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Entity Framework cFA PDF

The document discusses the code first approach in Entity Framework. Code first allows defining a model using .NET classes, and Entity Framework will generate a database based on these classes. Additional configuration can be done through attributes or a fluent API. The code first workflow targets a database that doesn't exist yet and creates it, or can add new tables to an empty existing database. The document provides steps to set up a sample project using Entity Framework via NuGet.

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Abhijeet Rajapure
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20 views7 pages

Entity Framework cFA PDF

The document discusses the code first approach in Entity Framework. Code first allows defining a model using .NET classes, and Entity Framework will generate a database based on these classes. Additional configuration can be done through attributes or a fluent API. The code first workflow targets a database that doesn't exist yet and creates it, or can add new tables to an empty existing database. The document provides steps to set up a sample project using Entity Framework via NuGet.

Uploaded by

Abhijeet Rajapure
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Entity Framework - Code First Approach

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The Entity Framework provides three approaches to create an entity model and each one
has their own pros and cons.

• Code First
• Database First
• Model First
In this chapter, we will briefly describe the code first approach. Some developers prefer
to work with the Designer in Code while others would rather just work with their code.
For those developers, Entity Framework has a modeling workflow referred to as Code
First.
• Code First modeling workflow targets a database that doesn’t exist and
Code First will create it.
• It can also be used if you have an empty database and then Code First will
add new tables to it.
• Code First allows you to define your model using C# or VB.Net classes.
• Additional configuration can optionally be performed using attributes on
your classes and properties or by using a fluent API.
Why Code First?
• Code First is really made up of a set of puzzle pieces. First are your domain
classes.
• The domain classes have nothing to do with Entity Framework. They're just
the items of your business domain.
• Entity Framework, then, has a context that manages the interaction
between those classes and your database.
• The context is not specific to Code First. It's an Entity Framework feature.
• Code First adds a model builder that inspects your classes that the context
is managing, and then uses a set of rules or conventions to determine how
those classes and the relationships describe a model, and how that model
should map to your database.
• All of this happens at runtime. You'll never see this model, it's just in
memory.
• Code First also has the ability to use that model to create a database if you
wanted to.
• It can also update the database if the model changes, using a feature called
Code First Migrations.

Environment Setup
To start working with EF Code First approach you need the following tools to be
installed on your system.

• Visual Studio 2013 (.net framework 4.5.2) or later version.


• MS SQL Server 2012 or latter.
• Entity Framework via NuGet Package.

Install EF via NuGet Package


Step 1 − First, create the console application from File → New → Project…
Step 2 − Select Windows from the left pane and Console Application from the template
pane.
Step 3 − Enter EFCodeFirstDemo as the name and select OK.
Step 4 − Right-click on your project in the solution explorer and select Manage NuGet
Packages…
This will open NuGet Package Manager, and search for EntityFramework. This will
search for all the packages related to Entity Framework.
Step 5 − Select EntityFramework and click on Install. Or from the Tools menu click
NuGet Package Manager and then click Package Manager Console. In the Package
Manager Console window, enter the following command: Install-Package
EntityFramework.
When the installation is complete, you will see the following message in the output
window “Successfully installed 'EntityFramework 6.1.2' to EFCodeFirstDemo”.
After installation, EntityFramework.dll will be included in your project, as shown in the
following image.
Now you are ready to start working on Code First approach.

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