title: C# - unable to connect to a local ACCDB file with new SqlConnection()
body: <p>Doing a university project that requires an application that stores and outputs data from a local access DB file.</p>
  
  <p>So far I have very little C# knowledge but I have a basic understanding of how to write code and what functions and methods are.</p>
  
  <p>I have looked up a lot of different questions on StackOverflow and other sites about this kind of issue, yet I could not find a solution to my problem.</p>
  
  <p>Here is the code - </p>
  
  <pre><code>private void search_db(object sender, EventArgs e)
  {
      using (SqlConnection conn = new SqlConnection())
      {
          string search_query = search_input.Text;
          conn.ConnectionString = "Data Source=D:/Projects/WIP/8515/Academy/Travel Agency C#/Hotel_Agency/Hotel_Database.accdb;";
  
          conn.Open();
  
          SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand("SELECT * FROM Customers WHERE (name LIKE @query) OR (EGN LIKE @query)", conn);
          command.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("query", search_query));
  
          // Create new SqlDataReader object and read data from the command.
          using (SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader())
          {
              // while there is another record present
              while (reader.Read())
              {
                  // write the data on to the screen
                  Console.WriteLine(String.Format("{0} \t | {1} \t | {2} \t | {3}",
                      // call the objects from their index
                  reader[0], reader[1], reader[2], reader[3]));
              }
          }
      }
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>on line 6 of the given code, if my ConnectionString which provides the data souce which I have triple checked and confirmed is proper, the only thing I'm not sure is what type of slash should I use, since the default \ slash from windows directories gets mistaken for an escape by Visual Studio, while with the / slash its ok.</p>
  
  <p>The problem is the connection to the DB always fails with this error </p>
  
  <blockquote>
    <p>An unhandled exception of type 'System.Data.SqlClient.SqlException'
    occurred in System.Data.dll</p>
    
    <p>Additional information: 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</p>
  </blockquote>
  
  <p>Here is the full list of the namespaces we are using for this application</p>
  
  <pre><code>using System;
  using System.Collections.Generic;
  using System.ComponentModel;
  using System.Data;
  using System.Drawing;
  using System.Linq;
  using System.Text;
  using System.Threading.Tasks;
  using System.Windows.Forms;
  using System.Data.SqlClient;
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I have tried adding provider keyword to the connection string but that leads to another error about an unsupported keyword, since the System.Data.SqlClient namespace is allegedly automatically setting a provider.</p>
  
  <p>Any help as to what might be causing this is appreciated!</p>
  
  <p>PS: I apologize for any further lack of knowledge I present, I really am new to C# programming, but I find it quite interesting and exciting, and would like to learn more.</p>