Business Model Design with Entity Framework

• Mar 12, 2021
• 2 minutes to read

This section describes the use of the Entity Framework (EF) data model in XAF.

Note

It is recommended that you first review the Business Model Design topic to learn when and why to choose EF as the data layer in your XAF application.

To learn how to install EF, refer to the Get Entity Framework topic. Entity Framework support in XAF is provided by the DevExpress.ExpressApp.EF.v18.2.dll assembly. The supported version of EF is 6.1.3. Higher versions are currently untested and may cause errors. To install version 6.1.3, run the following command in the Package Manager Console: “PM> Install-Package EntityFramework -Version 6.1.3“. If you use the Solution Wizard to create a EF-based XAF solution, then EF is installed automatically by the wizard.

Concepts

• Use the Entity Framework Data Model
• Relationships Between Entities
• Model First Specifics
• Use Entity Framework with an Existing Database

Task-Based Help

• How to: Apply Attributes to Entity Properties when Using Model First
• How to: Use Both Entity Framework and XPO in a Single Application
• How to: Use the Entity Framework Code First in XAF
• How to: Use the Entity Framework Model First in XAF
• How to: Use the Entity Framework Data Model Located in an External Assembly
• How to: Recompile the Business Class Library
• How to: Supply Initial Data for the Entity Framework Data Model

MSDN Tutorials

• Code First to a New Database
• Code First to an Existing Database
• Model First
• Database First