General Tab, ASP.NET Configuration Settings Dialog Box

  • Article

The General tab of the ASP.NET Configuration Settings dialog box lets you manage the following two types of configuration settings:

  • Connection strings, which define information that is used to establish a connection to a data store, such as a database.

  • Application settings, which are simple name/value pairs that let you create application-wide values in a central location. You can then access the application values from anywhere within the Web application. By keeping application settings as part of your configuration, you can easily change the settings. Application settings are always stored as strings.

    Note

    The MMC snap-in for ASP.NET works with IIS 6.0 or earlier. The IIS 7.0 administration tool includes the functionality of the ASP.NET MMC tool. For more information, see ASP.NET and IIS Configuration.

The settings that you make on the General tab apply to the Web application that you selected before opening the Properties dialog box.

Note

Configuration settings can be inherited. Settings can be defined in the Machine.config file, which acts as the base configuration for all Web sites and applications that are on the server. You can create new settings or override inherited settings by making configuration settings at the Web application level.

To open the General dialog box

  1. In Microsoft Windows, open Administrative Tools, and then click Internet Information Services (IIS) Manager.

    IIS Manager appears.

  2. Under Internet Information Services, expand Servername (local computer), expand Web Sites, right-click either Websitename or Default Website, and then click Properties.

    The Web Site Properties dialog box appears.

  3. Click the ASP.NET tab, and then click Edit configuration.

    The ASP.NET Configuration Settings dialog box appears.

  4. Click the General tab.

Tasks

The General tab lets you complete the following tasks:

  • Define database connection strings for the Web application.

  • Create string values to store frequently used information. Then, you can access the information from anywhere within the application and the information is easy to change.

UI Elements

  • Connection string manager
    Lists the connection strings that are defined for the selected Web application. Inherited settings are italic and inherited settings that you have overridden are bold.

  • Add
    Click to display the Edit/Add Connection String dialog box, where you can create a new connection string.

  • Edit
    Click to display the Edit/Add Connection String dialog box, where you can edit an existing connection string.

    You can override inherited settings; in which case, the overridden setting applies only to the selected Web application. You cannot edit an inherited setting to change its value higher in the configuration hierarchy.

  • Remove
    Click to remove or disable the connection string.

    You can permanently remove new settings that are defined for this Web application. If you remove an inherited setting, the original setting is left intact in its location in the hierarchy and IIS Manager creates a remove element for the setting, which disables the setting.

  • Reset
    Click to restore an overridden or removed setting to its original value.

    IIS Manager removes the local, overridden value or deletes the remove element to allow the inherited setting to take precedence.

  • Application Settings
    Lists the application setting key/value pairs.

  • Add
    Click to display the Edit/Add Application Setting dialog box, where you can create a new key/value pair.

  • Edit
    Click to display the Edit/Add Application Setting dialog box, where you can edit an existing key/value pair.

    You can override inherited settings; in which case, the overridden setting applies only to the selected Web application. You cannot edit an inherited setting to change its value higher in the configuration hierarchy.

  • Remove
    Click to remove or disable the key/value pair.

    You can permanently remove new application settings that are defined for this Web application. If you remove an inherited setting, the original setting is left intact in its location in the hierarchy, and IIS Manager creates a remove element for the setting, which disables the setting.

  • Reset
    Click to restore an overridden or removed key/value pair to its original value.

    IIS Manager removes the local overridden value or deletes the remove element to allow the inherited setting to take precedence.

See Also

Tasks

How to: Access ASP.NET Configuration Settings Programmatically

Reference

Authentication Tab, ASP.NET Configuration Settings Dialog Box

Authorization Tab, ASP.NET Configuration Settings Dialog Box

Custom Errors Tab, ASP.NET Configuration Settings Dialog Box

Locations Tab, ASP.NET Configuration Settings Dialog Box

connectionStrings Element (ASP.NET Settings Schema)

appSettings Element (General Settings Schema)

Concepts

ASP.NET Configuration Overview