How to move connectionString from App.config to code in C#?

Question

I want to remove connectionString from App.config and add it to code. I'm using WinForms(C#) and.Net Framework 4.8. I have textBoxes and a datagridview on my form. I'm using Microsoft Access Database (.mdb). I want to do this because database's password is visible in App.config. Is there any way to do that

Here is my app.config XML code:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?>
<configuration>
    <configSections>
    </configSections>
    <connectionStrings>
        <add name="Locker.Properties.Settings.pw_dbConnectionString"
            connectionString="Provider=Microsoft.Jet.OLEDB.4.0;Data Source=|DataDirectory|\files\pw_db.mdb;Persist Security Info=True;Jet OLEDB:Database Password=XYZ"
            providerName="System.Data.OleDb" />
    </connectionStrings>
    <startup> 
        <supportedRuntime version="v4.0" sku=".NETFramework,Version=v4.8" />
    </startup>
</configuration>

Answer 1

I would suggest you not to define the connection string in code, better you can encrypt it in the app.config file.

Please follow the following steps:

• Rename app.config to web.config
• Open command prompt and type: %windir%\Microsoft.NET\Framework\v2.0.50727\aspnet_regiis -pef "connectionStrings" path of the web.config>
• Rename web.config back to app.config

If you open the file in notepad, you will see the encrypted value and you can continue using it as you were using before.