John N supports a C# project that, on first run, needs to initialize a database. It pulls that data from a dbInstallFilePath, controlled by the application .config file. This brings us to our representative line:

    <add key="dbInstallDbFilePath" value="C:\TestData\" />

Isn't that just terrible? Aren't you just cringing, or calling for the responsible developer to be sacked? Oh, wait, you're sitting here, scratching your head, wondering about how this is a WTF, aren't you? Let me provide a little more context.



       <!--  
        Stephen - 18th July 2013  
        ##  
        ## IMPORTANT - DON'T put a backslash at the end of the path below!!!!!  
        ##  
        I don't know why, but it sometimes makes a difference that the DbFilePath config 
        has to be specified WITHOUT the trailing backslash  
        It seems that if a database is created using a path specifiecation that includes 
        a single backslash, and an attempt is made to restore the database in-place  
        (using WITH MOVE ... REPLACE), then it will fail if the restore command uses 
        double backslash in the path, and similarly, restoring a database that was created 
        with double backslash in the path will only restore safely if the restore 
        specifies double backslash.  
        REALLY DON'T PUT A BACKSLASH. EVER.  
      -->  
      <add key="dbInstallDbFilePath" value="C:\TestData\" />


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