Unable to use C# ConfigurationManager

23,681

Solution 1

Do you have a reference to System.Configuration? It's not added to .NET projects by default.

Solution 2

I was having the same issue.

It took me a little while to figure out that adding the reference is not adding the using. I had to right-click the project and select Add Reference, then pick System.Configuration in the .NET tab.

Worked like a charm!

Solution 3

Ensure that the actual project you're working in has a reference to System.Configuration. I was working in a data access project, not the presentation layer's project. So I was getting a bit confused because I had thought I had a reference, but in reality the data project was missing the reference.

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Paul Michaels
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Paul Michaels

I've been a programmer for most of my life. I have an interest in games, mobile and tablet development, along with message queuing, and pretty much anything that provides an elegant solution to a problem, technical or otherwise. I like learning new technology and finding new ways to use the old. I blog about my experiences here. You can read about me, or contact me on Linked in here.

Updated on July 19, 2022

Comments

  • Paul Michaels
    Paul Michaels almost 2 years

    I have the following code:

    using System.Configuration;
    
    namespace test
    {
      public partial class MyService : ServiceBase
      {
        public  static ReadConnectionStrings()
        {                        
          ConnectionStringSettingsCollection connections =
              ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings;
    

    However, it doesn’t recognise ConfigurationManager. I took this code directly from here

    So I’m clearly missing something, but can’t identify what.

  • Somachr
    Somachr about 7 years
    What if this is shared project?