EF4 trying to re-create database even though it's already there?

Question

I'm using ASP.NET MVC 3 and have learnt through the MVC Music Store and other sources. I was able to create a database and have it live but the weird thing was about 5 hours after it was live it went down and had the following error and stack trace:

Note: This also seems to be the case whenever I publish the site. I have to go and delete the database manually for it to re create it and then it will work. But now that I'm live I can't do that because data is already being stored in there that I don't want to redo.

File already exists. Try using a different database name. [ File name = C:\HostingSpaces\...\wwwroot\App_Data\Test.sdf ]

Description: An unhandled exception occurred during the execution of the current web request. Please review the stack trace for more information about the error and where it originated in the code. 

Exception Details: System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeException: File already exists. Try using a different database name. [ File name = C:\HostingSpaces\mtnp55\pricexperience.com\wwwroot\App_Data\Test.sdf ]

Source Error: 

An unhandled exception was generated during the execution of the current web request. Information regarding the origin and location of the exception can be identified using the exception stack trace below.

Stack Trace: 


[SqlCeException (0x80004005): File already exists. Try using a different database name. [ File name = C:\HostingSpaces\...\wwwroot\App_Data\Test.sdf ]]
   System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeEngine.ProcessResults(IntPtr pError, Int32 hr) +72
   System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeEngine.CreateDatabase() +658
   System.Data.SqlServerCe.SqlCeProviderServices.DbCreateDatabase(DbConnection connection, Nullable`1 timeOut, StoreItemCollection storeItemCollection) +194
   System.Data.Objects.ObjectContext.CreateDatabase() +84
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.DatabaseOperations.Create(ObjectContext objectContext) +8
   System.Data.Entity.Database.Create() +76
   System.Data.Entity.CreateDatabaseIfNotExists`1.InitializeDatabase(TContext context) +387
   System.Data.Entity.<>c__DisplayClass2`1.<SetInitializerInternal>b__0(DbContext c) +75
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.<>c__DisplayClass5.<PerformDatabaseInitialization>b__3() +19
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.InternalContext.PerformInitializationAction(Action action) +72
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.InternalContext.PerformDatabaseInitialization() +169
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.LazyInternalContext.<InitializeDatabase>b__4(InternalContext c) +7
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.RetryAction`1.PerformAction(TInput input) +118
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.LazyInternalContext.InitializeDatabaseAction(Action`1 action) +190
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.LazyInternalContext.InitializeDatabase() +73
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.InternalContext.GetEntitySetAndBaseTypeForType(Type entityType) +28
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.Linq.InternalSet`1.Initialize() +62
   System.Data.Entity.Internal.Linq.InternalSet`1.get_InternalContext() +15
   System.Data.Entity.Infrastructure.DbQuery`1.System.Linq.IQueryable.get_Provider() +37
   System.Linq.Queryable.Where(IQueryable`1 source, Expression`1 predicate) +63
   PriceXperience.Controllers.AppsController.ViewLeaderboards(Int32 gameId) in C:\Users\Public\Documents\Development\...\Controllers\AppsController.cs:42
   lambda_method(Closure , ControllerBase , Object[] ) +101
   System.Web.Mvc.ActionMethodDispatcher.Execute(ControllerBase controller, Object[] parameters) +17
   System.Web.Mvc.ReflectedActionDescriptor.Execute(ControllerContext controllerContext, IDictionary`2 parameters) +208
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethod(ControllerContext controllerContext, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters) +27
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClass15.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__12() +55
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodFilter(IActionFilter filter, ActionExecutingContext preContext, Func`1 continuation) +263
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClass17.<InvokeActionMethodWithFilters>b__14() +19
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeActionMethodWithFilters(ControllerContext controllerContext, IList`1 filters, ActionDescriptor actionDescriptor, IDictionary`2 parameters) +191
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerActionInvoker.InvokeAction(ControllerContext controllerContext, String actionName) +343
   System.Web.Mvc.Controller.ExecuteCore() +116
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.Execute(RequestContext requestContext) +97
   System.Web.Mvc.ControllerBase.System.Web.Mvc.IController.Execute(RequestContext requestContext) +10
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClassb.<BeginProcessRequest>b__5() +37
   System.Web.Mvc.Async.<>c__DisplayClass1.<MakeVoidDelegate>b__0() +21
   System.Web.Mvc.Async.<>c__DisplayClass8`1.<BeginSynchronous>b__7(IAsyncResult _) +12
   System.Web.Mvc.Async.WrappedAsyncResult`1.End() +62
   System.Web.Mvc.<>c__DisplayClasse.<EndProcessRequest>b__d() +50
   System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.<GetCallInAppTrustThunk>b__0(Action f) +7
   System.Web.Mvc.SecurityUtil.ProcessInApplicationTrust(Action action) +22
   System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult asyncResult) +60
   System.Web.Mvc.MvcHandler.System.Web.IHttpAsyncHandler.EndProcessRequest(IAsyncResult result) +9
   System.Web.CallHandlerExecutionStep.System.Web.HttpApplication.IExecutionStep.Execute() +8841105
   System.Web.HttpApplication.ExecuteStep(IExecutionStep step, Boolean& completedSynchronously) +184

I've tried many things but still cannot figure out why it does this. I do have a database initialize.

 System.Data.Entity.Database.SetInitializer<MobileEntities>(new SampleData());

public class SampleData : CreateDatabaseIfNotExists<MobileEntities>

The code that runs when I try to access the db is the following:

public ActionResult ViewLeaderboards(int gameId)
        {
            var leaderboards = from u in mobileDB.Scores
                               where u.GameId == gameId
                               select u;

            return View(leaderboards.OrderByDescending(u => u.Score).ToList());
        }

You should be able to keep your DB initializer to CreateDatabaseIfNotExists that is what I have on my Production server and it works ok. — Daveo, Aug 15 '11 at 06:16
That's what I thought but for some reason I would get the error after a few good hours when I did. I tried what Jack said and it's lasted a good day without the error. That is setting it to null. — Tom, Aug 15 '11 at 19:12

score 2 · Accepted Answer · answered Aug 15 '11 at 01:15

2

When publishing you need to be sure to REMOVE the Initializer from the Global.asax. The Initializer is only for populating test data, and should not be in use during production. I also remember reading somewhere that setting the Initializer to null might work.

Database.SetInitializer<MyContext>(null);

Or just comment out the line where you call SetInitializer before publishing. I also exclude my Initializer class from the project before publishing.

answered Aug 15 '11 at 01:15

Jack

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If I get rid of the initializer I still get the same error but setting it to null has lasted a day so we'll see how that goes in the next few hours. – Tom Aug 15 '11 at 19:13

score 1 · Answer 2 · answered Jun 29 '14 at 22:59

The default strategy for Code First contexts is an instance of CreateDatabaseIfNotExists. So it is necessary to include the

Database.SetInitializer<MyContext>(null);

so that the default initializer is not called which might then give an error! Also, it is necessary to include the generic tag when setting it to null or the compiler will give an error.

EF4 trying to re-create database even though it's already there?

2 Answers2