Where does Orchard CMS create its built-in SQL Server Compact Database

Question

You can configure Orchard CMS to use a built-in SQL Server Compact database.

I want to connect to, and query, this database.

Where does Orchard create it?

Answer 1

The database is created in:

src/Orchard.Web/App_Data/sites/YourSiteName

To connect to it I use the following plugin for Visual Studio:

SQL Server /SQLite Toolbox

For other ways to open SQL Compact databases see this SO question:

How do you open an SDF file (SQL Server Compact Edition)?

Answer 2

Using the development installation of Orchard, the CMS creates the SQL Server CE .sdf file in the src/Orchard.Web/App_Data/sites/NameOfTheSite directory.

You can connect to it using SQL Management Studio (up to 2012) by following these steps:

1. File -> Connect Object Explorer...
2. Change 'Server Type' to 'SQL Server Compact Edition'
3. Select < Browse for more...>
4. Browse to and select your .sdf file.

For versions of SQL Management Studio 2012 and above, a third-party tool is required.

See this question for further details.