I would like to use a tool to generate C# CodeFirst Entities and Mappings. I have used Entity Framework Power Tools and am looking for a better solution.
Using Entity Framework Power Tools as an example. This allows all tables in a database to be reverse engineered with C# classes generated for each Entity and Mapping. The problem is that you have to generate them all and cannot select just a few.
Is there such a tool that can generate these C# Entities and Mappings for the tables that you select? I do not want to hand-code these C# Code First classes.
If you have an existing database you probably could use model first approach with DbContext templates. Take a look at this walkthrough http://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2011/09/28/ef-4-2-model-amp-database-first-walkthrough.aspx. You can modify your model after creating it from the database. Also, when doing this this blog post may be useful too: http://blog.oneunicorn.com/2012/02/26/dont-use-code-first-by-mistake/
Related
I will be using Solr search server with my ASP.NET 4.5 application. I've already installed SOLR on my Windows 8 laptop computer. According to SolrNet this documentation, I need to use specific attributes on my POCOs.
The thing is that I am using Entity Framework and my classes are auto generated. Is there an option to assign those type of Solr attributed and also make sure that they are presistant and won't be erased if your suggested solution is based on editing the template (.tt) file.
I want to use Entity Framework, but if it is not possible, I will just copy the pocos and create the classes myself with those Attributes. But I prefer searching for a solution that will allow me to use solrnet with Entity Framework. Thanks.
I would suggest that you create separate classes that map to your Solr Index schema, as typically the structure of your EF classes and your index schema will not be identical. This way you have a clean separation between your persistence classes (those auto-generated by EF) and your index mapping classes and can control how the mapping between the two occurs. I recommend the use of AutoMapper to assist with translating your objects from EF to Solr and back again as needed.
I have used EntitFramework before to do codefirst with MVC; however, I have never reverse engineered an existing database to get my models.
So what I'd like to do is reverse engineer the existing DB then switch to codefirst so that changes made to the models will be reflected in the database automagically by the Entity Framework gods. How would I do this, specifically the reverse engineer then the switch to codefirst? Please have mercy if this is poorly worded or w/e I'm very new to MVC still.
It basically boils down to using tools to autogenerate the POCO classes that represent your domain, then using those classes as the basis for EF Code First and future migrations.
Here's a msdn article outlining the process
Code First to an Existing Database
You can reverse an existing Database by creating an Entity Data Model.
Check the following link. Here is described step by step the how to reverse a database to a CodeFirst approach with all of the navigation properties and required relationships. This scenario is also very useful for those entity relations that CodeFirst cannot resolve by its own and the configuration in not very intuitive.
Reverse from ModelFirst to CodeFirst
I know that I can create the POCO files from .edmx, but this only give's you a part of the code, because if you are going to use code first approach you need to provide more info to the POCO clases for example the key and foreign key by annotations or mapping, Now I was wondering , if exit's some way about how can I created this POCO classes with the annotations from a existing database.
what you are describing is not code first, is database first!
here is the answer you need to check: Entity Framework 4.1 - Code First with existing Database, how to define classes, using Attributes or EntityTypeConfiguration? What is the difference?
the EF power tools can generate pocos fro your db
link
As far as I can tell (correct me if I'm wrong), there are two main approaches to using Entity Framework:
Model First: start with a predefined database and let EF create the code for you.
Code First: write the code, and let EF create the database for you.
I have an existing database and I'd like to write the code myself. Is this "Code Only" approach supported? Does such an approach even make sense in the context of EF?
I disagree with most of the other answers. From what I've seen, the EF "Code First" technology is really just a way to define your model using conventions, annotations, or a fluent mapping definition, rather than an EDMX file. If you write your "Code First" files to mirror your database schema, there is no reason that Entity Framework would be unable to produce the appropriate queries and statements using LINQ to Entities.
For more information, see Scott Guthrie's post on Using EF "Code First" with an existing database.
Entity Framework Power Tools allows you to reverse engineer a database to generate code first like code (that won't re-generate your database). Then you can tweak it from there as you need.
I believe you have to decide what your system of reference is -- the code (Code First) or the database (Model First). If you have an existing database, then go with a Code First approach, it will be hard to keep your changes in synch without generating your model from your code, or your code from your model.
If you have an existing database, but want to extend your model beyond the generated code, you could implement partial classes to accomplish this.
If you want to manually map your EF4 code and your database, you could consider this approach. However, this eliminates some of the benefit of an ORM, which is to set up the mapping for you.
Well I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too in this case - there has to be one definite source on what your model is, it is either the database (DB first), which then generates matching code for you, or the code (Code first) which will then create a matching DB.
The Entity Framework team answered these questions on their blog:
http://blogs.msdn.com/b/adonet/archive/2011/03/07/when-is-code-first-not-code-first.aspx
Can anybody recommend a decent C# Mapper Pattern code generation template that plays nicely with SQL stored procedures? I'm looking for something that generates POCO style entity objects, with a static mapper class for transferring data to/from the database through entity objects.
I understand that NHibernate can generate POCO style entity objects; however, NHibernate looses its appeal when you have a strong dependency on SQL stored procedures (which is a requirement of this project).
Bonus points awarded if you can also recommend a template that also generates the CRUD stored procs! ;-)
Edit: For this particular project, I am definitely not interested in any templates that generate Active Record pattern code (e.g, Subsonic, Linq to SQL, Entity Framework, etc.).
The very old, but free LLBLGen will generate CRUD stored procedures. It will also generate objects, but I forget how much like POCOs they are. I have a feeling there are more guts in them than not.
http://www.codeproject.com/KB/database/usingllblgen.aspx
Have you looked at using My Generation and using it to create your own templates?