web deployment project, web.config section replacement is not work

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While debugging why a web.config section replacement was not happening in the
real web application, I tried a simplified case, no replacement is enabled
and the connection string is not showing up?

Suggestions about what could be happening? The code:

Dim rootWebConfig As System.Configur ation.Configura tion
rootWebConfig =
System.Web.Conf iguration.WebCo nfigurationMana ger.OpenWebConf iguration(Nothi ng)

For Each objConnectionSt ring As
System.Configur ation.Connectio nStringSettings In _
rootWebConfig.C onnectionString s.ConnectionStr ings

lstCS.Items.Add (objConnectionS tring.Name & "|" &
objConnectionSt ring.Connection String)
Next

Puts "LocalSqlServer |data source=.\SQLEXP RESS;Integrated
Security=SSPI;A ttachDBFilename =|DataDirectory |aspnetdb.mdf;U ser Instance=true
" into the listbox.

The web.config is:

<?xml version="1.0"?>
<configuratio n>

<appSettings/>
<connectionStri ngs>

<add name="test" connectionStrin g="placeholde r"/>
</connectionStrin gs>

<system.web>
<compilation defaultLanguage ="vb" debug="true"/>

</system.web>
</configuration>

Thanks, Ira

Also posted in ASP.NET forum without response