Posted with : Entity Framework

EntityFramework - Mapping entities better

Basis of mapping in Entity Framework, how to map a POCO to table and customize mapping using Fluent API.

##1. Primary key By default, it will take property named ID or Id or <ClassName>Id such as UserId, PostId. (Using the DbContext API link)

To specify it manually, this is a syntax modelBuilder.Entity().HasKey(t => t.InstructorID);

##2. Configuring on a Property

modelBuilder.Entity<Department>().Property(t => t.Name).HasMaxLength(50);
modelBuilder.Entity<Department>().Property(t => t.Name).IsRequired();
modelBuilder.Entity<Department>().Property(t => t.Name).HasColumnName("DepartmentName");

##3. Configuring Properties on a Complex Type

Specifying That a Class Is a Complex Type

modelBuilder.ComplexType<Details>();

modelBuilder.ComplexType<Details>() 
    .Property(t => t.Location) 
    .HasMaxLength(20);

modelBuilder.Entity<OnsiteCourse>() 
    .Property(t => t.Details.Location) 
    .HasMaxLength(20);

##4. Inheritance

Mapping the Table-Per-Type (TPT)

modelBuilder.Entity<Course>().ToTable("Course");  
modelBuilder.Entity<OnsiteCourse>().ToTable("OnsiteCourse");

Mapping the Table-Per-Concrete Class (TPC

modelBuilder.Entity<OnsiteCourse>().Map(m => 
{ 
    m.MapInheritedProperties(); 
    m.ToTable("OnsiteCourse"); 
}); 
 
modelBuilder.Entity<OnlineCourse>().Map(m => 
{ 
    m.MapInheritedProperties(); 
    m.ToTable("OnlineCourse"); 
});

References

  1. Configuring/Mapping Properties and Types with the Fluent API
  2. Entity Framework Code First
  3. Managing DbContext the right way with Entity Framework 6: an in-depth guide
Written on September 14, 2015

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