Trying to understand Web.Config AppSetting ConnectionString Properties

"(local)" means that SQL Server is running on the local machine (the Web server), and "NetSDK" is the instance name ( http://msdn2.microsoft.com/en-us/library/aa176582(sql.80).aspx).

You may also find this site helpful: http://www.connectionstrings.com/

Hi Phil,

Finally, after following your suggestion I managed to display data using DataList on the Browser.

Enclosed are my scripts which I hope will help other newbies like me.

1. Web.Config
'conPubs is the SQLConnection name

<appSettings>
<add key= "conPubs.ConnectionString "
value = "Server=(Local)\[instance name];Trusted_Connection=yes;Database=pubs" />
</appSettings>

2. Page Load Event
Private Sub Page_Load(ByVal sender As System.Object, _
ByVal e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load

Dim conpubs As New SqlConnection(ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings ("conPubs"))
conPubs.ConnectionString = ConfigurationSettings.AppSettings("conpubs")

daAuthors.Fill(DsAuthors1, "Authors")
Session("DSAuthors") = DsAuthors1
Me.DataBind()

End Sub

3. Display selected item
Private Sub DListAuthor_ItemCommand(ByVal source As Object, _
ByVal e As System.Web.UI.WebControls.DataListCommandEventArgs) Handles DListAuthor.ItemCommand

Dim drwCurrRow As DataRow
Dim dsAuthorSession As DataSet

Select Case e.CommandName
Case "Select"
dsAuthorSession = CType(Session("DsAuthors"), DataSet)
drwCurrRow = dsAuthorSession.Tables("Authors").Rows (e.Item.ItemIndex)

Me.lblFirstName.Text = drwCurrRow("au_Fname").ToString()
Me.lblLastName.Text = drwCurrRow("au_Lname").ToString()
Me.lblPhone.Text = drwCurrRow("Phone").ToString()
Me.lblAddress.Text = drwCurrRow("Address").ToString()
Me.lblCity.Text = drwCurrRow("City").ToString() & ", " & _
drwCurrRow("State").ToString() & " " & _
drwCurrRow("zip").ToString()

End Selec