Set the ConnectionString at Runtime with DynamicData

Note (2025): This article dates back to 2008 and refers to ASP.NET Dynamic Data, which is legacy today. Concepts can still be useful historically, but for modern .NET consider newer frameworks and data‑binding approaches.

The following snippet customizes the .NET ConnectionString at runtime in a Dynamic Data application.

Edit Global.asax and modify the RegisterRoutes(RouteCollection routes) method. Instead of:

model.RegisterContext(typeof(XYZDataContext), new ContextConfiguration() { ScaffoldAllTables = true });

Use:

model.RegisterContext(
    () => new XYZDataContext(connectionString),
    new ContextConfiguration { ScaffoldAllTables = true }
);

Where connectionString is your string value. You can customize the RegisterRoutes parameter collection without compromising application functionality.