Web.config Transformation in VS2010

Web.config Transformation

For Web application deployment, Visual Studio 2010 introduces XML Document Transform (XDT), which is a feature that lets you transform a Web.config file from development settings to production settings. Transformation settings are specified in transform files named web.debug.config, web.release.config, and so on. (The names of these files match MSBuild configurations.) A transform file includes just the changes that you need to make to a deployed Web.config file. You specify the changes by using simple syntax.

The following example shows a portion of a web.release.config file that might be produced for deployment of your release configuration. The Replace keyword in the example specifies that during deployment the connectionString node in the Web.config file will be replaced with the values that are listed in the example.

<connectionStrings xdt:Transform="Replace">

<add name="BlogDB" connectionString="connection string detail]" />

</connectionStrings>

For more information, see Web Deployment: Web.Config Transformation on Vishal Joshi’s blog.