Manually Adding Tables and References in EF Core: A Comprehensive Guide

Discover how to manually add tables, views, and functions in EF Core Code First after generating a DbContext, enabling you to manage your database structure effectively.
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This video is based on the question https://stackoverflow.com/q/65957945/ asked by the user 'Legion' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/1229350/ ) and on the answer https://stackoverflow.com/a/65958702/ provided by the user 'David Browne - Microsoft' ( https://stackoverflow.com/u/7297700/ ) at 'Stack Overflow' website. Thanks to these great users and Stackexchange community for their contributions.

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Manually Adding Tables and References in EF Core: A Comprehensive Guide

Are you working with Entity Framework (EF) Core and wondering if you can manually add tables, views, and functions to your existing database without relying on code-first development? You're not alone! Many developers are accustomed to working with EF 6 where this was standard practice. Let's delve into how you can achieve the same with EF Core.

The Problem

In EF 6, developers had a flexible workflow where they could make direct changes to the database using SQL Server and subsequently update their EF classes accordingly. This allowed complete control over the database design without getting bogged down by code-centric development approaches.

However, with the introduction of EF Core, you might be questioning whether this manual management is still possible. Specifically, you may want to create a consistent workflow where once you've generated your DbContext, you can manage everything manually, just like in EF 6.

The Solution

Good news! Yes, you can manually add tables, views, and functions to your existing database in EF Core. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Create Classes for Your Database Objects

After generating your DbContext, you can create classes that represent your database objects (like tables, views, or functions). This involves defining your classes according to the structure of your existing database tables.

For example, if you have a table named Products, you could create a corresponding class as follows:

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Make sure that the properties in your classes match the columns in your database.

2. Map Your Classes to Database Objects

Next, you’ll need to become familiar with the Fluent API or Data Annotations for mapping your classes to the appropriate database objects. This step is critical to tell EF Core how your class properties correspond with the database fields.

Using Data Annotations

You can annotate your properties directly in your class:

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Using Fluent API

Alternatively, if you prefer a more centralized configuration, you can configure your mappings in the OnModelCreating method of your DbContext:

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3. Manage Your Database Structure

With your classes and mappings established, you can manage your database structure effectively. This means adding new tables, views, or functions directly in your SQL Server instance while maintaining the EF Core classes as your representation of the data structure.

4. Update the DbContext

Whenever you make significant changes to your database (like adding new tables), simply ensure that you update your DbContext to include any new DbSet properties that represent these new structures.

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Conclusion

In summary, you can absolutely manually manage your EF Core database structure after your DbContext has been generated. By creating classes that reflect your existing database structure and mapping them appropriately, you maintain a clean and organized approach to your database management.

This workflow has significant merits, especially for developers who prefer a hands-on approach to database management. Now, you can have the best of both worlds by leveraging EF Core while retaining flexibility in your database design!

Call to Action

If you are transitioning from EF 6 to EF Core and have any remaining questions about managing your database structure manually, feel free to drop them in the comments below!

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