title: How to access a mdf file without Sql Server
body: <p>I'm working on one Windows forms application using one .mdf file. And I have Sql Server 2008 installed in my machine , it is working fine in my machine. Now I need to install this application in Client's machine, Client's machine don't have Sql Server if they try to access this getting Network related exception, ie,</p>
  
  <pre><code>A network-related or instance-specific error occurred while establishing a connection to SQL Server. The server was not found or was not accessible. Verify that the instance name is correct and that SQL Server is configured to allow remote connections. (provider: Named Pipes Provider, error: 40 - Could not open a connection to SQL Server)
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>and this is my connection string in app.config file,</p>
  
  <pre><code>  &lt;add name="CustomConnection" connectionString="Integrated Security=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=True;Connect Timeout=120;User Instance=True;AttachDbFilename=C:\Users\[username]\AppData\Roaming\Smart\App_Data\SampleDB.mdf" providerName="System.Data.SqlClient" /&gt;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>Can we access the .mdf file without Sql Server instance? If yes how can we set the ConnectionString value.</p>
  
  <p>Thanks,
  Abhishek</p>