If clearing the cache didn't work, the issue may be external.
If your application is trying to "download" the file from a network path or a relative path that no longer exists, it will trigger a failure. Check your App.config or Web.config file. Ensure the Data Source path is correct. automatic sdf downloading is disabled or failed.
Until the automatic SDF downloading works reliably – or at least fails gracefully with user-friendly diagnostics – I cannot recommend this software for any serious workflow that depends on external SDF data. The manual workaround exists, but it’s so tedious that it negates the software’s efficiency gains elsewhere. If clearing the cache didn't work, the issue may be external
Often, the feature is simply toggled off in the environment settings. Go to . Navigate to Database Tools or Data Connections . Look for settings related to SQL Server Compact Edition . Ensure the Data Source path is correct
The .sdf file is the file extension for , a compact relational database engine. The "automatic downloading" refers to the process where a development environment (like Visual Studio) attempts to pull the database schema or data from a server or a project directory to your local instance. The failure usually stems from one of three areas:
Use |DataDirectory| to ensure the application looks in the correct local folder regardless of the installation path. 5. Check for "Copy to Output Directory" Settings In Visual Studio: Click on your .sdf file in the . Look at the Properties window.