Pro Entity Framework 4.0 : [the @future of data access in .NET programming

The introduction of SQL Server 2005 began the process which has seen .NET become an integral part of the SQL Server database technology. SQL Server 2008 is the next evolutionary step in that story. Alongside the more traditional database enhancements in the new release, there is an increasing focus upon a greater and more challenging integration with .NET 3.5. This book shows how to take advantage of this tight integration and how developers and DBAs can manipulate data more easily than ever before. Prelim......Page 1 Contents at a Glance......Page 6 Contents......Page 7 About the Author......Page 13 About the Technical Reviewer......Page 14 Acknowledgments......Page 15 The Need for an Entity Framework......Page 17 This Has Been Tried Before......Page 19 So, What Is the Entity Framework?......Page 20 Database-Driven......Page 21 Model-Driven......Page 22 Working with Entities......Page 23 Entity Framework 4.0 Features......Page 25 Plurality Naming......Page 26 Model Browser Improvements......Page 27 Back-End Support......Page 28 Creating an EDM......Page 29 Taking a Database-First Approach......Page 30 Making Generated Object Names Plural or Singular......Page 35 Taking a Model-First Approach......Page 38 Generating a Schema and Database......Page 43 Managing Table Inheritance......Page 47 Taking a Code-Only Approach......Page 48 The Designer Window......Page 51 Model Browser Window......Page 53 Entities......Page 54 Complex Types......Page 56 Creating a Complex Type......Page 57 Foreign Keys and Relationships (Associations)......Page 61 Navigation Properties......Page 62 Mapping Details......Page 63 Lifting the EDM Hood......Page 64 The SSDL Section......Page 66 Association Element......Page 68 The CSDL Section......Page 69 EntityType Element......Page 70 Associations......Page 71 The CS (MSL) Section......Page 72 EDM-Generated Classes......Page 74 Query-Expression Syntax......Page 79 Context......Page 83 Method-Based Syntax......Page 84 LINQ to Entities......Page 85 Entity SQL......Page 90 The EntityClient......Page 92 EntityConnection......Page 93 Immediate vs. Deferred Query Execution......Page 94 Deferred Execution......Page 95 Immediate Execution......Page 96 ObjectStateEntry......Page 99 Tracking and Saving Changes......Page 100 Updating Entities......Page 101 Adding Entities......Page 103 Relational Inserts......Page 105 Deleting Entities......Page 107 Stored Procedures in the EDM......Page 109 The Model Browser......Page 113 What Is an EF Function?......Page 114 Mapping Functions......Page 115 Insert......Page 118 Update......Page 120 Select......Page 121 Using Functions in Queries......Page 122 Relationships in General......Page 125 Relationships in EF 3.5......Page 126 Creating a WinForms Project......Page 129 Adding an Association......Page 132 Looking at XML Differences......Page 133 Understanding Approaches to Foreign Keys in EF 4.0......Page 135 Adding Dependent Objects......Page 136 Manually Setting the Foreign Key Property......Page 137 Setting the Foreign Key Automatically......Page 138 Building the Sample Project......Page 139 Summary......Page 142 Adding a Template Using Visual Studio 2008......Page 143 Installing a T4 Editor......Page 144 Writing Some T4 Code......Page 145 Scoping Your Code......Page 148 Example 1: Running the Project......Page 149 Example 2: Returning Your Computer’s Processes......Page 150 Example 3: Listing Your SQL Databases......Page 151 T4 Templates and the Entity Framework......Page 153 T4 Customization Example......Page 158 Creating a Conceptual Model......Page 161 Creating Entities in the Empty Model......Page 164 Creating Associations and Navigation Properties......Page 166 Saving the Model......Page 167 Creating the Mappings and Database......Page 168 Tables......Page 175 Associations......Page 176 Handling of Complex Types......Page 177 DB Generation Script Customization......Page 179 Getting Started with Code-Only......Page 183 Creating the Data Project......Page 184 Adding References......Page 186 Adding Context and Connections......Page 188 Creating Configuration Classes......Page 189 Testing the Code-Only Model......Page 191 Building the Project......Page 192 Loading Some Rows......Page 193 Connecting the DataGridView Control......Page 194 Running the Application......Page 195 Additional POCO Information......Page 196 Complex-Type Support......Page 197 Change Tracking......Page 198 Finishing the Example......Page 199 Building the WCF Data Service......Page 203 Testing the WCF Data Service......Page 210 Consuming the WCF Data Service......Page 217 Adding the Service Reference......Page 218 Utilizing the Service......Page 222 Updating the Model......Page 225 Checking the Model......Page 229 Stored Procedure Mapping......Page 231 Building an Entity Framework Project......Page 232 Try/Catch Blocks......Page 235 Exception Class......Page 237 Connection Exceptions......Page 239 Query Exceptions......Page 241 EntitySQL Exceptions......Page 242 Creating a New Form......Page 245 Creating Data Sources......Page 248 Adding Code to the Form......Page 252 Adding a Grid Control......Page 254 Getting the Grid to Display Some Data......Page 255 Testing Your Final Grid Implementation......Page 257 Implementing Add Functionality......Page 258 Implementing Save Functionality......Page 260 Adding Some Code......Page 261 Running the Project......Page 262 Displaying Related Detail......Page 264 ¦......Page 269 ¦ C......Page 270 ¦ D......Page 271 ¦......Page 272 ¦......Page 274 ¦......Page 275 ¦ N......Page 276 ¦ Q......Page 277 ¦......Page 278 ¦ T......Page 279 ¦......Page 280 ¦......Page 281

