RIA services + entity framework server side Insert Update Deletes - logging - entity-framework

Question

First off, thanks for any help. I am using ria services to insert/update/delete entities and save a history of those operations. I want to perform the operation and save the history in ONE call to the service. Right now I am stuck on the insert because I need the new entities ID that is generated on the insert. I might be taking the wrong approach all together (but I hope not). I have overriden the submit method, and am trying to save a snapshot in the history table, I don't want to save a snapshot of the original version:
public override bool Submit( ChangeSet changeSet )
{
//SUBMIT FIRST SO THE OBJECT(S) HAVE AN ID
var success = base.Submit( changeSet );
if ( success )
foreach ( var changeSetEntry in changeSet.ChangeSetEntries )
{
if ( changeSetEntry.Entity is MyBusinessEntity )
{
var newBusinessEntity = (MyBusinessEntity) changeSetEntry.Entity;
RecordModifiedMyBusinessEntity( changeSetEntry.Operation, newBusinessEntity );
}
}
return success;
}
private void RecordModifiedMyBusinessEntity( DomainOperation operation, MyBusinessEntity newBusinessEntity )
{
var hist = new BusinessEntityHistory
{
ChangedBy = new AuthenticationService().GetUser().FriendlyName,
ChangedDate = DateTime.Now,
Operation = operation.ToString(),
BusinessEntityId = newBusinessEntity.Id,
Group = newBusinessEntity.Group,
Priority = newBusinessEntity.Priority,
....
};
InsertBusinessEntityHistory( hist );
//HERE IS WHERE I WANT TO CALL SUBMIT CHANGES AGAIN, BUT 1 - IT'S NOT IN THE CHANGESET,
//AND 2 - THE OBJECT I ALREADY INSERTED IS IN THE CHANGESET (SO IF I SUBMIT AGAIN, IT GETS
//INSERTED TWICE AND NO HISTORY IS SAVED. AND 3 - I CAN'T DO THE HISTORY BEFORE BECAUSE I DON'T
//HAVE THE ID, AND I DON'T WANT TO DO A MAX ID + 1 BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE MIGHT BE
//INSERTING INTO THE SAME TABLE
}

Answer 1

Here is the solution I ended up going with:
public override bool Submit( ChangeSet changeSet )
{
//submit the changes
var success = base.Submit( changeSet );
if ( success )
{
//make a new list of change set entries
var entries = new List<ChangeSetEntry>();
//each change set entry needs an id (not to be confused with the entity's id)
var maxId = 0;
//iterate through each change and add historical snapshot.
foreach ( var changeSetEntry in changeSet.ChangeSetEntries )
{
var entity = changeSetEntry.Entity;
var operation = changeSetEntry.Operation;
var myEntity = entity as MyEntityType;
if ( myEntity != null )
{
entries.Add( GetHistoryChangeSetEntry( ref maxId, operation, myEntity ) );
continue;
}
}
//make new change set with historical snapshots
var newChangeSet = new ChangeSet( entries );
//submit the new change set
base.Submit( newChangeSet );
}
return success;
}
private ChangeSetEntry GetHistoryChangeSetEntry( ref int maxId, DomainOperation operation, MyEntityType myEntity )
{
return new ChangeSetEntry
{
Id = ++maxId,
//We are inserting this change set entry
Operation = DomainOperation.Insert,
Entity = new MyEntityTypesHistory
{
ChangedBy = ServiceContext.User.Identity.Name,
ChangedDate = DateTime.Now,
//The operation performed on the original entity
Operation = operation.ToString(),
MyEntityId = myEntity.EntityId,
MyEntityField1 = myEntity.EntityField1,
MyEntityField2 = myEntity.EntityField2
}
};
}
I had to make a new change set, and new change set entries for it, and submit changes with the new change set.