EF 5 + SQL Server CE 4: How to specify custom location for database file?

Question

I am developing a client system that needs a small local database. I want to avoid installation of SQL Server Express and have decided to go with SQL Server 4.

I use

Answer 1

The SqlCeConnection instance is used to connect to Sql Ce database file. If I want to connect to MSSQL database, I will use SqlConnectionStringBuilder and SqlConnection instances to build my DbConnection instance.

// The ctor for `DbConnection`.
private MyApplicationDataContext(DbConnection conn) : base(conn, true) {}

public static MyApplicationDataContext CreateInstance()
{
    var directory = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments);
    var path = Path.Combine(directory, @"ApplicationName\MyDatabase.sdf");

    // Connection string builder for `Sql ce`
    SqlCeConnectionStringBuilder sb = new SqlCeConnectionStringBuilder();
    sb.DataSource = path;

    // DbConnection for `Sql ce`
    SqlCeConnection dbConn = new SqlCeConnection(sb.ToString());
    return new MyApplicationDataContext(dbConn);
}