Previously, SQL developers have been able to almost entirely ignore the SQLCLR and treat it as a peripheral technology-almost an extension to the main product. With the advent of LINQ and the Entity Framework, this is no longer the case, and the SQLCLR is moving to the center stage. It’s a powerful product but, for many, it is an entirely new way of working with data. Pro Entity Framework 4.0 will help readers understand the implications of the Entity Framework and how it can be used to change their development practices and make their databases more powerful and flexible. Since many readers will be encountering this subject for the first time, the book will create an inclusive environment in which the concepts of .NET development are approached from the perspective of the Relational T–SQL developer to foster a sense of shared–ownership in keeping with Microsoft’s latest best practices.

• Comprehensive coverage of the new greater and more challenging integration with .NET 3.5
• Written from a real–world perspective and examines the features offered by LINQ and the Entity Framework that will help solve problems experienced by professional developers
• Contains insight, interpretation, analysis, and evangelism instead of just plain fact

What you’ll learn

• Examine the SQLCLR architecture.
• Learn the fundamentals of LINQ.
• Use LINQ with SQL and datasets.
• Extend LINQ.
• Gain a holistic view of the features of LINQ and the Entity Framework and how they segue with other features of the .NET Framework and native features of the operating system.
• Write practical applications of LINQ and the Entity Framework.

Who this book is for

.NET and SQL developers who use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as their back–end database. Database administrators who create, manage, and secure those databases.

Table of Contents

1. Introducing the ADO.NET 4.0 Entity Framework
2. The Entity Data Model
3. The Entity Data Model Inside and Out
4. Querying the EDM
5. Working with Entities
6. Stored Procedures and the EDM
7. Relationships and Associations
8. T4 Code Generation
9. Model-First Development
10. Code-Only Development
11. N-tier Development with WCF Data Services
12. Performance Tuning and Exception Handling
13. Data Binding with the Entity Framework

