What is the connection string for connecting to local db file (.mdf)

[AK-47]

I use the following connection string to connect to database in the sqlserver instance SQLEXPRESS:

QString connStr = "DRIVER={SQL SERVER};SERVER=.\\SQLEXPRESS;DATABASE=dbName;";

But I want now to connect to SQL Server database file (.mdf) and I already installed Microsoft SQL Server 2016 LocalDB. What connection string should I use?

I tried the following connection string:

QString connStr = "DRIVER={SQL SERVER};SERVER=%1;AttachDbFileName=%2;"
db.setDatabaseName(connStr.arg("(LocalDB)\\v11.0",dbFilename));

And I also tried a different server:

db.setDatabaseName(connStr.arg("(LocalDB)\\MSSQLLocalDB",dbFilename));

But none of them works and throw the same error:

"[Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][DBNETLIB]SQL Server does not exist or access denied. [Microsoft][ODBC SQL Server Driver][DBNETLIB]ConnectionOpen (Connect()). QODBC3: Unable to connect"

[mrjj]

Hi
Im not sure ODBC likes LocalDB

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/f21d9354-01f1-484d-b5f8-ea63e0ca76e5/odbc-driver-13-for-sql-server-localdb-problem?forum=SQLServer2016Preview

I wonder if that have been fixed with newer versions ?

[AK-47]

@mrjj said in What is the connection string for connecting to local db file (.mdf):

Hi
Im not sure ODBC likes LocalDB

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Forums/sqlserver/en-US/f21d9354-01f1-484d-b5f8-ea63e0ca76e5/odbc-driver-13-for-sql-server-localdb-problem?forum=SQLServer2016Preview

I wonder if that have been fixed with newer versions ?

Thanks @mrjj for your help, I followed the link you provide and finally found a solution to my problem, I put the solution here.