Cannot connect to the SQL 2005 Express

I created test project and want to use SQL 2005 database inside.

1. I created Test database with DEFAULT rights

2. I go into server explorer, press Add Connection. Shows message box for connecting to the server: <PCNAME> using windows authntification.

But NO database allowed to view :(.

Which setting should be set for SQL server database to i could connect and work with it?

P.S I use LOCAL connection. The Application and Server should be on the same PC.|||

sqlexpress is a named instance with instance name as "sqlexpress". For local connection, your connection string can be ".\sqlexpress", "(local)\sqlexpress", "<machinename>\sqlexpress", and e.t.c..

some other useful info: http://blogs.msdn.com/sql_protocols/archive/2006/03/23/558651.aspx

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I do not use connection string - I use Visual Studio User Interface for connecting. I could try to connect as blind but I want to get list of the databases and connect on click.

Could you please give me advice how I could to do that?

|||In Visual Studio, click Connect to Database in Server Explorer. Under Choose Data Source, select Microsoft SQL Server. Under Data Provider drop-down list, select .NET Framework Data Provider for SQL Server and click Continue. On the Add Connection window, in the Server Name drop-down list, either you type .\SQLEXPRESS or select it in your list. Select the database in the drop-down list and click Test Connection. Once you're done, you now have this connection in your SQL Server 2005 Express database from Visual Studio 2005|||

bass_player wrote:

On the Add Connection window, in the Server Name drop-down list, either you type .\SQLEXPRESS or select it in your list. Select the database in the drop-down list and click Test Connection.

I CANNOT SEE ANY databases, so I CANNOT SELECT invisible (for me) database and because I ask - WHICH RIGHTS I should to set in MS SQL Express to Databases could be visible.

Server list - exist (one server: <PCNAME>)

Databases list is EMPTY!!!!!!

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The list is for server, a server can host multiple databases. In order to see your local server in the drop down list, you need to have your SQL Browser running. Did you try to type ".\sqlexpress"?

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Aaaaaaa!!!....

I've understood. You all were right. .\sqlexpress is required - and all works.

Thanx bass_player and Xinwei Hong - MSFT