how can I update the .edmx file without opening the designer, if that's possible? The db has like so many tables and every time I need to update the .edmx from database, visual studio hangs for a good 10 minutes (or so)
This is not a solution per se, but more of a workaround. If you have many tables like I do, (almost 300), move them to different diagrams. You can do this manually by editing the .edmx file and moving the tables that way, using the UI is too cumbersome.
This improved things dramatically for me.
Related
all...
Is there a way of reverse engineering in code first if there has been a minor change by someone within SQL management studio.
The equivalent in the EDMX file would be when you double click on the edmx file and right click and update from the database and it updates your model.
the reason i ask is there is alot of sql changes through SQL management studios and I dont know how I would consistently update my model.
thanks
You can reverse engineer selected objects and then add them back to your models and context. https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/jj200620.aspx
we're using Visual Studio 2013 Update 4 with Entity Framework 6.0.2.
Our process for adding new tables, and new pocos is described in these steps:
Define new tables in the database project.
Publish the database to localdb server
Open EDMX-Designer and right click somewhere in the designer and select "Update Model from Database..."
Save the EDMX
The Code-Generator re-creates all pocos under the edmx-name.tt file inside of the edmx-name.edmx container.
In most of the cases everything works fine! In some cases the code-generator removes certain files from the source control. Most of the files existed already before the "Update from Database..." process, and were already under source control. I have to right-click the edmx-name.tt file and select "Add files to source control" to fix this.
This is a nightmare for the development process in the team! If it would happen always, I would always check the pocos by myself before checking in. But it is totally random, I can not see a reason why this is happening.
Is anyone experiencing problems like that? How can we fix that?
(I have had problems like that with other Versions of EF, too)
You should not have generated files under source control. If you remove them, but keep your entity model, them this will not be an issue.
I have a serious problem that needs to be resolved.
In my server explorer in VS2013, I set up a connection to the database with valid user and password credentials.
So I have a schema called: Connect1, and it needs to have access to another schema called Connect2, both under the same data source name: Dev1. The user I'm connecting with is called Connect1, so by default I'm connected to the schema Connect1. I was able to verify that I have access permissions for this user to connect to Connect2.
Using ODP.NET Managed Driver, I was able to set this up. Putting all the connection details.
Configurations are shown in this page:
Using Oracle Developer Tools for Visual Studio
In order to allow the schemas to be viewed, I had to change the Filters tab, and add all the related schemas I'm using (adding Connect2). Then I click update, and I'm able to use the tables into my edmx file.
However, the problem occurs when I close Visual Studios. My filter gets lost, and my connection is back to using only Connect1.
This then destroys my table mapping in my edmx file with a series of
Error 11007: Entity type 'Table1' is not mapped
This is really frustrating as I'd have to keep on repeating the same procedure over and over again manually remapping all my tables.
What's confusing is when I update the data connection from my Server Explorer to include the second schema.. EF works and detects the tables; but my app config and the connection string has not been changed. So this leads me to believe that if I was to promote my project to production or test, that it will break since there's nothing in my project to show that Connect2 is needed.
Okay I realize the big pitfall that was never explained properly. I highly urge people to follow this if you ever want to use EF with Oracle and you're using another schema.
The pitfall is that since we introduced oracle's schema convention to the EDMX, there was no way of knowing how volatile the mappings would become. The reason why this was never a problem for microsoft is because there is no such thing as a schema in SQL server. To implement two databases in the same edmx file, there is some visible prevention that inhibits you from adding any tables whatsoever. After we introduce schemas, it becomes very fragile.
So what you have to do is follow the steps of adding the schema (as I explained in the question). Going to Filter tab, adding the schemas that way, and clicking the Update button.
Once that is applied to the server explorer, the edmx will have access to adding the tables from that schema. When you do, the EDMX has recollection of the schema embedded in its file. So if you ever do close visual studios, and reopen and run the project, it will still work.
Here are the few tips you want to AVOID:
Do not rename any of the entities and the columns (properties), even though it makes your code more readable. That's the first uh-oh. Since the mappings are very volatile, if you happen to mess up, remapping everything back again will be a chore.
