images\Hangman-” & numWrongGuesses & “.png”
            numWrongGuesses += 1
        End If
        CheckProgress()

    End Sub

    Private Sub CheckProgress()
        ' Calculates the total number of tries.
        Dim numTries As Integer
        numTries = numRightGuesses + numWrongGuesses
        ' Displays messages
        If numRightGuesses = 5 Then
            MessageBox.Show("You in 5 tries!" & ControlChars.CrLf &
                            "Do you want to play another game?", "You won!",
                            MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Information)
        ElseIf numWrongGuesses = 10 Then
            MessageBox.Show("You in 10 tries. The word was ''." & ControlChars.CrLf &
                            "Do you want to play another game?", "You lost",
                            MessageBoxButtons.YesNo, MessageBoxIcon.Exclamation)
        End If
    End Sub

    Private Sub WonGame()

    End Sub

    Private Sub LostGame()
        Dim numWrongGuesses As Integer
        If numWrongGuesses > 6 Then
            numWrongGuesses = True
        End If
        End

        lblLetter0.Text = "_"
        lblLetter1.Text = "_"
        lblLetter2.Text = "_"
        lblLetter3.Text = "_"
        lblLetter4.Text = "_"
        lblLetter5.Text = "_"
        lblLetter6.Text = "_"
        lblLetter7.Text = "_"
        lblLetter8.Text = "_"
        lblLetter9.Text = "_"
        lblLetter10.Text = "_"
        lblLetter11.Text = "_"
    End Sub

    Private Sub LoadData()
        Dim dsQuestions As New HangmanDBDataSet
        Dim taUnits As New HangmanDBDataSetTableAdapters.UnitsTableAdapter
        Dim taWords As New HangmanDBDataSetTableAdapters.WordsTableAdapter
      taUnits.Fill(dsQuestions.Units)
        taWords.Fill(dsQuestions.Words)
  End Sub

    Private Function FindLabel(ByVal i As Integer) As Control
        ' Finds the right label in the word panel
        Dim label = panelWord.Controls.Find("lblLetter", False)(0)
        Return label
    End Function

    Private Sub SetRightLetterLabels(ByVal word As String, ByVal ch As Char)
        For i As Integer = 0 To word.Length - 1
            ' Check for each letter and set the appropriate letter
            If word.Chars(i) = ch Then
                FindLabel(i).Text = ch
            End If
        Next
    End Sub
End Class

---

These are the properties for the database file..
(Name) C:\USERS\ENJ1105\SOURCE\REPOS\HANGMANAPP\HANGMANAPP\HANGMANDB.MDF

The connection String for the database is showing
Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename=C:\Users\ENJ1105\source\repos\HangmanApp\HangmanApp\H angmanDB.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30

(Primary Path) C:\Users\ENJ1105\source\repos\HangmanApp\HangmanApp\HangmanDB.mdf

The user interface is set to false but if I go to set it to be True it says...

The login Instance flag is not allowed when connecting to a user instance of SQL server. The connection will be closed.

Do I need to detach the database on sql server or take offline to make it work in Visual Studio? I have already upgraded it and put it in my project

Only one data file with a particular name can be attached to a SQL Server instance at a time. Sometimes this error message is legitimate while other times it occurs because a previously attached data file gets "stuck" somehow. I've seen this issue in the past but not for quite a while. Try restarting the SQL Server service and you should be good to go for the time being. If it keeps happening then there may be some issue with SQL Server and/or VS that might require a repair or reinstall.

I only attached the one file HangmanDB.mdf to SQL Server..I tried uninstalling VS and restarting SQL server but still no difference..ughh this is the only thing left I have to fix but I dont see how I can fix this..ive looked online for answers but nothing seems to fit my problem

Based on what I've seen of this issue in the past, here's what I would do to try to diagnose it at least:

Restart Windows
Open the project folder in Windows Explorer and delete the bin and obj folders
Open the project in VS
Run the project

Does the error occur? If not:

Exit the app from the app, NOT the debugger
Run the project again

Does the error occur? If not:

Exit the app from the debugger
Run the project again

Does the error occur?

One thing I see is that the connection string you posted appears to have an extra space in it between the H and the a in HangmanDB.mdf (see the bolded piece below).

Quote:

---

The connection String for the database is showing
Data Source=(LocalDB)\MSSQLLocalDB;AttachDbFilename=C:\Users\ENJ1105\source\repos\HangmanApp\HangmanApp\H angmanDB.mdf;Integrated Security=True;Connect Timeout=30

---

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OptionBase1

One thing I see is that the connection string you posted appears to have an extra space in it between the H and the a in HangmanDB.mdf (see the bolded piece below).

---

I could be wrong but I suspect that that isn't in the original text and it's just the forum doing that to what was posted.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by OptionBase1

One thing I see is that the connection string you posted appears to have an extra space in it between the H and the a in HangmanDB.mdf (see the bolded piece below).

---

Oh sorry that was my mistake. I accidentally added a space..the original text doesnt have a space

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmcilhinney

Based on what I've seen of this issue in the past, here's what I would do to try to diagnose it at least:

Restart Windows
Open the project folder in Windows Explorer and delete the bin and obj folders
Open the project in VS
Run the project

Does the error occur? If not:

Exit the app from the app, NOT the debugger
Run the project again

Does the error occur? If not:

Exit the app from the debugger
Run the project again

Does the error occur?

---

None of those things worked..It keeps coming up:( the program comes up when I take that part off of my code but I need it

Unless you actually are running two applications that are both trying to attach data files with the same name, I think that this is likely due to a bug in VS or SQL Server. I know that I have seen this happen inexplicably in the past and I know that I'm not the only one. I would suggest that you create a new test project with a SQL Server data file and see if the same thing happens. If not, it might be an issue with that specific project, in which case it may be your best option to create a new project with a new data file and then migrate all the code across. If the same thing happens in multiple projects then you may just have to uninstall VS and SQL Server and reinstall. It's an extreme solution but sometimes it's easier than trying to narrow down exactly which DLL is broken.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by jmcilhinney

Unless you actually are running two applications that are both trying to attach data files with the same name, I think that this is likely due to a bug in VS or SQL Server. I know that I have seen this happen inexplicably in the past and I know that I'm not the only one. I would suggest that you create a new test project with a SQL Server data file and see if the same thing happens. If not, it might be an issue with that specific project, in which case it may be your best option to create a new project with a new data file and then migrate all the code across. If the same thing happens in multiple projects then you may just have to uninstall VS and SQL Server and reinstall. It's an extreme solution but sometimes it's easier than trying to narrow down exactly which DLL is broken.

---

Well, I uninstalled both and connected again and it worked!! Thank you for your help!