Force regeneration of Settings.settings file after change in app.config

Question

I have an automated build process that sets up the application for a specified mode (e.g. Dev, uat, live). Depending on this mode I want to update Connection Strings to the relevant one.

However, in my Data Access Layer there is an app.config file which stores the connection string and this is used to feed the Settings.Settings file. In my builder I update the app.config's xml with the new Connection String and then the solution is built, however the Settings.setting file doesn't get regenerated with the updated app.config connection string and so the app doesn't connect to the correct DB.

Is it possible to do this or am I going about it the wrong way through a misunderstanding of how these config/settings files work?

Thanks Stuart

Answer 1

Yeah, you're doing it backwards. The IDE generates the .config file contents from the settings you define in the Settings designer. That doesn't work the other way around. If getting the connection string valid straight from the build is important then set the default in the Settings designer. Or don't store it in a setting.

Answer 2

There is a way to override the settings.settings :

Project.Properties.Settings.Default["ConnectionString"] = ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["Project.Properties.Settings.ConnectionString"].ConnectionString;