Why Aren't My Database Changes Saved After Closing My C# Application?

C# Database Persistence Issues: Why Changes Disappear

Many C# applications interact with databases, inserting and retrieving data. However, saved changes sometimes vanish unexpectedly, a frustrating debugging challenge. Even if insertion queries appear successful, the new data might be absent after closing the application.

Understanding the Problem

This often stems from using the |DataDirectory| placeholder in the connection string. During debugging, the database resides in the binDebug folder, but Visual Studio's Server Explorer often connects to a separate database copy in the project's root directory.

Changes made during debugging affect the binDebug database. Server Explorer, however, shows the unmodified project folder database. Furthermore, if the database's "Copy to Output Directory" property is set to "Copy Always," the binDebug database is overwritten after each build, losing all changes.

Resolving the Issue

To correct this, change the database's "Copy to Output Directory" property to "Copy if Newer" or "Never Copy." Alternatively, configure Server Explorer's connection string to target the binDebug database.

Best Practices

• Microsoft Access: Set "Copy to Output Directory" to "Never Copy" for Access databases to prevent Server Explorer from altering database files.
• Connection String Consistency: Ensure your application and Server Explorer use identical, accurate connection strings pointing to the correct database location. This consistency prevents discrepancies and ensures data persistence.

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