encryption - C# - How to retrieve a connectionString from an App.config, Encrypting config sections -

i have configuration file looks super simple this:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> <configuration>  <connectionstrings>    <add name="sqlserverconnectionstring" connectionstring="connection1"/>    <add name ="oracleserverconnectionstring" connectionstring="connection2"/>  </connectionstrings> </configuration> 

it couldn't easier that. trying encrypt "connectionstrings" section. i've tried , tried following many online turotrials have not been able work. think have possibly found root of issue. when this:

string conectionstring = configurationmanager.connectionstrings["sqlserverconnectionstring"].connectionstring; 

i am able expected result of "connection1".

however, when this:

var appconfigdir = @"c:\users\me\desktop\myproject\app.config";  system.configuration.configuration config =  configurationmanager.openexeconfiguration(appconfigdir);  connectionstringssection section =  config.getsection("connectionstrings") connectionstringssection;  var connectionstring = section.connectionstrings["sqlserverconnectionstring"]; 

i keep getting null! can me this? can't understand why unable connection string using second method.

i trying encrypt "app.config" doing following

section.sectioninformation.protectsection("dataprotectionconfigurationprovider"); 

this works, when decrypt:

section.sectioninformation.unprotectsection(); 

i unable origional connection strings. blank "connectionstring" section.