Using ASPNET_RegSQL.exe with SQL Express databases in APP_DATA

As discussed at Lance’s Whiteboard, a really easy way to hook up an ASPNET membership provider database to an application … perfect for rapid prototyping…

“Creating a new DB in VisualStudio.NET 2005 is as simple as “Select APP_DATA node -> Add New Item -> Sql Database” and wah-lah you have a new aspnet.mdf file located in your APP_DATA folder.”

and to register the ASPNET membership provider content within this database:

aspnet_regsql -A all -C "Data Source=.\SQLEXPRESS;Integrated Security=True;User Instance=True" -d "C:\MyProject\APP_DATA\aspnetdb.mdf