title: How do I point to my full SQL Server Express database in ASP.NET Core project?
body: <p><strong>Context</strong></p>
  
  <p>I have an existing project which is a data access layer that connects to a local SQL Server Express 12 database.</p>
  
  <p>I now want to create a new ASP.NET Core project in the same solution which utilises this database.  I also want to use the baked in user authentication with the relevant tables being added to this database.  </p>
  
  <p><strong>What I've done</strong></p>
  
  <p>I've created the ASP.NET Core project successfully but it points to a newly created (localdb)MSSQLLocalDB rather than my SQL Server Express database.  I changed the connection string in appsettings.json to:</p>
  
  <pre><code>"DefaultConnection": {
    "ConnectionString": "Server=MAIN-DESKTOP\\SQLEXPRESS;Database=ArbitrageSearch;Trusted_Connection=True;MultipleActiveResultSets=true"
  }
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>I expected it to then complain about missing tables but actually the application continues to access (localdb)MSSQLLocalDB.</p>
  
  <p><strong>Question</strong></p>
  
  <p>How do I point to my existing SQL Express database and then how do I initialise the tables necessary to support user authentication?</p>