Code-First EF4.1 + SQL Server CE4 + Sync Framework

Question

Is it possible to use CF EF4.1, SQL Server Compact 4 and Microsoft Sync Framework together?

As I got, MS Sync Framework needs SQL Server compact 3.5, but EF4.1 use SQL Server Compact 4...

UPDATE Ok, I see that it's not possible to sync mssql ce4 using microsoft sync framework. So Is it possible to use mssql ce3.5 as a storage for entity framework 4.1?

score 6 · Answer 1 · answered Apr 26 '11 at 12:00

6

Sync Framework works directly against the databases using its providers and going thru EF is not supported out of the box. The same goes with Sql Compact 4 (see Scenarios not enabled by Sql Compact 4

answered Apr 26 '11 at 12:00

JuneT

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The Idea is to use EF 4.1 and MSSQL Compact and Replicate this database using sync framework with server database (e.g. mssql 2008r2). So then I switch EF4.1 connection to mssql compact 3.5 I got the error: Unable to determine the provider name for connection of type 'System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeConnection'. – DolceVita Apr 26 '11 at 12:14

score 2 · Answer 2 · answered Oct 02 '12 at 12:14

Yes, it is possible - if you do not rely on the creation or migration features (EF 5.0).

So, first configure EF to use the SQL CE provider using the app.config and a named configuration

<connectionStrings>
    <add name="TestDatabase"
         providerName="System.Data.SqlServerCe.3.5"
         connectionString="Data Source=test.sdf"/>
</connectionStrings>

and

public class TestDbDataContext : DbContext
{
    public TestDbDataContext() : base("TestDatabase") { }
}

disable the creation and migration functionality before you use your data context

Database.SetInitializer<TestDbDataContext>(null);

Now you can access the database. Obviously you will have to create the tables manually.

Caveat:

Inserting server generated keys does not work with CE 3.5. So you will have to manage them on the client side (best use GUIDs to prevent key conflicts). Furthermore, even if you plan to manage the keys yourself you need to watch out. Defining the key like this

[Key]
Guid Id { get; set; }

will lead EF to believe that the key is generated on the server side. Therefore, you need to define the key properties using EF's fluent API to set the DatabaseGeneratedOption to None:

this.Property(p => p.ProductId)
    .HasDatabaseGeneratedOption(DatabaseGeneratedOption.None)
    .IsRequired();

this.HasKey(p => p.ProductId);

This can be either done in a configuration class (as in the sample) or in the data contex's OnModelCreating function.

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Apr 26 '11 at 12:07

2

Won't work - see this page with limitations that apply to SQL Server CE 4 for now:

Data replication with SQL Server: Compact 4.0 does not support data replication with SQL Server using Sync Framework, merge replication or remote data access (RDA).

answered Apr 26 '11 at 12:07

marc_s

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but is it possible to make ef4.1 code-first to work with mssql ce 3.5? Because Sync Framework works just fine with mssql ce3.5 – DolceVita Apr 26 '11 at 12:59

score 2 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 25 '11 at 13:30

2

SQL CE 3.5 does not work with the Code First approach (the provider doesn't support DDL generation); however it should work just fine using the Model First or Database First approaches of EF 4.1.

answered Jun 25 '11 at 13:30

ErikEJ

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5
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score 1 · Answer 5 · answered Jun 21 '11 at 17:09

1

According to this post, SQL Server Compact 3.5 cannot be used with Entity Framework 4.1 Code First provider. It can be used with EF 4.1 Model First or Database First.

answered Jun 21 '11 at 17:09

Stephen Schaub

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Code-First EF4.1 + SQL Server CE4 + Sync Framework

5 Answers5