I need to get data from another source into my DNN installation from another source 2K records 20 fields.  The DTSwizard in SQL Express only know how to talk to SQL Express databases that are visable in the SQL Management Studio and not the local MDF database files that DNN uses by default.

I was able to attach the DNN database to via SQL Management Studio and move my data. However, After I detached the database DNN was no longer able to connect to it.

I see the following posible paths to a solution:

1. Do a new DNN install with the database placed in the SQL Management Studio, where I know how to input the data  - However I have yet to get a connect string to work. Anybody know the correct connection string or of a way to debug connection errors?

   <add name="SiteSqlServer" connectionString="Data Source=.\SQLExpress;Database=DNN3;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" />  Note I have tried uid and pwd as well already.

2. Someother tool to move data to the sd-hoc mdf files that DNN with SQLExpress uses. Anybody know of such a tool?

Been pulling my hair out for two days on this so far.

David -

I had the same problem -- I had a native DNN .mdf that I needed to connect to the SQL Management Studio, then it wouldn't work.  This answer, from smehaffie, worked like a charm for me.  It makes it so DNN can once again attach to the database, even though you've used the Management Studio.

The post "could not connect to database" has his answer -- but here's the short version:

See Smehaffie's blog at:  www.dotnetnuke.com/Community/BlogsDotNetNuke/tabid/825/EntryID/1202/Default.aspx

Many thanks to Smehaffie and his blog, which I'm sure will help tons of us who are just getting started!

Ellen