asp.net - How to have different web.config settings for my local machine?

Question

I'm finding myself having to manually update my DefaultConnection connection string in my web.config when I run locally. How can I automatically detect when I'm running locally and - when I am - overwrite the default connection string?

I have debug/release transformations working, but these are for deployment. I'm looking for a way to add another option - "local" - if there's any way to do it (or something like it).

Answer 1

You need to add a solution configuration in order to add web.config transformations.

• Right click on your solution (in solution explorer)
• Select "Configuration manager" and in the "Active solution configuration" dropdown, click on new.
• Enter a configuration name (like "local" for instance)
• Copy settings from debug (seems more appropriate for development)
• Check "Create new projects configuration".

Set your projects configuration aswell, and when you're done, right click on the web.config, select "add transforms" and you're good to go !

Then, when you want to use your local connection string, just use this configuration instead of debug.