The second uh-oh, is when you close Visual Studios, reopen it again, forget to reinclude your schema in Server Explorer, go to the edmx and do "Update model from database" to include anything else (but most importantly.. EVEN IF YOU DON'T DO ANYTHING) and you click OK, your model will still update regardless of non-changes, lose all the mappings that you previously made. That is what I mean by the maps being volatile.
In case that happens, and you didn't do the first uh-oh of renaming entities or the properties.. is to delete all your entities already there, and re-add them again.
The reason why you want to delete all the entities is because adding new ones with the same name will add a new entity with the same name + a number. So something like entity of Customer will still be there, adding the entity again will create a new entity called Customer1.
Sigh.
newbie to Entity Framework here. Using VS 2010 and SQL Server 2008 express DB.
I was having trouble refreshing an Entity Data Model after adding new tables. So, I followed a suggestion I found here to just delete and regenerate the model.
I get to the "Choose Your Data Connection" section of the Entity Data Model Wizard and "Save entity connection settings in Web.config as:" is checked. However, my existing name has a 1 appended to it. For example MyDatabaseEntities is now MyDatabaseEntities1. Of course, I don't want the "1" appended. I killed the existing connection string in Web.config and removed all references to that name in my solution. Yet when I try to continue I'm presented with the following error:
"'MyDatabaseEntites' conflicts with an existing property name in the Application Settings. Please choose a different name"
I can't find a reference to that name anywhere in the solution. I can uncheck that option and it will continue, but it STILL won't add two of the tables in the database. Next, I completely shut everything down, rebooted, and tried again. This time I didn't get the error above, but two of my three new tables still do not get added to the edmx model.
Any ideas are appreciated. Also this seems like it's still pretty buggy even in VS2010/.NET 4. Help restore my faith...I feel like abandoning Entity Framework at this point. Based on my experience so far and some of the other issues posted here, I feel like I'm going to spend more time chasing Entity Framework strangeness than writing useful code.
UPDATE: I found a resolution. The designer doesn't display errors. You have have to look in the native XML (edmx file) to see the errors. See here: ADO.NET Entity Framework: Update Wizard will not add tables
The error is caused by leftover connection strings in settings in "App.Config" file (see solution explorer) and it's in this section:
"connectionStrings" (surrounded by angle brackets)
Just delete it from there.
Restart IIS if you develop web app.
Restart Visual Studio After Deleting The EntityDataModel Connection
String Line from web.config or app.config
Add New Entity Data Model and rename it like old name,
I don't know the specific answer to your problem, but I think I can recommend an approach that will clear up this conflict.
I generally break my EF work into a separate library. If I'm working on Cyberdyne.Terminator, I make an EF class library called Cyberdyne.Terminator.Data. That way, if you want to blow away the model and start over, everything is separate from your dependent files, and in particular, your web.config.
None of this is likely to fix the missing tables, probably. The one thing I've seen where this happens is if I add a table, and then delete it. It will not appear again in the "Add Tables" dialog (and you have to rename it to get it to show). But I thought that was fixed in EF 4.0. Dunno. If the problem persists you might try renaming the table, re-adding it, and then renaming it back if it shows up.
EF is a pain in the ass to be sure. The only thing I can tell you is that I've generally had to work through these headaches, learn the issue, and never be bothered by them again. If you can't stand EF, you might also look at NHibernate - I have a very strong impression of that as well.
Double check your connection strings, and keep scrolling to the right. Most often, when this happens to me, Visual Studio has appended a connection string behind another. I've done this a couple times, and wondered where my app config was (no, there is no app config, just web config in mvc), so the dialog is a little confusing. Sure enough, most likely that connection string is lurking directly behind another!
Just press
Ctrl+F
keys and in dropdown list select 'EntireSolution/CurrentProject', then press enter. where ever this name generated it will show you.
I get into web.config file. so delete that generated complete connection line from there. and re add it again. Then hope you may not get this message again.Thank you..
