Web.Debug.config vs. Web.Release.config running web app in localhost

Question

I have a Web.config file with some entries in there but depending on whether I am in Debug or Release mode when I execute my Web Application locally, I want to take different appSettings.

For instance, let's say that I have the following entry in my Web.Debug.config appSettings.

<add key="MyServiceUrl" value="http://my-test-site:8080/" />

And also I have this in my Web.Release.config:

<add key="MyServiceUrl" value="http://my-prod-site:80/" />

How should I configure my Web.Config, Web.Debug.Config and Web.Release.Config so depending on the mode I run my application locally (Debug - Any CPU vs. Release - Any CPU), it takes the right one?

Right now, the only pair of key and value that it takes is the one from the main Web.Config regardless I select Debug or Release in Visual Studio.

How can I configure that behavior?

EDIT

This is how I have defined Web.config

<appSettings>
    <add key="webpages:Enabled" value="false" />
    <add key="ClientValidationEnabled" value="true" />
    <add key="UnobtrusiveJavaScriptEnabled" value="true" />
</appSettings>

This is how I have defined Web.Debug.config

<appSettings>
     <add key="MyServiceUrl" value="http://my-test-site:8080/" xdt:Transform="SetAttributes" xdt:Locator="Match(key)"/>
</appSettings>

This is how I have defined Web.Release.config

<appSettings>
     <add key="MyServiceUrl" value="http://my-prod-site:8080/" xdt:Transform="SetAttributes" xdt:Locator="Match(key)" />
</appSettings>

Finally, in my code, I have the following method:

public static string GetAppSetting(string settingKey)
        {
            if (string.IsNullOrEmpty(settingKey))
                throw new System.ArgumentException("Cannot fetch a setting for a null/empty setting key.");
            return ConfigurationManager.AppSettings[settingKey];
        }

which I call it like this: string setting = GetAppSetting("MyServiceUrl");

However, it is null if it is not defined in the main Web.config

Please add <add key="MyServiceUrl" to your web.config

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf
– Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf

2016-12-01 22:54:52 +00:00
Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 22:54 — Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf
– Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf, Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 22:54
Or use: xdt:Transform="Insert"

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf
– Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf

2016-12-01 23:00:26 +00:00
Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 23:00 — Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf
– Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf, Commented Dec 1, 2016 at 23:00

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf · Accepted Answer · 2016-12-01 23:03:00Z

1

In the web.Release.config try this, it should work:

<appSettings>
 <add key="MyServiceUrl" value="http://my-prod-site:8080/" xdt:Transform="Insert" />
</appSettings>

Read this: Web.config Transformation Syntax for Web Application Project Deployment

answered Dec 1, 2016 at 23:03

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf

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5 Comments

user3587624 Over a year ago

Unfortunately, exact same thing happens. None of the entries get populated when I call GetAppSetting if the entry does not exist in the web.config. And... if it exists it takes whatever it is in the main web.config and not from the Debug or Release ones..

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf Over a year ago

What if you remove static? from: public static string GetAppSetting(string settingKey)

user3587624 Over a year ago

It is the same thing. It gets the one from the main web.config

Tony_KiloPapaMikeGolf Over a year ago

It should work, ultimately you could share your solution. And I could load it.

user3587624 Over a year ago

Actually I was able to make it work with your suggestion and also this instructions: sebnilsson.com/blog/… Thanks!

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