Previously, SQL developers have been able to almost entirely ignore the SQLCLR and treat it as a peripheral technology—almost an extension to the main product. With the advent of LINQ and the Entity Framework, this is no longer the case, and the SQLCLR is moving to the center stage. It’s a powerful product but, for many, it is an entirely new way of working with data. Pro Entity Framework 4.0 will help readers understand the implications of the Entity Framework and how it can be used to change their development practices and make their databases more powerful and flexible. Since many readers will be encountering this subject for the first time, the book will create an inclusive environment in which the concepts of .NET development are approached from the perspective of the Relational T–SQL developer to foster a sense of shared–ownership in keeping with Microsoft’s latest best practices. Comprehensive coverage of the new greater and more challenging integration with .NET 3.5 Written from a real–world perspective and examines the features offered by LINQ and the Entity Framework that will help solve problems experienced by professional developers Contains insight, interpretation, analysis, and evangelism instead of just plain fact What you’ll learn Examine the SQLCLR architecture. Learn the fundamentals of LINQ. Use LINQ with SQL and datasets. Extend LINQ. Gain a holistic view of the features of LINQ and the Entity Framework and how they segue with other features of the .NET Framework and native features of the operating system. Write practical applications of LINQ and the Entity Framework. Who this book is for .NET and SQL developers who use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as their back–end database. Database administrators who create, manage, and secure those databases. Table of Contents Chapter 1: Introducing the ADO.NET 4.0 Entity Framework Chapter 2: The Entity Data Model Chapter 3: The Entity Data Model Inside and Out Chapter 4: Querying the EDM Chapter 5: Working with Entities Chapter 6: Stored Procedures and the EDM Chapter 7: Relationships and Associations Chapter 8: T4 Code Generation Chapter 9: Model-First Development Chapter 10: Code-Only Development Chapter 11: N-tier Development with WCF Data Services Chapter 12: Performance Tuning and Exception Handling Chapter 13: Data Binding with the Entity Framework Previously, SQL developers have been able to almost entirely ignore the SQLCLR and treat it as a peripheral technology—almost an extension to the main product. With the advent of LINQ and the Entity Framework, this is no longer the case, and the SQLCLR is moving to the center stage. It’s a powerful product but, for many, it is an entirely new way of working with data. __Pro Entity Framework 4.0__ will help readers understand the implications of the Entity Framework and how it can be used to change their development practices and make their databases more powerful and flexible. Since many readers will be encountering this subject for the first time, the book will create an inclusive environment in which the concepts of .NET development are approached from the perspective of the Relational T–SQL developer to foster a sense of shared–ownership in keeping with Microsoft’s latest best practices. * Comprehensive coverage of the new greater and more challenging integration with .NET 3.5 * Written from a real–world perspective and examines the features offered by LINQ and the Entity Framework that will help solve problems experienced by professional developers * Contains insight, interpretation, analysis, and evangelism instead of just plain fact * Examine the SQLCLR architecture. * Learn the fundamentals of LINQ. * Use LINQ with SQL and datasets. * Extend LINQ. * Gain a holistic view of the features of LINQ and the Entity Framework and how they segue with other features of the .NET Framework and native features of the operating system. * Write practical applications of LINQ and the Entity Framework. .NET and SQL developers who use Microsoft SQL Server 2008 as their back–end database. Database administrators who create, manage, and secure those databases. Chapter 1: Introducing the ADO.NET 4.0 Entity Framework Chapter 2: The Entity Data Model Chapter 3: The Entity Data Model Inside and Out Chapter 4: Querying the EDM Chapter 5: Working with Entities Chapter 6: Stored Procedures and the EDM Chapter 7: Relationships and Associations Chapter 8: T4 Code Generation Chapter 9: Model-First Development Chapter 10: Code-Only Development Chapter 11: N-tier Development with WCF Data Services Chapter 12: Performance Tuning and Exception Handling Chapter 13: Data Binding with the Entity Framework Previously, SQL developers have been able to almost entirely ignore the SQLCLR and treat it as a peripheral technology ́ almost an extension to the main product. With the advent of LINQ and the Entity Framework, this is no longer the case, and the SQLCLR is moving to the center stage. It ́ s a powerful product but, for many, it is an entirely new way of working with data. Pro Entity Framework 4.0 will help readers understand the implications of the Entity Framework and how it can be used to change their development practices and make their databases more powerful and flexible. Since many readers will be encountering this subject for the first time, the book will create an inclusive environment in which the concepts of .NET development are approached from the perspective of the Relational T ́ SQL developer to foster a sense of shared ́ ownership in keeping with Microsoft ́ s latest best practices. Comprehensive coverage of the new greater and more challenging integration with .NET 3.5 Written from a real ́ world perspective and examines the features offered by LINQ and the Entity Framework that will help solve problems experienced by professional developers Contains insight, interpretation, analysis, and evangelism instead of just plain fact Explaining how to effectively utilize the integration between SQL Server and.NET 3.5 in SQL Server 2008, this handbook offers detailed coverage of the LINQ and ADO.NET Entity Framework, SQLCLR architecture, .NET development, LINQ to SQL, how to implement the Entity Framework, practical applications, and more. Original. (Intermediate/Advanced)