Actually this is frustrating, since you trying to see in app.config that if there's a another string and you see only 1 string, Actually What VS does is sometimes append second string in the same line. see this picture below
Does it look like there are 2 ConnectionStrings? (ACTUALLY YES)
Now, see this pic:
Also you can press Ctrl+ED to format the config file and see if there's another second string hiding somewhere. Hope this will help someone.
im so sorry for my english
but the solution is simply.
you have to delete the ado.net
then, go to app.conf and delete the connection string<>,
DEBUG your project and finally add the new database through ado.net
TO ADD ADO.NET
RIGHT CLICK ON YOUR PROJECT NAME, THEN, ADD NEW ITEM, DATA AND SEARCH ADO.NET...
I hope help you, have good day!
angelsantacruzm
If you build the edmx file from the database and then the db changes, how do you get the model to pick up the change?
Do you delete the whole model and regenerate or can you detect changes?
I see a post mentioning a "Update Your Model" rt. mouse command on the edmx file, but I dont see it.
Updating your edmx to reflect changes made in your db (.net linq-to-entities)
I'm just starting out.
Are you looking at the designer or code view? You can force the designer to open by right clicking on your EDMX file and selecting Open With -> ADO.NET Entity Data Model Designer
Right click on the designer surface of the EDMX designer and click Update Model From Database...
All entities are refreshed by default, new entities are only added if you select them.
EDIT:
If it is not refreshing well.
Select all the tables and view-s in the EDMX designer.
Delete them.
Then, update model from database
I have found the designer "update from database" can only handle small changes. If you have deleted tables, changed foreign keys or (gasp) changed the signature of a stored procedure with a function mapping, you will eventually get to such a messed up state you will have to either delete all the entities and "add from database" or simply delete the edmx resource and start over.
This might help you guys.(I've applied this to my Projects)
Here's the 3 easy steps.
Go to your Solution Explorer. Look for .edmx file (Usually found on root level)
Open that .edmx file, a Model Diagram window appears. Right click anywhere on that window and select "Update Model from Database". An Update Wizard window appears. Click Finish to update your model.
Save that .edmx file.
That's it. It will sync/refresh your Model base on the changes on your database.
For detailed instructions. Please visit the link below.
EF Database First with ASP.NET MVC: Changing the Database and updating its model.
Update CodeFirst Model is not possible automatically. I don't recommend either.
Because one of the benefits of code first is you can work with POCO classes. If you changed this POCO classes you don't want some auto generated code to destroy your work.
But you can create some template solution add your updated/added entity to the new model. then collect and move your new cs file to your working project.
this way you will not have a conflict if it is a new entity you can simply adding related cs file to the existing project. if it is an update just add a new property from the file.
If you just adding some couple of columns to one or two of your tables you can manually add them to your POCO class you don't need any extra works and that is the beauty of Working with Code-First and POCO classes.
Here:
Delete the Tables from the EDMX designer
Rebuild Project/SLN (this will clear the model class)
Update Model from Database(readd all the tables you want)
Rebuild project/SLN (this will recreate your model class including the new columns)
You need to be careful though,
You need to setup the EDMX file exactly as it was before deleting it (if you choose the delete/regenerate route), otherwise, you'll have a naming mismatch between your code and the EF generated model (especialy for pluralization and singularization)
Hope this will prevent you some headaches =)
Double click on the .edmx file then right_click anywhere on the screen and choose "Update Modle From DB".
In the new window go to the "Refresh" tab and choose the changed table/view and click Finish.
I just had to update an .edmx model. The model/Run Custom Tool option was not refreshing the fields for me, but once I had the graphical designer open, I was able to manually rename the fields.
I've been working on a project, not too large, that incorporates Entity Framework, about a dozen tables, and about 15 stored procs and functions. After weeks of development, attempting to refresh my tables and stored procs has yielded mixed results as far as successfully updating the model. Sometimes the changes are effective, most times they are not. Simple column changes (changing order, adding, removing, or renaming) sometimes works, most times does not. Visual Studio seems to have more problems with refreshing than just adding new. It also exhibits more problems with stored proc changes not being reflected, especially when columns are added or deleted or renamed. I have not detected any consistent behavior so i can't say "This type of change will always be updated and this type of change will not".
End result, if you want 100% effective solution, delete the EDMX file from the project, "Add new" item to project (ADO.NET Entity Data Model), and make sure you use the same name for the Model Name. This works every time.