Scenario: Windows 8.1, VS2013 Ultimate, SQL Express Installed and running, SQL Server Browser Disabled.
This worked for me:
- First I enabled SQL Server Browser under services.
- In Visual Studio:
Open the Package Manager Console then type: Enable-Migrations; Then Type Enable-Migrations -ContextTypeName YourContextDbName
that created the Migrations folder in VS.
- Inside the Migrations folder you will find the "Configuration.cs" file, turn on automatic migrations by: AutomaticMigrationsEnabled = true;
- Run your application again, the environment creates a DefaultConnection and you will see the new tables from your context. This new connection points to the localdb. The created connection string shows: Data Source=(LocalDb)\v11.0 ... (more parameters and path to the created mdf file)
You can now create a new connection with
Server name: (LocalDb)\v11.0 (hit refresh)
Connect to a database: Select your new database under the dropdown.
I hope it helps.