UDL Connection string trick

Create a perfect connection string every time. Connections strings can be easy but once in awhile they are hard. When I have problems with connection strings I  use this old udl hack. Here is a super simple way to generate a connection string and test it and save it.

1. Create a text file
2. Rename the text file to conn.udl
3. Open the file by double clicking it 
4. Now you should see the "Data Link Properties" window
5. Populate your preferred options
6. Click "OK", the window should close
7. Right click the "conn.udl" file and select Open with Notepad
8. You should find a perfect working connection string that has all your options

You can specify different providers, credentials, set timeout values, permissions and more.